The 47 crews from 12 countries and territories present at the 2011 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled start to this eye-catching regatta. The outlook is lively. After a potent and contrasting cocktail of thunderstorms and benign winds was served over the weekend, predictions are for gusts of up to 30-35 knots for tomorrow’s proceedings. Hitting the ground running will be the order of the day for what promises to be a closely-contested and dramatic week of on-the-water action. Crews were busy training this morning, testing sails and honing manoeuvres. With the wind speed increasing after lunch, and to avoid any unwanted hitches, most crews sat out the afternoon. The regatta is scheduled to start at 11:30 CEST with coastal racing for all categories.
Sixteen of the 47 crews will take part in the second Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship, open to yachts from 18.29 – 20.48 metres. Many of these crews have significant miles in their sails after an arduous season’s racing. Some other statistics: eight yachts will compete in the Supermaxi category, those in excess of 30.5m. The largest yacht in attendance is Albert Buell’s Saudade (GER). A mammoth148-ft. It is a privilege that she held in 2010.
Elsewhere 23 Maxi yachts will lock horns in the category of racing dedicated to the 24.09-30.5m racers. The fastest of these is predicted to be Igor Simčič’s Esimit Europa 2 (SLO). Sir Irvine Laidlaw’s 82-ft Wally hybrid Highland Fling (MON) is expected to provide her closest rival. In terms of nationalities, the largest contingent is unsurprisingly from Italy, with 16 of the 47 crews from the peninsula. The 12 British-flagged yachts represent the most significant foreign collection.
Ready to race
Peter Craig is the Principal Race Officer. He and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) Race Committee are braced for an intense week. “As usual it is a terrific fleet broken into four different classes,” enthuses Craig, “the Wally’s are as strong as ever, with 11 boats for a very close competition. Then there are the Mini Maxis going for the Rolex World Championship and there’s no telling how that is going to end up. Plus there will be some excellent racing in the Maxi racer/cruiser and the Supermaxi classes.”
Finding the balance is an important part of the race committee’s mission. “There’s four starts every day, a lot of action and some of the best talent you will find anywhere in the world,” explains Craig, “every day we hope two classes will compete in windward/leewards with multiple races and the other two classes in a coastal race. It is a real challenge for the race management team to get it done and get it done right, making sure the coastal race is taken care of whilst giving real quality windward/leewards.” Admittedly, the role of Principal Race Officer is not always an easy one. “In any sport if the competitors are talking about race officials or referees you are not doing your job well,” continues Craig, “so hopefully you won’t hear my name spoken very much! We are looking to give everyone fair racing and just the amount of racing they want.”
The conditions for the first few days look attractive, a forecast which has brought a smile to those looking for a bit of adventure: “The weather looks challenging and is going to produce big breezes early in the week and then taper off. We may have some upper end breeze on Tuesday and Wednesday, right on the edge inside the strait of Bonifacio, so that will be interesting.”
As crews around the resplendent marina unload equipment, conduct training debriefs and discuss tactics, Craig closes:
What stands out is the talent,
just look at the afterguards
across the board in all four classes.
It is like a who’s who and that raises
the game for everybody.
The best people in the world
are sailing here this week….
“What stands out is the talent, just look at the afterguards across the board in all four classes. It is like a who’s who and that raises the game for everybody. The best people in the world are sailing here this week…”