The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is the annual highlight in the maxi yachting calendar. This prestigious event, supported by the International Maxi Association at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, features two World Championships: for Maxi 1 and Maxi Grand Prix classes. This week, the regatta has enjoyed excellent weather, particularly on the penultimate day when the northwesterly Mistral reached 25 knots, providing a challenging test for crews.
In these blustery conditions, both World Championship classes sailed two windward-leeward races. There were incidents, including a fairing break on Pascale Decaux’s 100ft Tilakkhana II and spinnaker issues for Wendy Schmidt’s Deep Blue and Alessandro Del Bono’s Capricorno. While Deep Blue managed to recover her sail in the first race, Capricorno had to retire due to complications.
Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 thrived in the tough conditions, winning both races and maintaining a four-point lead despite a pre-start equipment failure. Tactician Chris Nicholson expressed satisfaction with their performance, noting the intense competition among the leading boats.
Deep Blue finished with a 7-4 record for the day, with project manager Terry Halpin observing that while many competitors faced technical difficulties, his crew managed well.
Peter Dubens’ North Star III had an unexpected end to her winning streak, posting a 5-4, but remains in contention for the title. Meanwhile, Peter Harrison’s Jolt bounced back impressively, scoring two victories and overcoming previous rudder issues.
In the Maxi Grand Prix class, Bouwe Bekking’s Balthasar, with offshore racing credentials, performed solidly, finishing with a 4-2 record. The conditions led to a mix of results, with several boats struggling with technical problems throughout the day.
In Maxi 5, Riccardo De Michele’s H2O was narrowly beaten by Riccardo Genghini’s Swan 651 Lunz Am Meer, demonstrating the tight competition among the classes. The non-World Championship classes faced equally challenging conditions, with multihulls leading the way, exemplified by Marcos Sirota’s Sophia and Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling XVIII.
Ultimately, the day concluded with exciting performances across classes, setting the stage for a thrilling final day with no clear winners yet determined in any of the six classes.
Read more about the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup here
Full results here
For more on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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