Photo Credit: ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi

Conditions proved to be too rough for racing for day three of the Rolex Maxi72 World Championship, with strong winds and a mountainous sea state being the main reasons for canceling the competition today. Stay tuned for more on-the-water action tomorrow!

Full report from the organizers:

Sadly for a second day, conditions proved too brisk for racing off Porto Cervo at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association.

As Principal Race Officer Peter Craig explained: “It came in real heavy at 2300 last night with 30-40 knots. This morning the wind was getting down to 20-25 here, but just to the north it was still 30-35 knots.” However it was not the wind, but an even more mountainous sea state than yesterday that was the main reason for Craig cancelling competition today.

With the change in schedule, the International Maxi Association took the opportunity to hold its Annual General Meeting, within the YCCS’s magnificent club house, with International Maxi Association President Thomas Bscher and Secretary General Andrew McIrvine overseeing proceedings.

At the meeting Andrew McIrvine was re-elected as Secretary General while George Andreadis stood down as Treasurer to be replaced by Sir Peter Ogden, owner of the Maxi 72, Jethou. Taking over as Vice Presidents in the Mini Maxi Racer and Racer Cruiser divisions respectively were Roberto Lacorte (owner of the Vismara-built Mills 62) and Benoit de Froidmont (owner of the Wally 60, Wallyῆo).

A preliminary 2017 race schedule was announced for the Maxi 72s including the RORC Caribbean 600 and Les Voiles St Barth in the Caribbean before the boats return to the Mediterranean. There their schedule includes regular fixtures such as a Palma Vela, Copa del Rey MAPFRE and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup but with two new events, the first to take place at the end of May at a venue (probably in Italy) still to be finalised, the second, the Corfu Challenge Trophy, taking place over 3-8 July.

For next season the Maxi 72 fleet is set to be joined by a new boat, currently nearing completion at Premier Composite Technologies in Dubai to a design by Botin Partners, the Spanish design house’s first Maxi 72 offering. This boat and the present Robertissima are in the process of being sold to new owners. Existing World Champion, Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente, Dieter Schön’s MOMO and George Sakellaris’ Proteus are set to participate in the Caribbean events, before being joined by Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou and Alex Schaerer’s Caol Ila R once back in the Med.

The Maxi 72 Class is currently an affiliate of the International Maxi Association. A similar arrangement is now planned for the J-Class Association.

“The International Maxi Association did well in the last 12 months,” reported International Maxi Association President, Thomas Bscher. “While participation in yachting is shrinking, our events have been well supported and the fleet is growing. The Maxi part the sport at least is in good shape.” This was highlighted by the record number of entries at this year’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, with numbers growing particularly in the Mini Maxi (18.29-24.08m) and Super Maxi (30.50+m) fleets. As ever the Wally fleet remains strong with the largest participation this week in Porto Cervo.

The Mini Maxis for example have enjoyed the welcome return of one of its founding members, Carlo Puri Negri and his Atalanta II. This Farr 70 won at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup a decade ago, but due to the economic downturn, was subsequently mothballed until last season.

“Then we decided to do some work on the boat to improve it,” says Puri Negri, explaining that this was overdue, the boat originally having been launched in 2004 and designed to the IMS rule. Last year the stern was modified and made more powerful and a new bulb was fitted, along with a bowsprit. While the mast is original, it has been strengthened and twin backstays added to accommodate masthead spinnakers and a new flat-top mainsail.

Following this work, the boat was relaunched earlier this year and so far this season has enjoyed success offshore. However a profoundly disappointing Tuesday at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Puri Negri desperately hopes was a one-off.

With the relaunch of Atalanta II, Puri Negri is also getting stuck in again with the International Maxi Association having been, he admits, a ‘sleeper member’ for the last few years. “We had the biggest fleet when I left. Now I want to repeat that, but we have to change the rules and try to limit spending,” he says.

Racing is set to continue tomorrow at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and PRO Peter Craig is confident of the final three days of the event being sailable, albeit in lighter conditions.

To try and recover the schedule, the first warning signal will be earlier tomorrow, at 1030, with the intention for the Maxi 72s to sail two coastal races. “They will be short to moderate length to make sure it is quality racing and then get them back to windward-leewards for the next two days,” concludes Craig.

For more on the International Maxi Association visit:www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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