First clash of the Supermaxis in Rolex Maxi Cup

by YCCS Media and Sail-World on 8 Aug 2006 The 2006 edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (3-9 September), organized since 1980 by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, will see 49 of the world's largest and fastest racing yachts competing in the waters off the Costa Smeralda. The event represents potentially the largest ever gathering of Maxi yachts and a fleet that if lined up end-to-end would total 1300 metres of pure sailing excellence.

This year's line-up smashes the 2005 record of 37 yachts and will once again bring the cream of the international sailing and business worlds to Porto Cervo. The competing yachts represent 15 nations and will range from 18 metres and upwards in length. The fleet will be divided into five divisions catering to the various design features and capabilities of the boats: Racing, Cruising, Mini-Maxi, W and Spirit of Tradition.

The Racing Division will host the most technologically advanced yachts and with sporting rivals such as Australian Bob Oatley's Wild Oats XI and New Zealander Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo signed up, the competition is sure to be fierce. Also competing will be the recent Round the Island record breaker, Maximus, and this will be the first time that the Greg Elliott design has come up against the two Australian built Reichel Pugh supermaxis.

Maxis that are more geared towards comfortable cruising than grand-prix racing will be grouped in the Cruising Division. Veteran competitors will include New York property developer Harry Macklowe's 34 metre Unfurled, Vittorio Moretti's 36 metre Viriella and the UK's J Class Velsheda. Hollywood producer Arne Glimcher's 37 metre Ghost will also be returning after taking second place in the Cruising A division last year.

The Mini Maxi division, a new class which has recently been introduced by the International Maxi Association to accommodate yachts from 18 to 23.9 metres racing under IMS/ORC rules, will be one of the larger divisions with 14 competitors expected to take part. IRC rated boats will also race in this division, but with separate scoring and prizes. This new division will include a taste of the Volvo Ocean Race, with this year's winner ABN AMRO ONE enrolled alongside fifth-placed Ericsson Racing Team.

The Spirit of Tradition division is often considered one of the most beautiful with veteran and reproduction yachts such as Holland's Annagine and US entrepreneur George Lindemann's majestic 55 metre-long Adela providing photographers and spectators with stunning images.

The W division will be competing under its own handicap system and will include Magic Carpet Squared, owned by L'Oreal Chairman Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones and Italian Telecom President Marco Tronchetti Provera's Kauris III.

'We are delighted to welcome such a spectacular fleet to the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2006,' commented YCCS Commodore Gianfranco Alberini, 'The event embodies yacht racing at its very best and with an entry list of this standard and the world-class regatta course here, we are sure to see a week of intense competition.'

Racing will be composed of a mixture of windward-leeward and coastal courses over five days, with a lay day scheduled for Thursday 7th September. Competition aside, organizers the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda along with title sponsor Rolex will provide the now customary array of top class social events ranging from exclusive gala dinners to lively crew parties on the Piazza Azzurra.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be followed by the Rolex Swan Cup (11-17 September). Further information about both these regattas may be found at www.yccs.it.