Tre Golfi Regatta: day 5 for Maxis, day 1 for ORC Championship

A complex weather situation on the Maxi race course meant the fleet set off while the wind was transitioning. A north-easterly breeze blew to the top of the race course while to the south of the course the wind came in from the southwest. 

Despite a great course being set, the northeast breeze petered out earlier than expected and the Committee was forced to cancel the race.

A tough decision, since at the time of cancellation the three fastest Maxis had already crossed the finish line. Understandably there were protests, but the International Jury handled the situation capably.

A stunning race, the start of which was wisely postponed by a couple of hours, when the north-easterly breeze had been replaced by a stable Mistral. The race was therefore validly held.
"A beautiful race," commented Giuseppe Montella, an experienced tactician who on this occasion is on board the Committee Boat, "I am a sailor and my first loves are the TP52s - great, fast boats that are a bit like the little sisters of the Maxi 72s. After that, for sentimental reasons, come the Swan 42s and the Italyacht. Congratulations go to the shipyard, there are so many here because they have found the right compromise between aesthetics and performance."

The day ended with a lavish crew party as guests of the Mayor of Sorrento, held in the enchanting gardens of Villa Fiorentino, brimming with roses, camellias and citrus fruits.
Tonight the awards ceremony for the Maxis will take place at the Regatta Village, followed by a cocktail on the Li Galli islet and a "farewell dinner" for the Maxi owners on the M/Y Patrizia, a small and beautifully restored 1960s ship that offers cruises in the Gulf of Naples.
The ORC crews and owners will instead enjoy the "Borgo Aperto" experience, a gastronomic journey through the villages of Piano and Sant'Agnello. For the occasion bars and restaurants will offer a range of local specialties to participants.