Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - Top conditions & close competition make the day

by YCCS on 9 Sep 2017

Cannonball and Maxi72s Fleet, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship 2017. Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi http://www.carloborlenghi.net

Today was the second to last day of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi72 World Championship, the annual event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with Title Sponsor Rolex and the International Maxi Association.

The lull in the wind that the fleet was dreading didn't appear and today was another exceptional day of racing in Mistral breezes at 12 to 15 knots along a 34.5 nm coastal course.

Currently in the lead of the provisional results at just a day from the end of the event are Momo (Maxi72), Ribelle (Supermaxi), Highland Fling XI (Maxi), Nahita (Wally), Jethou (Mini Maxi R), Supernikka (Mini Maxi RC1) and Shirlaf (Mini Maxi RC2).

Starting procedures got underway punctually at 11:30 AM in the waters off Porto Cervo. The yachts headed upwind to Passo delle Bisce and up to the Secca di Tre Monti in the Arzachena Gulf. Once they had rounded the Secca, the fleet sailed counter clockwise around the islands of Caprera, La Maddalena and Spargi and then back to Porto Cervo.

Nefertiti- Maxi, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship 2017. © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi http://www.carloborlenghi.net

There were head to head match races in all Classes and tactical attempts to get an edge on rivals set against the spectacular natural scenery of the Arcipelago della Maddalena's landscape. The battle between the Maxi72s was especially hard fought: Caol Ila R got her groove right off the start and took the lead while Bella Mente and Momo both struggled after getting OCS penalties. Caol Ila R arrived at the finish in the lead in real time, 12 seconds ahead of Cannonball. But on corrected time the latter yacht won by four seconds. 'It was real fun and a great satisfaction,' said Cannonball's tactician Vasco Vascotto with a smile. 'Today's win is dedicated as much to our owner, Dario Ferrari, as to the part of the team we left on the docks when we thought that air would be too light to sail with a full roster. In the Maxi72 Class you can really sail close and hard; it's a Class where lots of top sailors compete in boats that come within inches of each other. Pure emotion!'

With today's win in the Supermaxi Class, Ribelle, owned by YCCS members Salvatore and Paola Trifirò, has already technically won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup a day before it has ended. 'It really has been a wonderful event,' said helmsman Francesco De Angelis. 'Ribelle is racing in a very competitive Class against boats that are very similar to her. Our boat is new, but has been getting better all the time. Today we took advantage of a chance we had to cinch the win and we got it.'

Another sure win is Jethou in the Mini Maxi Class: this yacht has placed first every day she has raced so far. Spectre and Lucky trail her at a fair distance. In the Maxi Class, today was the day for the Swan 90 Nefertiti owned by Juan Ball. She placed ahead of Highland Fling XI, leader who retains the lead overall in the Class.

The last day of racing will be decisive in the Wally Class: the 80' Nahita placed first today and is currently in the lead by two points on Galateia and Lyra who are tied for second place.

Nahita-Wally, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship 2017. © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi http://www.carloborlenghi.net

It's a close race in the Mini Maxi RC1 Class: Roberto Lauro's Swan 601 Wohpe placed first today followed by Supernikka, still in the lead overall, and Wallyño. Giuseppe Puttini's Swan 65 Shirlaf won the Mini Maxi RC2 Class and is tied for first place with Riccardo De Michele's Vallicelli 80' H2O.

Tonight is the highly anticipated Rolex Gala Dinner and tomorrow, September 9th will be the final day at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2017. The Maxi72 and Mini Maxi Racer Classes will do windward-leeward courses, while all other Classes will do a coastal race that is scheduled to start at 11:30.

Full Results:

Super Maxi
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	Points
1	RIBELLE	SMAXI	RIBELLE	SALVATORE TRIFIRO'	SLOOP	MCKEON	2	1	2	1	6
2	WINWIN	SMAXI	WINWIN	SCORPION LIMITED	SUPERYACHT	JAVIER JAUDENES	3	4	1	2	10
3	GBR112L	SMAXI	NILAYA	FICAYA LTD	BALTIC 112 R/P	PUGH/NAUTA	1	3	3	3	10
4	SUI3066	SMAXI	INOUI	MARCO VOGELE	BRIAND 108	BRIAND	4	2	5	5	16
5	ITA1746	SMAXI	VIRIELLA	VITTORIO MORETTI	FRERS 118'	FRERS	5	5	4	4	18

Maxi
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	Points
1	MON888	MAXI	HIGHLAND FLING 11 R	IRVINE LAIDLAW	RP 82 CUSTOM	FRERS	1	2	2	2	7
2	USA25555	MAXI	RAMBLER 88 R	GEORGE DAVID	CANTING KEEL	JUAN K	3	1	1	4	9
3	GBR9059R	MAXI	NEFERTITI	JUAN BALL	SWAN 90	FRERS	2	4	4	1	11
4	CAN54321	MAXI	SORCERESS	WILL APOLD	SOUTHERNWIND 96	FARR/NAUTA	4	3	3	3	13
5	ITA15333	MAXI	WIZARD	SEVI FRUSCELLA	VALLICELLI 80	VALLICELLI	5	5	5	5	20
6	ITA44683	MAXI	DIABLESSE	DIABLESSE YACHT LTD	SLOOP 92	FRANCIS	7 DNF	7 DNC	6	7 DNC	27

Mini Maxi R
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	Points
1	GBR74R	MINI MAXI R	JETHOU	SIR PETER OGDEN	MINI MAXI	VROLIJK	1	1	1	1	4
2	GBR60X	MINI MAXI R	SPECTRE	PETER DUBENS	PD 60	FRERS	3	2	3	2	10
3	USA60010	MINI MAXI R	LUCKY	BRYON EHRHART	RP 63	REICHEL PUGH	2	3	2	5 DNF	12
4	USA7744	MINI MAXI R	ADELASIA DI TORRES	RENATO AZARA	PROTOTYPE	DAVIDSON	4	4	4	3	15

Mini Maxi RC 1
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	Points
1	ITA77773	MINI MAXI RC1	SUPERNIKKA	ROBERTO LACORTE	VISMARA 62 RC	VISMARA / MILLS	2	2	1	2	7
2	W80	MINI MAXI RC1	WALLYNO	DE FROIDMONT	WALLY 60	FARR	3	1	2	3	9
3	MON777	MINI MAXI RC1	WOHPE	ROBERTO LAURO	SWAN 601	FRERS	5	3	6	1	15
4	FRA60101	MINI MAXI RC1	AROBAS	GERARD LOGEL	SWAN 601	FRERS	1	5	4	5	15
5	FRA1895	MINI MAXI RC1	LORINA 1895	JEAN PIERRE BARJON	SWAN 601	FRERS	4	4	5	4	17
6	ITA17230	MINI MAXI RC1	OSCAR 3	ALDO PARISOTTO	MYLIUS 65	SIMEONE	7	6	3	6	22
7	ITA16923	MINI MAXI RC1	DURLINDANA 3	GIANCARLO GIANNI	FARR 60	FARR	6	7.5	8	8	29.5
8	ITA204	MINI MAXI RC1	ATALANTA II	CARLO ALESSANDRO PURI NEGRI	FARR 70	FARR / FELCI	10 DNC	7.5	7	7	31.5
9	ITA77007	MINI MAXI RC1	YORU	LUIGI SALA	VISMARA MILLS 62	VISMARA/MILLS	8	9	10 DNF	9	36

Mini Maxi RC 2
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	Points
1	ITA13973	MINI MAXI RC2	SHIRLAF	GIUSEPPE PUTTINI	SWAN 65	SPARKMAN & STEVENS	1	2	2	1	6
2	ITA15668	MINI MAXI RC2	H2O	RICCARDO DE MICHELE	VALLICELLI 80	VALLICELLI	2	1	1	2	6
3	AUT2895	MINI MAXI RC2	LUNZ AM MEER	DR. MARIETTA GRAFIN STRASOLDO	SWAN 651	FRERS	3	3	3	3	12
4	ESP9518	MINI MAXI RC2	PELOTARI.PROJECT	ANDRES VARELAS ENTRECANALES	X 65	JEPPESEN	4	4	5	4	17
5	SUI7618	MINI MAXI RC2	TAMINA	CARL GERRIT DEILMANN	CNB 76	BRIAND	5	5	4	5	19
6	MLT720	MINI MAXI RC2	FARR II KIND	PINTO LTD	FARR 72	FARR	6	7 DNF	7 DNF	6	26

Wally
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Type	Designer	1	2	3	4	5	Points
1	CAY1002	WALLY	GALATEIA	SWITCHBACK MARINE	WALLYCENTO	REICHEL PUGH	4	2	1	1	9	8
2	DD98	WALLY	NAHITA	PANTHER MARINA LTD	WALLY 80	FARR	3	4	2	5	1	10
3	W774	WALLY	LYRA	KIM LIMITED	WALLY 77	WALLY YACHT	2	5	6	2	2	11
4	FRA888	WALLY	RYOKAN 2	PHILIPPE LIGIER	WALLY 80	FARR	6	10	3	3	5	17
5	GBR94R	WALLY	MAGIC BLUE	ANTONIO CACACE	WALLY 95	FRERS	1	9	4	10	4	18
6	GBR7077	WALLY	J ONE	JEAN-CHARLES DECAUX	WALLY 77	FRERS	12 DSQ	7	7	6	3	23
7	GBR1001R	WALLY	MAGIC CARPET CUBED	SIR LINDSAY OWEN JONES	WALLYCENTO	REICHEL PUGH	8	3	5	8	10	24
8	GBR94.3	WALLY	SENSEI	AGAPE INVESTIMENTI LTD	WALLY 94	FRERS	7	6	9	4	7	24
9	GBR8211N	WALLY	OPEN SEASON	THOMAS BESCHER	WALLY 107	VROLIJK	9	1	10	7	11	27
10	GER6060	WALLY	Y3K	CLAUS PETER OFFEN	WALLY 100	FRERS	5	8	8	9	8	29
11	W80.1	WALLY	TILAKKHANA	ALHOEN LP	WALLY 80	FARR / BRENTA	10	11	11	11	6	38

Maxi 72
Pos	Sail nr.	Class	Yacht	Owner	Designer	1	2	3	4	5	Points
1	IVB72	MAXI 72	MOMO	MOMO RACING LTD	VROLIJK	3.75	1	1	1	3.75	10.5
2	ITA42200	MAXI 72	CANNONBALL	DARIO FERRARI	BOTIN	5	2	3	2	1.25	13.25
3	USA45	MAXI 72	BELLA MENTE	FAUTH HAP	VROLIJK	1.25	3	4	4	5	17.25
4	USA60722	MAXI 72	PROTEUS	GEORGE SAKELLERIS	VROLIJK	2.5	4	2	3	6.25	17.75
5	GBR8728R	MAXI 72	CAOL ILA R	OCEAN RACING	MILLS	6.25	5	5	5	2.5	23.75