| Writing the recipe |
| By Rolex Media. |
 |
Photos By Carlo Borlenghi, Daniel Forster and Kurt Arrigo for Rolex.
Edited by Peter Andrews. |
September 6, 2009. |
|
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.
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. |
|
Dockside at the YCCS, before the start of the 2009 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
|
 |
|
|
"No question this is an impressive fleet, not just in numbers but range of boats and quality of crew," said Craig. "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," Craig added.
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 and the Mini Maxi Racing roster alone could occupy this article by itself. |
|
Niklas Zennström's 21.9 metre JV 72 Rán 2 (GBR) at the Fastnet Rock, during the Rolex Fastnet Race 2009.
Photo © Rolex /
Kurt Arrigo.
|
 |
|
|
| Niklas Zennström’s 2009 Rolex Fastnet overall winner Rán (GBR); Roger Sturgeon’s 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart overall winner Rosebud (USA) and Andy Soriano’s 2008 Rolex Middle Sea Race and 2009 Giraglia Rolex Cup line honours winner Alegre (GBR); 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). |
|
Roger Sturgeon's STP 65 Rosebud Team DYT (overall winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2007), heading for Fastnet Rock during the Rolex Fastnet Race 2009.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
|
 |
|
|
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. |
|
Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008.
Photo © Rolex /
Kurt Arrigo.
|
 |
|
|
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," said Faruffini. 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. |
|
Karl Kwok's Blue Water 80 Beau Geste, during the Rolex Fastnet Race 2009.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
|
 |
|
|
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," concluded Owen Jones. |
|
Thomas Bscher Open Season, during the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008.
Photo © Rolex /
Daniel Forster.
|
 |
|
|
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). |
|
Velsheda, during the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008.
Photo © Rolex /
Kurt Arrigo.
|
 |
|
|
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 will 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. |
|
Maxi fleet getting ready for the 2009 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
Photo © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.
|
 |
|
|
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.
For more information about the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2009 including entry lists and results please visit www.yccs.it. |
|
| Outimage and Rolex © 2009 |
|
|
