Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: a masterpiece of a day

The day's Class winners are Momo, Win Win, Rambler 88, Galateia, Jethou, Supernikka and H2O

The third day of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi72 World Championship was especially satisfying. The Mistral breezes kicked in just as predicted so the Maxi 72 and the Wally Classes managed to get two races in while the rest of the fleet raced along a spectacular 31 nm course through the archipelago, clockwise around La Maddalena and Caprera after rounding Isolotto dei Monaci on the left.

First places across the various Classes are currently held by: Momo (Maxi 72), Ribelle (Supermaxi), Rambler 88 (Maxi), Galateia (Wally), Jethou (Mini Maxi R), Supernikka (Mini Maxi RC1), H2O (Mini Maxi RC2).

Galateia and Magic Carpet Cubed - Wally, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup & Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship 2017. Photo Credits: Rolex/Borlenghi

Starting procedures got underway as scheduled at 11:30 with the Classes competing in the coastal race heading off toward Isolotto dei Monaci in northwesterly breezes at about 12 knots. By the afternoon the wind had built to 20 knots with gusts at up to 23.

The Maxi72s are racing for their world championship and the German yacht Momo placed first in both the day's races. "Today's conditions were ideal for us," said navigator Michele Ivaldi, "so we had to take the best advantage of them. We always got good starts, away from the other yacht's dirty air. Tomorrow we hope to repeat our performance; winds are predicted to be a bit stronger which doesn't scare us, what we're really worried about is the light air predicted for Friday. And naturally our competitors!" Momo is currently first overall followed by Bella Mente and Proteus, who have just a quarter of a point between them.

The Baltic 108' Win Win won the Supermaxi Class today in front of Ribelle, sailing with Francesco De Angelis at the helm. The later yacht is still in the lead overall. George David's Rambler 88 won the Maxi Class but is tied for the lead overall with the 82' Highland Fling XI, owned by YCCS member Sir Irvine Laidlaw. The Wallycento Galateia placed first in one race and second in the other today and is currently leading her Class followed by the 80' Nahita (4-2) and Lyra (5-6).

Sir Peter Ogden's 72' Jethou continues to lead the Mini Maxi R Class after placing first again today. She is followed by Bryon Ehrhart's Lucky and Spectre, owned by Peter Dubens. The Mini Maxi RC1 Class saw Roberto Lacorte's Supernikka win the day's coastal race and capture the Class lead with just one point on Wallyno. The Mini Maxi RC2s saw Riccardo De Michele's Vallicelli 80' H2O, with tactician Lorenzo Bodini, beat Giuseppe Puttini's Swan 65 Shirlaf by just one point. 

Tommaso Chieffi, tactician aboard Supernikka, had these words: "Today's race was hard fought in a nice Mistral breeze that seemed a little irregular at first. We're in the lead after three races, but we're all quite close: Wallyno is just one point behind us, so the games are open. The yacht is sailing well, the team is too and we're happy with our results so far."

Tomorrow only the Maxi 72 and Wally Classes will compete to make up for the race they missed yesterday due to light winds. It will be lay day for the other Classes. Mistral breezes at 20 to 25 knots are forecast and tomorrow evening will see the YCCS host their Crew Party in piazza Azzurra.