34th Edition of Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup gets underway in Porto Cervo

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023 © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

The 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup officially opens today, 8th September 2024, with the Skipper's Briefing followed by the traditional Welcome Cocktail on the terrace at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

The regatta, reserved for yachts over 60 feet (18.30 metres) in length, is organised by the YCCS with the support of title sponsor Rolex - with whom it celebrates 40 years of partnership this year - and in collaboration with the International Maxi Association (IMA).

A new addition for this year is the incorporation of the first edition of the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship, reserved for the fastest Maxi yachts, with an IRC time correction coefficient (TCC) of 1.700 and above.

The quays in front of the YCCS are now home to the 44 maxi yachts, which, starting tomorrow Monday 9th September, will bring this unique regatta to life. Known for the calibre of both the yachts and their crews, racing will take place against the breathtaking backdrop of the La Maddalena Archipelago. The fleet ranges from the “petite” 18-metre Blue Oyster, to the imposing J Class yachts, including Svea - the largest participant at 44 metres.

In 2024 the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Rolex will celebrate the significant milestone of 40 years of partnership. This strong bond is built on shared values of excellence, innovation, technology, respect for the sea and support for the next generation. These pillars have sustained a successful collaboration that began in 1984 with the Rolex Swan Cup, followed by the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup the next year, and subsequently by numerous high-profile international regattas, organised both in Porto Cervo and abroad. In particular, a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of sailors led to the decision to host three up-and-coming athletes from the Young Azzurra sports programme aboard maxi yachts owned by three YCCS members. Maddalena Spanu (reigning Wingfoil world champion), Federico Pilloni (current iQFOiL junior world champion) and Cesare Barabino, a talented ILCA 7 sailor, will have the opportunity to race aboard much more complex craft than their own, sharing this exciting and inspiring experience through the social media channels of Young Azzurra and the YCCS.

The first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship will take place as part of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

The yachts competing in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship have been grouped into classes according to their type and performance. Within each class, course times will, as always, be compensated on the basis of the specific rating of the individual yacht. The Race Committee will also decide on the most suitable course for each class on a daily basis, based on boat characteristics and weather conditions. The entire fleet will be set coastal courses winding through the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago, while the pure racers in the Maxi 1 and 2 classes will also have the opportunity to show exactly what these boats and crews can produce on windward-leeward courses. The Race Committee will give six different starts for the divisions Maxi 1, 2, 3, 4, Supermaxi and Multihull.

Ten crews will be competing in the first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship, the majority of which have been training in the waters off Porto Cervo in preparation for the event. The stellar lineup includes: Bullitt, owned by YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati; Capricorno, a brand new 82-footer making her regatta debut; Deep Blue, owned by American philanthropist Wendy Schmidt; Django HF, owned by YCCS member Giovanni Lombardi Stronati and returning to competition after major upgrades; Galateia; Leopard 3; Magic Carpet Cubed, owned by YCCS member Sir Lindsay Owen Jones; My Song, owned by YCCS member Pier Luigi Loro Piana; SHK Scallywag and finally the WallyCento V.

The crew lists also include a roster of names of undisputed renown, such as Germany’s Jochen Schuemann, tactician on Magic Carpet Cubed boasting three gold and one silver medal at the Olympics, Brazilian Joca Signorini on Bullitt, New Zealander Murray Jones on Galateia, Italians Vasco Vascotto on Django HF, Flavio Favini and Alberto Bolzan on Capricorno, and American sailors Ken Read and Ed Baird on V and Leopard 3 respectively. Contenders for the first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship are scheduled to complete four days of coastal racing as well as a day with two windward-leeward races.

Competition will be no less fierce in the remaining classes, with the Maxi 2, home to the former Maxi72 racer class - now racing under IRC - fielding Proteus, North Star, Jolt with Hamish Pepper and Francesco De Angelis on board, and Jethou with Ian Walker on tactics. The programme for this class is to complete two days of windward-leeward competitions for a maximum of four races, with the rest of the race days dedicated to coastal courses.

The largest yachts, sailing in the Supermaxi class, will have their compensated time calculated under the ORCsy rating, specially designed for this type of yacht. The battle also commences tomorrow for these giants of the fleet, including the Swan 115 Moat, owned by Juan Ball, Claus-Peter Offen’s Wally 101 Y3K, and Viriella, owned by Vittorio Moretti – all YCCS members – along with the two J Class yachts Velsheda and Svea. On board are leading yachtsmen such as Mauro Pelaschier, Bouwe Bekking, Guillermo Parada and Karol Jablonski, to name but a few.

The 9 yachts in the Maxi 3 class and 10 in the Maxi 4 class include the SW 82 Grande Orazio, Open Season and H2O, owned respectively by YCCS members Massimiliano Florio, Thomas Bscher and Riccardo de Michele, in addition to Wallyño, owned by IMA President Benoît de Froidmont.

The Multihull class sees Highland Fling 18 and Allegra, owned by YCCS members Lord Irvine Laidlaw and Adrian Keller respectively, join the Gunboat 66 Gaetana on the starting line. On board are international sailors such as Paul Larsen, world sailing speed record holder, calling tactics on Allegra, with Brian Thompson and Cameron Appleton in the role of tacticians on Gaetana and Highland Fling 18 respectively. The Supermaxi, Maxi 3, Maxi 4 and Multihull classes will compete exclusively on coastal courses in the La Maddalena Archipelago.

A key element of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, once the battles on the water are over, is also the social programme back on dry land. Crews will gather each day in Piazza Azzurra for post-race refreshments, the Rolex Gala Dinner will take place on the evening of Thursday 12th September in the picturesque village of San Pantaleo, while the following evening the Crew Party will be held in Piazza Azzurra. Finally, on 14th September at 5.30 p.m. the every-thronged prize-giving ceremony will conclude the 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

In relation to Win Win's grounding on a shoal yesterday, there were no significant consequences for the crew on board but the boat will not participate in the regatta. Racing is scheduled to start tomorrow, 9th September, with a warning signal at 12 midday CEST. Strong westerly winds of 26 to 28 knots are forecast.