Spanish sailors left a distinct mark on the 36th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, securing two world titles across a highly competitive and technically demanding week of racing on the waters of the Costa Smeralda.
According to race reports, the regatta brought together a formidable international fleet of large yachts organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International Maxi Association and title sponsor Rolex. Over five days of competition featuring coastal courses and windward-leeward races, crews contended with variable conditions ranging from light early breezes to a fierce Mistral packing gusts exceeding 28 knots.
Leopard 3 Triumphs in Maxi 1 World Championship
In the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship, the Farr 100 Leopard 3 — owned by Joost Schuijff — claimed its second world title following a dominant run. After opening the event with a third-place finish, the 19-year-old yacht reeled off five victories across seven races, sealing the championship with a net total of 13 points.
Spanish sailors Pablo Torrado and Víctor Mariño played pivotal roles aboard the winning vessel. Torrado highlighted the extensive pre-regatta preparation, which included two weeks of intensive training followed by testing sessions in conditions spanning from zephyrs to heavy Mistral winds. Team modifications proved decisive, featuring a weight-reduced boom, a redesigned larger mainsail, and smaller rudders. The addition of Víctor Mariño as coach provided a noticeable performance boost, according to the team. The Maxi 1 crown caps a stellar campaign for Leopard 3, which also secured victory at the RORC Caribbean 600 in February.
Tactical leadership on board was anchored by New Zealander Chris Nicholson. Leopard 3 finished ahead of WallyCento V, campaigned by YCCS member Karel Komarek with 20 points, and the defending champion Galateia, sailed by David Leuschen and Chris Flowers, which took third with 22 points.
Northstar III Dominates Maxi Grand Prix Debut
Spanish success echoed in the Maxi Grand Prix class as well, where Pedro Mas and Antonio Otero helped propel the newly launched Northstar III to immediate glory.
Designed as a state-of-the-art J/V 76 equipped with cutting-edge innovations in keel, deck, and mast engineering, Northstar III captured the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix Championship in its maiden appearance. Guided tactically by two-time Olympic medalist Nick Rogers and owned by YCCS member Peter Dubens, the yacht rattled off four consecutive race wins to open the week before securing the title with a race to spare. Northstar III finished with 14 points, comfortably ahead of Balthasar in second.
Additional Class Winners and Spanish Contenders
The rigorous week of coastal racing through the La Maddalena archipelago also crowned victors in other divisions. Artemis Bleu triumphed in the fiercely contested Maxi 3 class under the tactical guidance of New Zealand’s Dean Barker, edging out Manticore in a thrilling conclusion. Other class winners included Wallyno in Maxi 4, H2O in Maxi 5, and Allegra among the multihulls.
Representing the remainder of the Spanish contingent, Andrés Varela Entrecanales’s Pelotari Project navigated the challenging conditions to finish seventh in the competitive Maxi 3 class.
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