An outstanding day rounds off the 34th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in style

Porto Cervo, 14th September 2024. The final day of the 34th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship was an excellent one. The event was organised by the YCCS with the support of title sponsor Rolex - with whom it celebrates 40 years of partnership this year - and in collaboration with the International Maxi Association (IMA). Thanks to a Mistral wind ranging from 16 to 24 knots, the fleet was able to complete a coastal race in the type of perfect conditions that have earned the Porto Cervo race course its international renown. Among those enjoying the racing at the YCCS were Quanhai Li, President of World Sailing, and Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV).

Victory in the first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship went to Joost Schuijff's Leopard 3 with Ed Baird - winner of the 32nd America's Cup at the helm of Alinghi – calling tactics.

Also taking home the top prize in their respective divisions at the 34th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup were: George Sakellaris' Proteus in the Maxi 2 class, the J Class yacht Svea in the Supermaxi class, Aldo Parisotto's Oscar 3 in Maxi 3, Riccardo de Michele's H2O in Maxi 4, and Riccardo Pavoncelli's Gaetana in the Multihull class.

To make the most of this final day, the Race Committee had moved the start time forward to 10 a.m. CEST, and racing began promptly in ideal conditions, with Mistral winds of 16 to 18 knots. For the Maxi 1 and 2 classes, a course of around 43 miles was chosen that initially took the two divisions south to round the islands of Mortorio and Soffi, then on an upwind leg to enter the La Maddalena channel through the Passo delle Bisce strait, before circumnavigating the islands of La Maddalena and Caprera clockwise and heading on a final reaching return leg to Porto Cervo, leaving the Monaci islet to starboard and the Secca di Tre Monti shoal to port.

All other classes completed a course of around 31 miles: after leaving the Monaci islet to port, the fleet sailed a close reaching upwind leg towards the Secca di Tre Monti shoal, from where they too rounded the islands of La Maddalena and Caprera in a clockwise direction and turned back towards Porto Cervo on a downwind run. 

The newly-crowned world champion, the 100-foot Leopard 3, came out on top thanks to a win in today's race alomgside two fourth places in the windward-leewards held earlier in the week, bringing them to an overall total of 9 points. Completing the podium were Django HF on 12 points, and the WallyCento V with 14 points. In this highly competitive Maxi 1 class, Deep Blue and Bullitt also ended the series with 14 points, but lost out on countback.

It was a similar situation in the Maxi 2 and Supermaxi classes. In the Maxi 2 group Proteus finished on equal points (8) with the runner-up, Jolt, with her win in today’s final race making the difference. Third place went to Northstar of London. Among the Supermaxi, the J Class yacht Svea won today's race to oust Moat, winner of the first coastal race, from the top spot. Third place went to Velsheda, the other J Class yacht competing.

In the Maxi 3 class, Aldo Parisotto's Oscar 3 came out on top, followed by Spirit of Lorina, today’s winner of the day, and Grande Orazio, who took third place on equal points. Likewise in the Maxi 4 class, the winner H2O was followed by Wallyño in second and Shirlaf in third on equal points.

Two wins ensured victory for the 66-footer Gaetana in the Multihull class, leaving Allegra in second place and Highland Fling XVIII in third.

Spectators were treated to particularly spectacular duels throughout today’s race between those boats with closely-matched performance characteristics, such as the four Maxi 2 boats, the multihulls Allegra and Highland Fling XVIII, and the J Class yachts Svea and Velsheda. Competition was also breathtakingly tight between the 100-footers Galateia and SHK Scallywag, Oscar 3 and Grande Orazio in the Maxi 3 class, and between the 60-footers Wallyño, owned by IMA President Benoît de Froidmont, and Manticore. 

Today the three young athletes from the Young Azzurra sports programme had the opportunity to race aboard three different maxi yachts owned by YCCS members. Maddalena Spanu (reigning Wingfoil world champion), Federico Pilloni (iQFOiL world youth champion) and Cesare Barabino, an ILCA 7 athlete, all relished this new and illuminating experience.

Andrea Recordati, YCCS Commodore: “This 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was undoubtedly complex due to weather conditions that prevented us from racing as much as we would have liked, but all credit must go to the Race Committee and the entire Yacht Club Costa Smeralda organisation for giving it their all. Today really delivered, offering the brisk, steady winds typical of the Costa Smeralda and a coastal course that took us through the spectacular scenery of the La Maddalena archipelago, and it was a good race for everyone. Congratulations to the winners in their respective classes and thank you on behalf of the YCCS to all the participants who helped make the event, as always, unique. I would also like to thank the president of World Sailing, Quanhai Li, for his crucial support and for being here with us in Porto Cervo, as well as our partner Rolex, with whom we are celebrating 40 years of collaboration.”

At a packed prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra, Rolex timepieces were awarded to the owners of the first-placed yachts in addition to two perpetual trophies in memory of Commodore Alberini, presented to Adrian Keller of Allegra, and the Paolo Massarini ORC Challenge Trophy, reserved for the Supermaxi class winner, Svea. Riccardo de Michele, owner of H2O, also received a prize as the top-ranking YCCS member.

During the 34th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, electric buoys with GPS positioning were used for the starts and windward-leeward courses, eliminating the need for anchoring, and preserving the integrity of the seabed.

The YCCS now turns its attention to the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup, starting on Monday 16th September.