Since the early 1980s, maxiyacht owners and sailors have been drawn to the Emerald Coast and, specifically, the annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Considered the perfect sailing package, the event brings together first-class organisation, a majestic sailing environment and the world’s leading maxiyachts and professional crews.
Rolex and the event organizer, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), have had a close collaboration for almost 40 years. The longevity of this collaboration has been at the core of the event’s continued success and evolution. The week-long regatta is organized by the International Maxi Association (IMA).
The 2023 edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be considered a special vintage. Four days of racing offered the full repertoire of the Emerald Coast sailing experience, from the strong breeze, big waves and robust sea state of the race’s opening exchanges to the light, unstable conditions that closed the event. The countless racing circuits of the Maddalena archipelago feature numerous narrow passages and rocky outcrops. On these testing playing fields, sailing powerful yachts at high speeds requires total synergy in teamwork and deft boat handling skills.
The sailors, drawn from the cream of professional sailing talent, were captivated by the week’s competition. Former Rolex World Sailor of the Year Mike Sanderson, part of Bella Mente’s stern guard, was a case in point: «The location is very special. Sun, big waves and great breeze. For many teams, this is the pinnacle event of their year. “We have worked all year to develop the boat and be ready for this regatta.”.
For Mitch Booth, two-time Olympic medalist, 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race winning skipper and Leopard 3 tactician, the event is like no other: “Coming together in such an iconic location is a true highlight of the season and a clash of the titans, the best against the best in perfect sailing”.
Praise went to the six category winners who demonstrated great consistency and experience in dealing with both the vagaries of the conditions and the formidable nature of the opposition. The winners were: Galateia (Maxi Class A), Bella Mente (Class B), Spirit of Lorina (Class C), Y3K (Supermaxi), Svea (Class J) and Allegra (Maxi multihull).Since its foundation, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has been the showcase of the evolution in the design and technology of maxi yachts. The 48-strong fleet for this year’s 33rd edition was one of the most eclectic to date. From the largest entrant Svea (43.6m/143ft) to the smallest Blue Oyster (18.3m/60ft), an eye-catching range of yachts were on display.
Innovations for the 2023 edition included the first appearance of the maxi multihulls. As YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck explains, this aligns with the event’s long-standing commitment to being at the forefront of developments: «Change is a constant in the world of sailing, and continuous evolution has been the key to the success of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, from the first edition in 1980 to the present. The inclusion of multihulls fits perfectly into this perspective, a natural development for an event that has always been characterized by cutting-edge technology. Opening up to other categories allows owners to continue pursuing their passion and can inspire others to do so.”.
Older competing yachts included the J Class Velsheda and the recently restored Baruna, both from the 1930s. The open season of Thomas Bscher’s Baltic 68 proved to be a highlight among the more recent launches and symbolizes a movement within design of sailing to consider even more closely the environmental impact in all aspects of a boat’s construction and performance. Creating fair and exciting competition in such a diverse fleet requires a significant race management organization, something for which The event has been famous for a long time. The classification system and class division are built with this in mind and to give owners and sailors the platform to pursue their passion for the sport.
On the water, one of the closest divisions was the eight-strong Maxi B group, where American yachts Bella Mente and Proteus split up to challenge for the title. Going into what turned out to be the last race of the regatta, they were tied on points. Bella Mente finished first to cap an impressive week on the water in which the all-star crew, predominantly together for the past decade, earned two points and three second places. Delight for the owner Hap Fauth: «We come every year and it is the pinnacle of our season. This is our fourth victory in eleven years and the closest.”.
Even closer was the Supermaxi competition. Only three points separated the top three yachts: Moat, Inoui and the eventual Y3K winner, the recently launched Wally 101. It marked a return to Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup success for owner Claus-Peter Offen: «I’ve been racing here for 25 years. For us it is the highlight of the regatta season. “This is where we want to be thanks to the beauty of the area and the yacht club.”
For the class winners, crowned at the final awards ceremony, victory in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is the reward for overcoming world-class competition, an intense and challenging racing program and having prepared themselves in the best possible way for the pinnacle event on the maxi yacht calendar. The predominant feeling was gratitude for an event that always offers excellence.
2023-09-10 07:32:17
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