Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2014 - In a class of its own + video
by regattanews.com on 1 Sep 2014
Dockside ambience in Porto Cervo - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2014 Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
http://www.carloborlenghi.net
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2014 - An international fleet of 35 Maxi yachts have arrived in Porto Cervo, Sardinia for one of the sailing calendar’s great annual occasions. 2014 marks the 25th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a competition sponsored by Rolex since 1985 and organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and the International Maxi Association (IMA). It’s a meeting of elegance, power and speed. Weeklong racing starts tomorrow, Monday 1 September.
Riveting racing
Three-time runner up Alegre starts off as one of the favourites. Andres Soriano’s 2013 launch will be expected to use last year’s strong showing to good measure. Soriano’s former Alegre, now Swiss Alex Schaerer’s Caol Ila R, is one of four other boats in the championship reserved for racing Mini Maxis. 2012 champion Bella Mente and Artemis-George Sakellaris’s Shockwave both represent the United States while Sir Peter Ogden, from the United Kingdom, will be expected to mount a serious challenge with his latest version of Jethou.'One day out, it looks like it’s going to be a terrific week,' explains Principal Race Officer Peter Craig. 'We’re going to see plenty of breeze during the first three days of racing. What makes this regatta stand out is the boats, the crews. For big boat racing it doesn’t get any better. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world that people talk about that is better sailing.'
In terms of tight competition, the spotlight will shine brightly on the fifth running of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship. At the outset of the week the most pressing question on the sunkissed docks of the YCCS is how Niklas Zennström’s Rán 5 will perform on its championship debut. Rán’s crew has a strong Porto Cervo pedigree, Zennström is the defending champion and with his former boat Rán 2 won the competition three times. However, in a competition defined by marginal gains she will need to adapt to the challenging environment seamlessly. Curiously, Zennström will come face to face with the boat he helmed to three world titles, now a key rival in the hands of Italian Roberto Tomasini Grinover and renamed Robertissima III. The clash between Zennström’s new and old boat will be an intriguing one.
Style and power
Elegance will be provided by the J-Class. At 43,7m (143ft) Lionheart – a replica of the original 1930s design – is the largest boat in attendance. Competition will be provided by Rainbow, Ranger, Shamrock V and defending champion Velsheda. Boats which weigh in excess of 170 tonnes and possess a sail area close to 1,000m2 require expert handling. Style and top quality racing is always provided by the Wally class which features nine boats including both defending champion – Jean-Charles Decaux’s 80-ft J-One – and two Wally Centos in Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’s Magic Carpet Cubed and Thomas Bscher’s Open Season. Pursuers of power will be impressed by the Supermaxis, imperious goliaths measuring upwards of 100-ft. The 2014 title is up for grabs with three-time winner Nilaya not in attendance. Three contrasting designs – Firefly, Inoui and Viriella lock horns. Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Wally 82.8m hybrid Highland Fling, competing in Maxi Racing, will be among the fastest boats on show.
Coastal races through La Maddalena archipelago are forecast for tomorrow’s first day of competition. The long wait is now over, the compelling verdicts will be delivered on the water throughout the week.
