Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

Bella Mente Racing took to the waters off Porto Cervo (Sardinia) with a bang today, winning the 38-mile coastal race in day two of the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship. Today’s breeze stepped it up a notch today, blowing between 16 and 22 knots, and Bella Mente Racing had secured its lead by the second turning mark.

The team, led by owner/driver Hap Fauth, holds third-place overall going into day three of racing tomorrow (only a quarter of a point behind Jethou in second-place and less than three points behind the class leader Robertissima III). The regatta runs through Saturday, September 12.

Hap Fauth:

We had a jib top on the long close reach and we were screaming along at 23 or 24 knots, I didn’t even look back. We put half a mile on everybody. She’s got legs when there’s a little bit of breeze and we’ve done a lot of offshore sailing, so we like this stuff.

(Fauth was unaware until he reached the dock that the mast of Caol Ila R had broken during one of the long reaches). “You hate to see that happen to anybody. We dropped a rig two years ago. Boom! If you’re racing hard… it happens.”

Mike Sanderson:

Today we nailed it, Hap, Terry (Hutchinson) and the guys got an excellent start, which ensured that we would be in the hunt after the first beat, and sure enough we rounded the top mark hot on Robertissima III’s heels. After a short run downwind, Hap executed a fantastic bottom-mark rounding, setting us up to pounce upwind on the next beat. After a couple of tacks, we were out in front. From there, the lead came in and out a few times as we approached the lee of the islands tracing the racecourse, but the boat was sailing fast and the guys did a great job in the maneuvers. It was a very solid race and fantastic to come away with a win.

This is my fourth Rolex Maxi Worlds, and although we won the event with Bella Mente in 2012, we had never won the coastal race until today. So to say we were keen to get that monkey off our back would be an understatement.”

Terry Hutchinson:

It was a solid day on Bella Mente. Hap, Soapy (Ian Moore), and Doogie (Sean Couvreux) executed a consistent start that saw Bella Mente around the top mark, in second behind Robertissima III. It was ‘nip and tuck’ for the first eight miles, and as we are learning, we need to keep it close and wait for an opportunity. This opportunity was presented at the first right turning mark going up to Monaci, where Hap steered Bella Mente to within one-meter of the mark, with the sails trimmed perfectly for the turn. This gave us just enough to gain off Robertissima III. From here we nibbled away at Robertissima III’s lead, and at the second exchange we were able to get a strong lee-bow and gain control. The race was hard though as we went through a lot of sail changes. Moose (Mike Sanderson) had us nicely in phase with what sail and when; it was good to see that the cross training with coastal races from earlier in the season had paid off. We are mindful though that it is only one race and there is plenty of racing still in front of us!”

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Click here for full class updates from the International Maxi Association

Click here for today’s press release from the event organizers