Fleet preparations
Pic - Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
September 17, 2004
Sailing is often likened to standing under the shower tearing
up hundred dollar bills.
Unless you race in a stellar class such as Maxi Yacht's that
is - then you can add a few zeroes to the denominations you're
turning into confetti. In early September, 2004, the class got
more expensive to run - way more expensive, thanks to the advent
of the canting keel.
Pyewacket prepares to hoist spinnaker at
the windward mark. Photo - Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
Every boat running at the pointy end of the racing in what
are effectively the world championships for Maxi yachts had
one of the new canting keels, relegating last year's champ,
Alfa Romeo, into sixth place.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has just concluded at the Yacht Club
Costa Smeralda, in Sardinia, Italy.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is effectively the World Championships
for the class and it gathers the best boats in the world. Unlike
most sporting contests, nearly all of the competitors have another
claim to fame - nobody can afford to play this high stakes game
unless they have achieved spectacular business success and a
discretionary income sizeable enough to feed a small third world
country.
Pyewacket's canting keel can be seen clearly
under the water as the boat flies downwind Photo - Carlo
Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
Sailing is a sport for people of immense resource. Sailing
a race boat is like running a business. Elite sailing is moreso
... much moreso. Sailing a Maxi competitively at this level
requires the technology and resources of a Formula One team.
Success at this level requires having climbed two mountains
- sailing and business on a global level.
The event was won by Roy Disney, vice chairman of the board
at Walt Disney Corporation and the entry list included Lindsay
Owen-Jones, CEO of L'Oreal, New York real estate mogul Harry
Macklowe the UK's Carphone Warehouse CEO, Charles Dunstone with
the 76-foot Nokia Enigma (handicap winner at the Rolex Fastnet
and Rolex Middle Sea Races in 2003).
Even the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, where the championships
were held, emphasises the calibre of the competition.
The start of race 4. Pic - Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
Located in Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Italy, it was founded in
1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan, as a non-profit club for
those passionate about the sea and marine sports.
In addition to its superb yachting facilities, the YCCS features
a clubhouse the likes of which only a few yacht clubs on the
planet can match, being the only club in the Mediterranean and
one of only four Yacht Clubs worldwide to have a reciprocal
agreement extending mutual privileges to their members of the
New York Yacht Club.YCCS also has reciprocal agreements with
Yacht Club di Monaco and the Royal Yacht Squadron (UK).
Sponsor Rolex could not find a more upmarket partner event.
Idea leads Mortoriotto - Pic - Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
Unlike most yacht racing around the world, the crews are not
comprised of primarily businessmen sailing enthusiasts enjoying
their leisure hours in like-minded company - these crews are
all highly trained, well paid athletes. The entourage that follows
these boats around the world numbers at least 25 such people.
And the boats are technological showcases.
Genuine Risk shows her canting keel - Pic
- Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex
(click to enlarge) |
We've followed Alfa Romeo's progress in Gizmo keeping our readers
updated on the boat's incredible run of success across 70 wins
and every major yacht race in the world. If you have an hour
to spare, check out the press statements issued by Alfa Romeo
over the last two years, detailing a pageant of race records
and wins in every major event for the class.
The Reichell-Pugh design
(click to enlarge)
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