Written by 
MAXI YACHT RACING – With the 23rd edition of the annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup less than a month away, anticipation is building for the pinnacle event of the Mediterranean sailing season. Close to 40 international crews have registered for this top-level competition that is open only to yachts of 18.29 metres (60 feet) or more. Running from 2-8 September, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, has been supported by Rolex since 1985.
Five days of intense racing throughout the celebrated Maddalena Archipelago are scheduled. The environment is perfectly suited to offer high-class sailing with the promise of challenging winds, scenic waters and rugged, rocky shorelines. The fleet is divided into five size-dependent classes – Supermaxi, Maxi Racing, Maxi Racing/Cruising, Wally and Mini Maxi, which also comprises the third running of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship.
The Mini Maxis currently entered include two-time world champion Rán 2 (GBR), owned by Niklas Zennström and fielding a highly professional crew. The 21.91-metre (72-foot) Rán 2 will face determined opposition provided by the likes of the recent Rolex Volcano Race winner, Sir Peter Ogden’s revamped 18.9-metre (62-ft) Jethou (GBR), as well as George Sakellaris’ 21.8-metre (71-ft) Shockwave (USA) and the much-anticipated, newly-launched 21.94-metre (72-ft) Bella Mente (USA), owned by Hap Fauth.
Follow Us!