Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship in Spain

by Christina Pandapas on 29 Jun 2005 With two weeks to go until the start of the Rolex IMS Offshore World Championship, preliminary entries represent 13 nations: Argentina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.

The Rolex IMS World Championship, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the Club Marítimo de Mahón and sponsored by Rolex, will take place July 11-17, 2005.

Since its inception in 1999, the Rolex IMS World Championship event has been a focal point of the grand-prix racing calendar. This year’s regatta includes world-class sailors such as Olympic gold medalist and 470 World Champion, Theresa Zabell, racing aboard the IMS 57 Tau Ceramica (ESP) and former America’s Cup skipper, Pedro Campos. He will sail his Grand Soleil 42, Movistar, with Vasco Vascotto, current skipper and tactician of the Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia America’s Cup Team.

After being held for the last three years in Capri, the event marks the return to the original format as a traveling regatta, and the first time it has come to Mahón. Previous championships had been held at Rhode Island, Valencia, and Porto Cervo. Racing begins on Wednesday, July 13 and ends on Sunday July 17.

Throughout the five days, boats and crews will be put to the test in a combination of offshore, coastal, and windward-leeward courses. The event is open to IMS Cruiser/Racer and Racing boats with a minimum length overall of between 32 and 57 feet and a GPH of between 635 and 495.

The ISAF Sailor’s Classification will be applied, with boats being divided into two categories; Corinthian, with strictly amateur crews, and Non-Corinthian, having more than one professional sailor aboard. The title of ‘World Champion’ will be awarded to the winner of each category.

‘This is the seventh year that the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda has been privileged to be involved in the organization of the IMS World Championship,’ commented YCCS Commodore Gianfranco Alberini.

‘This competition for the IMS World Championship has been historically fierce, and with the combination of offshore, coastal and windward-leeward racing, competitors will have to demonstrate superior tactics, navigation, and sail handling to win.’

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, located in Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Italy, was founded in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan, together with Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti, and Luigi Vietti, as a non-profit club for those passionate about the sea and marine sports.

Today, the YCCS plays host to the most prestigious events in international sailing. In addition to its superb yachting facilities, the YCCS features a first-class clubhouse, which has recently been completely renovated. Visit www.yccs.it for further information on the complete racing schedule.

Information including entry lists, results, and photos: www.yccs.it.