YACHT
CLUB COSTA SMERALDA’S 2005 MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP ATTRACTS
RECORD FLEET
International
Fleet of 40 To Compete September 4-10 Off Sardinian Coast;
US Entries Include George Lindemann’s Adela, Harry Macklowe’s
Unfurled, and Randall Pittman’s Whirlaway
PORTO
CERVO, Italy (August 10, 2005) With less than four weeks to
the start of the 2005 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the entry list
has reached a record 40 yachts. The largest fleet in the history
of the event will gather in Porto Cervo September 4 to 10,
2005 to compete in the 16th running of the regatta organized
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and sponsored by Rolex.
As in past years, competitors include international business
and sailing elite. Thirteen countries are represented including
Australia, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and
the United States.
“The
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one of the most spectacular sailing
events in the world today,” commented Gianfranco Alberini,
Commodore of the YCCS. “The combination of these finely-honed
yachts, the stunning Costa Smeralda coastline and Porto Cervo’s
unique charm provides for a week of outstanding racing and
entertainment for owners, crews and their guests. With a record
number of yachts competing, this year’s regatta will
be a showcase of pure racing machines, breathtaking classic
yachts, and state-of-the-art racer-cruisers.”
Among
the regular competitors returning are: New York real estate
mogul Harry Macklowe sailing his 112-foot Unfurled; Great
Britain’s Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, CEO of L’Oreal,
sailing his Wally Magic Carpet Squared; and self-made US billionaire
George Lindemann sailing Adela, the largest yacht in the fleet
at just over 180 feet.
Competition
will be fierce among veterans of this world-class event and
first timers, which include Maximus, the new 98-foot, “supermaxi,”
owned by Bill Buckley and Charles St Clair Brown of New Zealand,
and Australian Grant Wharington’s 98-foot Skandia.
The fleet
will be divided into Racing, Cruising and Wally Divisions,
with the classic Spirit of Tradition yachts included in the
Cruising Division. A mixture of windward-leewards and coastal
races will take competitors on challenging routes through
the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago.
Joining
Maximus and Skandia in the Racing Division, which groups the
most high-tech “speed-machines,” will be Arien
Van Vemde’s Sotto Voce of the Netherlands and Roland
Pieper’s Favonius from the BVI. With Maximus fresh from
victory in the Grand Prix Division in the Rolex Transatlantic
Challenge and line honours in the Rolex Fastnet Race, and
Skandia newly re-launched following a rebuild, spectators
can look forward to a week-long battle between these two Titans.
In the
Cruising Division, last-year’s winner, Mister A, owned
by Italy’s Aldo Pagani, will face tough competition
from second- and third-place title holders Velsheda of Great
Britain and Germany’s Inspiration, as well as from Randall
Pittman’s 140 foot Whirlaway from the United States.
In the
Wally Division Tiketitan, helmed by Luca Bassani, founder
of Wally Yachts, will be doing battle again with Argentina’s
Alberto Roemmers, whose Alexia won last year. In 2004, Tiketitan
placed second with Bassani at the helm. Magic Carpet Squared,
Norway’s Nariida and Italy’s Kauris III will also
be competitors to watch.
The Maxi
Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Settimana delle Bocche, taking
place September 12 through 17, will close the Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda’s 2005 sporting calendar. For full details
of these regattas and all of the Club’s events visit
www.yccs.it.
CLASSIFIEDS AUSTRALIA
