Scores tighten at Mini Maxi Worlds

Porto Cervo, Italy (September 3, 2014) – The third day of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship was blessed with bright sunshine and a northerly gradient breeze, which shifted north east in the afternoon. A significant swell was still evident and changeable conditions developed as the sea breeze arrived during the afternoon. All classes, save the Mini Maxi Racing division, were set a coastal course of approximately 30 miles. The Mini Maxis held two windward leeward races several miles offshore.

In the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship, Mills 68 Caol Ila with Alexander Schaerer at the helm, won the first race of the day after IRC time correction. George Sakellaris RP72, Shockwave won the last race by just 11 seconds after IRC time correction. Shockwave and Caol Ila both posted a third to go with their victories, to equal the lowest points score of the day.

“That was a much better day than yesterday,” smiled Alexander Schaerer dockside. “It was an interesting race for us because we have not raced windward leewards for some time, so yesterday we were trying to get back into short race course mode and our results were not as we would like but today we got back into the right frame of mind and it is looking more promising for the rest of the week.”

After five races, it is Alegre that tops the overall standing going into the second half the week, 1.5 points ahead of Robertissima III with perennial powerhouse crew on Ràn 5 a further 0.5 point back in third. Up to three races remain.

After four races, the nine-strong Wally Class looks likely to reach a dramatic conclusion by the end of the week. Jean Charles Decaux’s Wally 80, J-One still leads the class but after today’s coastal race, J-One’s lead is now just a single point. Wally Cento, Magic Carpet 3 helmed by Sir Lindsay Owen Jones won today’s race to tie for second place for the regatta with Wally 100, Y3K, helmed by Claus-Peter Offen. One of these three yachts is likely win the Wally Class.

A lay day will be observed tomorrow with racing to continue on Friday, September 5 and conclude on Saturday.

Event website – Results

Report by event media. Photo of Alegre by Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi.