Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Capri Classica: Mega-schooner match race on the Bay of Naples

by International Maxi Association 8 May 2019 22:19 PDT 8-12 May 2019
Action stations on board Mariette of 1915 © Blue Passion / ISA

Out on a sunny but chilly Bay of Naples, there was a remarkably action-packed opening day of racing at the inaugural Capri Classica, with lead changes galore, a David v Goliath competition and an encounter with a Neapolitan fishing net best forgotten.

Organised by the Circolo Remo e Vela Italia, the Yacht Club Capri and the International Schooner Association with the support of the International Maxi Association the Capri Classica is an exclusive invitation-only event for large classic schooners.

Racing today got under way at 1300, an hour late as the race committee waited for the wind to settle off the north side of the Sorrento Peninsula. Eventually the four schooners cautiously set off with the smallest, the 85ft Orianda, first to tack at the heavily favoured committee boat end of the line.

However it was the heavyweight bout between the 138ft Herreshoff-designed Mariette of 1915 and the 128ft Naema that was most engaging. The two titans of Capri Classica were at each other's throats from the outset in a match race reminiscent of a 19th century America's Cup when schooners were the vessels of choice.

First Mariette of 1915 gaining the upper hand through superior pointing ability to lead around the first mark to the south of Punta Campanella. They then returned to the Gulf of Naples where Naema was able to roll her rival and pulled ahead down the tricky run down past Sorrento. However approaching the leeward turning mark beyond Sorrento the wind filled in from astern allowing Mariette of 1915 to close as she brought the breeze down with her. A handling error coming into the mark as gusts of 15+ knots descended on the race course, left Naema bare-headed for a minute, a loss that was Mariette of 1915's gain, allowing the navy blue schooner to sneak through.

"Then there was a moment where we had to make a decision do we follow them or do we do something different?" recounted Florian Franke, Captain of Naema. In the event Mariette of 1915 continued out into the Bay of Naples on port, as, now behind, Naema tacked on to starboard heading back into the Sorrento Peninsula. This proved to be a winning move as Franke explained: "It was very shifty. The first tack we gained with a lot of lift. Then we got into pressure between the mainland and Capri as they went offshore and got a big header. I was surprised they didn't tack back earlier - maybe they thought there was more wind coming." Blessed by angels, Naema regained the lead for a second time, lifted enough that she was able to point directly at what would be the finish line of the shortened course, as Mariette of 1915 struggled with her bow at one point pointing towards Naples.

As Naema's helmsman Hank Halsted said, beaming: "Luck is good food you just need to know when to take it..."

Naema passes Sorrento. - photo © James Boyd / <a target=www.sailingintelligence.com" />
Naema passes Sorrento. - photo © James Boyd / www.sailingintelligence.com

Ultimately Naema won the day overall, beating Mariette of 1915 by 15 minutes on corrected time.

Behind, Puritan and Orianda were having a race that was slightly too close considering the relative differences in their 126 and 85ft LOAs. It was discovered the cause was that Puritan had picked up a metal fishing net that had wrapped itself around her drop keel. Certainly it made Orianda's performance look impressive.

Orianda's captain Sebastiano Marulli d'Ascoli was pleased with their race, especially as being a Neapolitan he is competing on home waters this week. However in schooner racing he maintains this made little difference: "We knew that under Sorrento it would be changing, but the speed on Orianda doesn't change that much. It's still 8.5 knots..."

Even though the wind dropped off on the final upwind towards the finish line, they still managed to finish within the time limit despite their relatively diminutive size: "We had some moments of five to six knots and we also had 15-17 knots and it was gusty off Sorrento which was nice, going downwind with the wind. We were doing 8.5 knots which was good for Orianda as she is not a racing boat. It was a very long day, but everyone on board is happy," said d'Ascoli.

As to racing at this inaugural classic schooner-exclusive Capri Classica, d'Ascoli added: "The event is amazing. We are the smallest so racing with these other schooners is incredible, really an honour."

There is much anticipation for racing on day two tomorrow when the wind is forecast to be 15-18 knots.

For more information on the International Schooner Association visit www.internationalschoonerassociation.com

For more information on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

Related Articles

Capricorno wins Loro Piana Giraglia maxi 'double'
A neck and neck dash for the finish Loro Piana Giraglia, the YC Italiano's offshore race from Saint-Tropez to Genoa via the Giraglia Rock, and fifth event in the International Maxi Association's 2024-25 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge, has often seen leader changes in its last miles. Posted on 13 Jun
Loro Piana Giraglia overall
The 22 maxi yachts sail a coastal course on the final day After three days of windward-leewards on the Baie de Pampelonne, the final day of inshore racing at Loro Piana Giraglia saw the 22 maxi yachts sail a coastal course. Posted on 10 Jun
Loro Piana Giraglia Day 3: Capricorno rising
Upset on day three of the inshore racing The pecking order at maxi events is typically well defined with the largest, fastest yachts coming home first. However this was nearly upset on day three of the inshore racing at Loro Piana Giraglia, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano Posted on 9 Jun
Maxi boat blast off on Loro Piana Giraglia Day 2
A different complexion after the light wind opener After getting under way yesterday in light to moderate conditions, day two of inshore racing took on a different complexion at Loro Piana Giraglia. Posted on 8 Jun
Strong start at Loro Piana Giraglia
Saint-Tropez laid on fine conditions for the first day of inshore racing Saint-Tropez laid on fine conditions for the first day of inshore racing at Loro Piana Giraglia, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 7 Jun
Diverse maxi fleet ready for Loro Piana Giraglia
Inshore/coastal racing prior to the event's famous offshore race to Genoa The International Maxi Association's 2025 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge (MMIC) continues tomorrow, Saturday 7 June with the first of four days of inshore/coastal race of Loro Piana Giraglia, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano Posted on 7 Jun
16th 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar concludes
Mylius 60 crossed the finish line to win the IRC Over 60 maxi class It has been a long time coming after spending much of the 2024 season finishing second and even continuing this in the recent IMA Maxi European Championship, but finally Guido Paolo Gamucci's Cippa Lippa X has won a race. Posted on 1 Jun
16th 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar preview
Registered entries for the race now total 229 This will be the fourth event in the International Maxi Association's 2024-25 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge, which began with last October's Rolex Middle Sea Race. Posted on 29 May
IMA Maxi Europeans overall
Bella Mente successfully defends her IMA European Championship title The 20 remaining yachts competing in the IMA Maxi European Championship, organised by the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia in conjunction with the International Maxi Association, took part in a final coastal race today in a 8-14 knot southwesterly. Posted on 22 May
IMA Maxi Europeans day 3
Maxi Grand Prix class turns up the pressure as courses go to windward-leeward Following an overnight offshore race and two days of coastal courses, the IMA Maxi Europeans, run by IMA and Naples' Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia out of Sorrento, for its penultimate day staged two windward-leeward races on the Gulf of Naples. Posted on 22 May
C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER