Rolex IMS worlds at Capri, Italy - Preview

SEVENTY YACHTS PREPARE TO BEGIN ROLEX IMS WORLDS TOMORROW OFF CAPRI

Sailors from Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, USA and Uruguay to Compete in Week-long Regatta

Seventy yachts representing ten nations are set to begin racing today in the Rolex IMS Worlds, off Capri. Organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the Yacht Club Capri, the event is sponsored by Rolex, title sponsor of the event since it was established in 1999.

Marco Birch will represent the U.S. this year with his new 58-foot Talisman. Countries represented at this year's event include Croatia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Spain, USA, and Uruguay. In addition to the American boat Talisman, there is great anticipation for the upcoming performances of the German Westwind owned by Peter Suselbeck, the French Near Miss with Thierry Peponnet at the helm, the Greek yacht Okyalos XIII, and the Norwegian Fram XV.

The winners from last year have returned to defend their title: Telefonica Movistar owned by Pedro Campos and Vasco Vascotto at the helm of Meridiana, a brand new Grand Soleil launched a few weeks ago.

For the first time, this year's event will operate under the ISAF classification code that divides the participating boats into two categories, "corinthian" (only one professional sailor onboard, but not at the helm) and "non-corinthian" (with two or more professional sailors).

In conjunction with five days of competitive racing, there is a full social calendar of events including a food festival in the streets of Anacapri this evening, continuing tomorrow with the traditional "Serata Sarda" held on the quay and featuring the cuisine of the Monte Acuto region.