After a day blown out due to the Mistral, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concluded with the Costa Smeralda offering moderate to light conditions, allowing crews to focus more on tactics and boat speed rather than survival and equipment protection.
The International Maxi Association (IMA), co-organiser of the event with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), has the unique right to hold world championships for maxi yacht classes. This year, to celebrate Rolex’s 40th anniversary of sponsorship, the IMA hosted two world championships: the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 and Rolex IMA Grand Prix World Championships. The former featured some of the longest and fastest racing yachts, while the latter marked the resumption of the Mini Maxi/Maxi 72 World Championship, not held since 2018.
Both World Championship classes raced two windward-leeward courses in 11-15 knots of wind.
In the first race for the Maxi Grand Prix classes, Peter Harrison’s Jolt led the race but could not save her time against Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente, which won comfortably, followed by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django 7X and Jim Swartz’s Vesper. In a port-starboard incident, Filip Balcaen’s Balthasar clashed with Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou, forcing both to retire.
In the second race, Jolt was ahead but only managed to win overall from Django 7X, which claimed the first Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship title.
Stronati expressed delight at the victory, highlighting the teamwork and the boat’s performance. Tactician Vasco Vascotto credited the team effort and noted that their best performance came in the final race.
The Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship concluded dramatically, with David M Leuschen and Chris Flowers’ Galateia winning the first race despite suffering hydraulic issues during the event. She held a four-point lead over Joost Schuijff’s Farr 100 Leopard 3 and Andrea Recordati’s Wally 93 Bullitt before the final race. Galateia struggled in the second race but managed to win on countback from Leopard 3, which won the final race, giving the victory to Galateia.
In the Super Maxi class, Juan Ball’s Swan 115 Moat won ahead of Marcos Vivian’s Wally 94 Inti and Marco Vogele’s Briand 108 Inoui, achieving a perfect scoreline. Riccardo De Michele’s H2O also scored four bullets in Maxi 4, marking the seventh time H2O has won her class.
In Maxi 3, Aldo and Elena Parisotto’s Mylius FD Oscar 3 scored her second bullet to secure victory by two points over Massimiliano Florio’s Southern Wind 82 Grande Orazio.
Prizes were awarded in the piazza outside the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, celebrating the top performances across the classes.
More information on the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup here.
For more on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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