Side by side there is an impressive quarter-kilometre. Bow to stern it stretches to one-kilometre. But perhaps the most impressive number is 43. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has never done things by halves and this year is no exception. Organised for the twentieth time by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the big boat event of the season has upped its numbers from last year in a period that has seen most numbers dropping. It is not a record fleet, falling three short of the 46 set in 2006, but that is a pedantic detail. Some of the finest sailors in the world are gathered in Porto Cervo to do battle over the next six days on some of the finest yachts built.
Racing starts tomorrow and the man in charge is Peter Craig, “no question this is an impressive fleet, not just in numbers but range of boats and quality of crew. We’ve got five starting groups and, whilst experience shows we’ll have competitive racing across the board, the standout group is probably the Mini Maxis.” With eight high-art exponents in the Racing Division and eleven in the Racing/Cruising Division this segment of the Maxi fleet is in rude health. The Mini Maxi Racing roster could occupy this release by itself. Niklas Zennstrom’s Ràn (GBR) (2009 Rolex Fastnet overall winner); Roger Sturgeon’s Rosebud (USA) (2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winner) and Andy Soriano’s Alegre (GBR) (line honours winner – 2008 Rolex Middle Sea Race; 2009 Giraglia Rolex Cup) will be up against Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente (USA), current leader of the 2009 IMA Mediterranean Circuit; Alfa Romeo 3 the latest steed of Neville Crichton who has won here twice before; Patrizio Bertelli’s Luna Rossa (ITA) with Torben Grael and Robert Scheidt on the crew list; former Admiral’s Cup winner Udo Schutz with Container (GER), and Sir Peter Ogden’s jet-black Jethou (GBR).
For Hap Fauth the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has been a long time coming. This is his first time at the event and he and his crew have been in the Med since mid-April following a tough programme of racing in preparation. “I consider myself the senior rookie in this wonderful event. First impressions are that it is just spectacular, the island is beautiful and the sailing conditions seem ideal. We’ve been here practising for a few days and are just excited to get racing.” As a newcomer, we were interested in Fauth’s view on the ingredients required for success at an event of this stature. His answer was no great surprise, “consistency” he advised, but the tenor of his voice suggests this is an easy word to say and a harder objective to achieve. Seasoned and successful Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup competitor, Neville Crichton echoes Fauth’s contribution to the recipe, but adds “preparation”, something he feels Alfa Romeo is lacking coming into this regatta, despite showing herself to be competitive at the Copa del Rey. Crichton, though, is an experienced campaigner and lacks nothing in determination to succeed. So prepared or not, Alfa will be no pushover this week.
Filippo Faruffini is another owner who has tasted success at this event, having won his class in 2006 with the sheep in wolf’s clothing – Roma-Aniene (ITA), a cruising yacht disguised as a racer. Competing in the Racing/Cruising Division comprising yachts between 80 and 100 feet, Faruffini laughingly remarks that his contribution to the cooking pot would be “a new boat, new sails and a good crew!” He quickly adds more seriously that in his view finding the right mix of ingredients is vital, “it is the way you put together the sails, crew, skipper, boat; they all count.” Faruffini is also one of the many master-chefs gathered here that sees another element critical to the taste, ” you must be lucky too,” he adds. With the likes of Sagamore (ITA), one of the racing maxis of the late 1990s, the Swan 90 DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) and Karl Kwok’s eighty-foot Beau Geste (HKG) on his start-line, Faruffini will have little opportunity to keep his fingers crossed. Luck will be in the lap of the gods.
Someone who perhaps knows more than most just how much luck plays a key part is Lindsay Owen Jones, owner of Magic Carpet 2 and a four-time winner at this regatta. Owen Jones could probably have won more times, but has seen blown-out sails and even losing the top section of his mast put paid to his hopes in the past. Magic Carpet 2 is competing in the seven-boat Wally Division and will be up against some familiar foes in Thomas Bscher’s Open Season (GER), Claus Peter Offen’s latest Y3K (GER), Andre Auberton’s Dark Shadow (GBR) and another former winner, Jean-Charles Decaud’s J One (FRA). According to Owen Jones making an event like this a primary objective is also significant factor, “you’ve got to be lucky to win races here. But I think you’ve got to make this a priority. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is always that for us and so beforehand we are constantly gearing up for it. Afterwards is time for relaxation.”
The start that may prove most difficult to measure all ingredients to the correct quantities looks to be the Cruising/Spirit of Tradition. Nine boats, none under 100-feet and the longest, Hasso Plattner’s Visione (GER), a staggering 149-feet will make a truly visual impact on the line. There will be little room for error on the fleet’s second largest yacht, Albert Buell’s ultra-modern Saudade (MLT) or the more classic-lined Velsheda (GBR), Hetairos (CAY) and Maria Cattiva (MLT).
Speculation ends tonight. Tomorrow the event begins in earnest. With five days of racing scheduled, no one will want to come to the boil too early, but those that have put together the best recipe for success will need to starting proving it.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will officially greet the competitors tonight with a welcome cocktail at the stunning clubhouse that overlooks Porto Cervo Marina. At the end of each racing day, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda along with title sponsor Rolex will provide a lush array of top class social events: Highlights include the YCCS Dinner on Tuesday, the Rolex Crew Party in the Piazza Azzurra on Thursday and the Rolex Dinner at the world renowned Cala di Volpe luxury resort on Friday. The week ends with Saturday’s final Prizegiving Ceremony and Closing Cocktail, where the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cups and Rolex timepieces will be awarded to the overall winner of each Division.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association (IMA), will run from 6 to 12 September. Racing commences tomorrow, Monday and with racing scheduled for each following day, save Thursday, the prize giving on Saturday will be the culmination of an intense week of big boat racing. From the most luxurious, through the most traditional, to the most advanced monohulls afloat today, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is nothing if not an astonishing line up of sailing power.