| Sun shines in Jethou in Gaeta. |
| By the Rolex Volcano Race Media Team, May 19, 2012. |
| Photos by Kurt Arrigo for Rolex, edited By Peter Andrews. |
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Sir Peter Ogden’s 60-ft Mini Maxi Jethou (GBR) won today’s windward-leeward race at the 2012 Rolex Volcano Race, held in Gaeta, Italy. Fourteen of the 19 entered Maxi yachts contested the race, which marked the first segment of this year’s event.
Jethou triumphed on handicap having finished second on the water to Claus-Peter Offen’s 100-ft Y3K (GER), who attacked the 8.8-nautical mile course in a time of one hour, five minutes and 39 seconds. Ian Budgen, longstanding part of the Jethou afterguard, was delighted at winning a highly competitive race. |
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Sir Peter Ogden’s 60-foot Mini Maxi Jethou (GBR), crosses in front
of Filip Balcaen’s 112-ft Supermaxi Nilaya (BEL), during windward-leeward
race leading up to the the Rolex Volcano Race 2012.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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“It was lovely out there, nice and warm. We had 9 to 13 knots of breeze, so great sailing conditions. Over the last six months a lot of changes have been made to the boat and on a light air day like today the modifications make a big difference.”
Whilst Jethou will take confidence from today’s victory, the hard work begins tomorrow with the first leg of the 400-nautical mile offshore race, commencing at 15:00 CEST. Running from Gaeta to Capri, the initial 100-nautical mile leg serves as an enticing appetiser to the more significant 300-nautical mile Leg Two, starting from Capri on Tuesday May 22 and comprising a voyage around the UNESCO-protected Aeolian Islands, geological wonders in the Tyrrhenian Sea. |
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Claus-Peter Offen's Wally 100 Maxi Y3K (GER) ahead of Filip Balcaen’s
112-ft Supermaxi Nilaya (BEL), during windward-leeward race leading up
to the the Rolex Volcano Race 2012.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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Today’s skippers’ briefing held at the Club Nautico Gaeta, attended by noted tacticians including Jethou’s Brad Butterworth, Berenice Bis’s (ITA) Tiziano Nava and Tommaso Chieffi of the sole Russian entry Bronenosec, provided the international crews with the latest information regarding the conditions forecast for the offshore race.
Official race meteorologist Filippo Petrucci predicts relatively rough conditions as the week progresses.
“Sunday evening will be characterised by a low pressure system which will arrive over the central western part of the Mediterranean, so we expect rain and unsettling conditions for the conclusion of Leg One on Monday. Regarding the outlook for the rest of the week the low pressure system will continue into Tuesday, with mostly cloudy skies and a risk of isolated thunderstorms bringing changeable winds. This may lead to very strong offshore winds between Tuesday and Wednesday of 25 to 30 knots with even stronger gusts.” |
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The weather briefing at the Yacht Club Gaeta.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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In short, and compared to last year’s feeble conditions, the crews should be braced for a relatively quick dash around the majestic islands.
Today’s full results are available here: www.imaresults.com/rvrresults.htm. |
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Action onboard Filip Balcaen’s 112-ft Supermaxi Nilaya (BEL), during
windward-leeward race leading up to the the Rolex Volcano Race 2012.
Photo © Rolex / Kurt Arrigo.
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| The Rolex Volcano Race is organised by the International Maxi Association (IMA) and is open to Maxi yachts (measuring over 18.29 metres or 60-feet in length). Further information on the Rolex Volcano Race may be found at www.internationalmaxiassociation.com. |
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| Outimage and Rolex © 2012. |
