Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda – Preview

by Quinag August 28, 12:09 UTC
8-14 September 2024

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has always been associated with top performance. For more than 40 years, this prestigious regatta has been one of the highlights of the international sailing calendar.

A strong foundation for an event with an influential role in the development of sailing was created from the outset by the vision of long-standing partners Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and Rolex, who this year celebrate the 40th anniversary of their close collaboration.

Rolex Brand Ambassador Paul Cayard, the legendary sailor from the United States and former Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup participant, explains why the event continues to be so attractive: “From the nautical environment to the race organization and the onshore program, everything at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is first class. I took part in the event for the first time in 1985 and over time it has developed into a varied and exciting mix of races. The successful and long-standing cooperation between Rolex as title sponsor and YCCS as organizer has made this possible.”

The 34th edition of the event will take place from September 8th to 14th. Over the course of five days of racing, the skill, precision and teamwork of well-prepared professional crews will be put to the test. In recent years, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has regularly attracted a fleet of around 40 yachts ranging from 18.29m (60ft) to over 40m (131ft), including some of the most impressive boats in the world. This year, a select group of high-performance boats from 24.4m (80ft) to 30.5m (100ft) and the highest rating will compete for the inaugural Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship title, adding to an already tense atmosphere.

Every year, several new models – impressive interpretations of the latest in maxi-yacht design and construction – make their regatta debut. Intense competition on challenging courses provides a demanding testing ground. The most legendary maxi-yachts of their respective eras can attest to this, from Boomerang and Kialoa IV in the 1980s to Morning Glory and Sayonara in the 1990s and the various versions of Alfa Romeo, Magic Carpet, Highland Fling and Rambler since the turn of the century.

A key factor in the event’s popularity is its exemplary race management, as YCCS Secretary General Edoardo Recchi explains: “Together with our partners Rolex and the International Maxi Association, our aim is to provide competitors with the perfect platform for their performance. Classes are carefully determined according to a yacht’s size, rating performance and other characteristics, while courses are chosen to suit the prevailing conditions each day. We strive to ensure that the racing is exciting and guarantees the world-class competition that has been expected after so many years.”

The Maddalena archipelago in Sardinia offers an enchanting setting. Its turquoise waters and rocky outcrops are world famous. Equally attractive is the quality and variety of sailing conditions. From the strength of the breeze to the state of the sea, challenging racing is guaranteed and no two days are the same. The evocatively named Bomb Alley, which winds between the Sardinian mainland and the islands, is one of the sport’s most revered locations.

As Rolex Brand Ambassador and four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie explains, there are few places to sail like the Costa Smeralda: “The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is inspiring. It is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest sailing destinations, combining breathtaking scenery and challenging, technical racing courses. The conditions are consistently excellent and the organizers always guarantee fair and competitive racing.”

The competition program includes both windward/leeward and inshore courses. Every leg of the race is crucial. A clean start is essential, rounding the markers must be executed flawlessly and optimal course selection is crucial. In an environment where so much is at stake, effective communication is essential, boat handling must be perfect and every crew member must know their role exactly. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup requires tactical skill, navigational foresight and exceptional crew work.

Success is highly coveted. It means having prevailed against relentless and motivated competition in a superlative sailing area. At the final awards ceremony on the Piazza Azzurra in front of the magnificent YCCS clubhouse, the winners’ achievements are rewarded with engraved Rolex watches and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup trophies.