Race around the islands on Day Three of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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Porto Cervo, Italy. 6th September 2006. Day Three of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organized in Porto Cervo by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda started out with the fleet waiting for light breezes to pick up but ended in a good day’s racing. The long race which was scheduled for today failed to materialise due to the light winds but the fleet instead raced on technically challenging courses through the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago.

The Spirit of Tradition Division, the vintage and replica yachts sailing in the competition, set out first on a course of approximately 26 nautical miles which took them from the start just off Porto Cervo northwards to the promontory of Capo Ferro before turning west and rounding the Secca Tre Monti rock. From there the fleet sailed upwind to round Monaci Island and then raced back down to Mortoriotto, south of Porto Cervo, which they rounded to starboard before reaching the finish line right at the mouth of Porto Cervo harbour, thereby providing a breathtaking sight for spectators watching from the Marina. As the fleet rounded the Secca Tre Monti rock Hetairos was leading Adela by a small margin with Annagine not far behind. Hetairos went on to win in real time by just under 6 minutes over George Lindemann’s Adela. On handicap Hetairos retained her lead with Adela coming in second and Annagine in third.

The remaining divisions raced a longer course of approximately 35nautical miles which took them from the same starting line to Monaci Island and the Secca Tre Monti Rock before rounding Santo Stefano Island and passing between the islands of La Maddalena and Spargi. The fleet then headed up to round of the most northerly islands of the archipelago, Barettinelli, before heading back around the outside of the islands and on to Pevero Bay before crossing the finish line.

The Racing division saw yet another day of close-fought racing between Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo and Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI. With roughly one third of the race run  Alfa Romeo was leading around the Secca Tre Monti, she went on to take the double for the second consecutive day, winning in real (four minutes ahead of Wild Oats) and corrected time. Hasso Platner’s Morning Glory came in second on corrected time and Wild Oats XI dropped to third.

Magic Carpet Squared led the Wally division around the course for the third day running but dropped back to fourth place on handicap. Dark Shadow took first place on corrected time followed by Tango and Tiketitan.

Among the Mini Maxis Carlo Puri Negri’s Atalanta II took her third consecutive real time victory and for the first time held on to the top spot in corrected time. She was followed by yesterday’s handicap winner Aleph and Flying Dragon respectively.

In the Cruising Division Arne Glimcher’s Ghost crossed the finish line first in real time for the third consecutive day but dropped back to fifth place on corrected time. Filippo Farrufini’s Roma took first place on handicap for the second consecutive day, ahead of the Swan 80 Fantasticaaa and Allsmoke.

The boats leading up each of their respective divisions after 3 races are: Hetairos for the Spirit of Tradition fleet, Alfa Romeo in the Racing division, Magic Carpet Squared among the Wallys and Aleph in the Mini Maxi division.

Tomorrow, Thursday 7th September will be a layday and crews will be able to rest up and enjoy the Sardinian sunshine before the final two days of racing. Tomorrow night will see the much awaited Rolex Gala Dinner hosted at the Cala di Volpe Hotel.  Racing will continue on Friday and Saturday.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be followed by the Rolex Swan Cup (11-17 September), which will close the YCCS 2006 sporting calendar. For more details on these regattas and all of the Club’s events please visit www.yccs.it.

Full results and details of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup are available on www.yccsmaxi.com.

High resolution photos are available on www.regattanews.com.