Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

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

by International Maxi Association 9 May 2019 15:19 AEST 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

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
IMA Maxi Europeans day 2
Small boats to the fore after formidable coastal course The second coastal course of the IMA Maxi European Championship in Sorrento, Italy was an action-packed affair, taking the maxis on a complex course visiting local hotspots including the Amalfi Coast and lapping Capri. Posted on 21 May
IMA Maxi Europeans day 1
Jolt takes the lead The International Maxi Association's European Championship, run by Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia out of Sorrento, began its second phase today with four days of windward-leeward and coastal racing on the Gulf of Naples. Posted on 19 May
Record falls in Regata dei Tre Golfi
The tone was set with a magnificent downwind spinnaker start in 15 knots of wind While summer time Mediterranean offshore races can often be windless affairs, this was not the case for the 70th Regata dei Tre Golfi, the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia's 156 mile offshore race that formed opening part of the IMA Maxi Europeans. Posted on 18 May
IMA Maxi Europeans gets underway
70th Regata dei Tre Golfi starts the offshore stage The fourth edition of the International Maxi Association's Maxi European Championship sets sail today with the start of its offshore component, the Regata dei Tre Golfi. Posted on 16 May
IMA challenges resume with Sandberg PalmaVela
The event has traditionally started the Mediterranean maxi yacht racing season There was huge anticipation from within the maxi community with Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' new Verdier 100 Magic Carpet E making her debut at Sandberg PalmaVela that concluded yesterday. Posted on 5 May
First time wins for Yoru and Six Jaguar maxis
As Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez concludes Inadequate winds meant no racing on Friday for the maxis competing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. However today there was more success for the concluding races laid on by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 5 Oct 2024
New faces at the top at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
All change on the Bay of Pampelonne Following Wednesday's layday it was all change on the Bay of Pampelonne for the third day of maxi racing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez organised by the Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, with the competition between the 41 maxi yachts. Posted on 4 Oct 2024
More perfect conditions & perfect Maxi scorelines
At Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez After two days of racing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, the final event of the International Maxi Association's 2024 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge, the leaders remarkably hold perfect scorelines in all four classes. Posted on 1 Oct 2024
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastAllen Dynamic 40 FooterRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER