Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2000 Too much wind again!!!

by Event Media on 9 Sep 2000 Gale force winds and enormous waves crashing through the entrance
to Porto Cervo forced racing to be cancelled today at the Maxi Yacht
Rolex Cup 2000 in Sardinia.

There was still high drama,
however, as multi-million dollar
yachts like Alexia, Skandia and
Pyewacket had to enlist the
help of a harbour tug boat to tow
them clear of the dockside, as
they bore the full brunt of the
waves searing through the tiny
entrance of the picturesque
harbour.
With 50 knot gusts creating a
relentless howl through the
hi-tech carbon-fibre rigging,
crews' faces were etched with the stress and responsibility of moving their
boats to calmer waters without causing any major damage.
Despite the dangers and incredible loads involved, there was no serious
damage done to any boat, and the crew made slick work of the complex
process of clearing the concrete dockside.
Yesterday had seen an epic battle out on the race course through the islands
that dot the ruggedly beautiful Costa Smeralda. Whilst some Maxis such as
Rrose Selavy made short work of the 30-knot winds, other leading lights in
the fleet found it all too much.
Wally Yacht Genie of the Lamp had been joint leader of the Light Division
after two races but had to retire from the regatta following serious rig damage
yesterday. Edimetra was also leading her Division - IMS/ORC - but broached
badly during a gybe and snapped her spinnaker pole into pieces. Unable to fly
her spinnaker for the rest of the long downwind leg, she finished badly and will
struggle to win this regatta with just one race remaining.
The big fight tomorrow will be between Rrose Selavy and Alexia, both tied for
first place in IMS/ORC with 8 points. These boats are both immaculately
sailed, but on the strength of her solid performance yesterday in heavy
conditions, another strong wind day would tend to favour Riccardo Bonadeo
and his Frers 73 Rrose Selavy.

Overall Positions after 3 races
IMS-ORC (Racing) Division 1 Rrose Selavy Riccardo Bonadeo 8 points
2 Alexia Alberto Roemmers 8 points
3 Pyewacket Roy Disney 11 points

Light Division 1 Magic Carpet Lindsay Owen-Jones 6 points
2 Virtuelle Carlo Perrone 10 points
3 Tiketitan Luca Bassani 13 points

Cruising Heavy Division 1 Aldabra M Niccolini 4 points
2 Unfurled Harry Macklowe 6 points
3 Antonisa C Harmsworth 11 points