Porto Cervo – The 32nd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup officially kicked off today with the skippers’ briefing and Welcome cocktail on the terrace of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The regatta is organised by the YCCS in collaboration with the IMA (International Maxi Association) and with the support of long-standing title sponsor Rolex.

The first starting signal is scheduled to sound tomorrow, Monday 5 September, at 12 midday, and the event will conclude on Saturday 10 September with the prize giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra, in front of the YCCS. Forecasts for the week indicate light breezes for the first part of the event, with a mistral wind moving in from Friday and expected to strengthen for Saturday.

The fleet of 50 maxi yachts – defined as having a minimum length of 18.3 metres/60 feet – present this year in Porto Cervo is particularly significant not only due to the sheer number of boats present, but also due to the extremely high level of the boats and crews taking part. Each of the participants has the potential to take home the silverware in one of the six classes that the fleet has been divided into to take account of the diversity of the vessels, which range from pure racers to yachts equipped for comfortable cruising. A sort of handicap rating is assigned to each boat, and scores are then styled based on compensated time.

The yachts lined up in front of the YCCS embody the pinnacle of great yachting from the1930s, with the J Class Velsheda,…