On the Costa Smeralda the evocative spectacle of the great international sailing
PORTO CERVO. The first day of racing for the 31st Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organized by the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, which sees a fleet of 44 yachts with a minimum length of 60 feet (18.29 meters) has ended. On the docks in front of the YCCS, the desire to return to compete at sea in this iconic regatta dedicated to Maxis, after the forced stop last year, was perceived in the air in the form of positive energy.
The three Divisions into which the fleet was divided, Supermaxi, Maxi and Mini Maxi, in turn divided into subclasses according to the performance of the boats, raced on a coastal course of about 35 miles that led the competitors to circumnavigate in the direction of anticlockwise the islands of Caprera and La Maddalena, returning through the channel between Sardinia and the islands, up to the Secca di Tre Monti, from here to the island of Monaci to return to Porto Cervo.
In the Maxi Division, the calculation of the compensated times sees Highland Fling XI by Lord Irvine Laidlaw, tactician Bouwe Bekking, prevail over Magic Carpet 3 by Sir Lindsay Owen Jones, with Jochen Schuemann in tactic. Third position for Y3K by Claus-Peter Offen, tactician Karol Jablonski. Among the Mini Maxi 1 there is a great battle along the entire route between the five Maxi72s present, which boast very similar performances. Cannonball, with Vasco Vascotto on the tactical calls, led from the very start finishing in first place ahead of Jim Swartz’s Vesper, Gavin Brady on tactics, and Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente with Terry Hutchinson on tactics.
The 79 ‘Capricorno wins in Mini Maxi 2 ahead of the Mylius 80 Twin Soul B and the Swan 601 Lorina 1895. Among the Mini Maxi 3-4, the Wally Lyra takes the lead ahead of the Dehler 60 Blue Oyster and the Baltic 78 Lupa of the Sea. (ANSA).