The 19th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concluded on Saturday with the announcement of the winners. The Race Committee waited for the wind off Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda until 1345, but the light and shifty breeze failed to reach more than an average of 2 knots, forcing racing to be abandoned.
Overall victory went to George David’s Rambler (USA), Ernesto Bertarelli’s Numbers (SUI), Ranger (CAY ISL) and Lindsay Owen Jones’ Magic Carpet 2 (GBR, pictured).
With Rambler and Alfa Romeo 3 the only competitors in the Racing division, the four days saw a constant leapfrogging between the two with the last to win taking control of the overall classification.
While Alfa Romeo 3 came in fourth in the Mini Maxi division it was Bertarelli’s Numbers, whose crew included Ed Baird, Brad Butterworth and most of the America’s Cup-winning Alinghi team, that dominated from the beginning and finished with a five point delta over second placed Rosebud/Team DYT (USA). Jim Swartz’s Moneypenny (USA), with America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Paul Cayard aboard, took third.
The J Class Ranger, a reproduction of the classic 1937-launched yacht of the same name, stormed to victory in the Cruising class with a clean run of bullets and an eleven point advantage over second-placed Hetairos (GER). Velsheda (GBR), the other competing J Class, took third place.
In the Wally class, which had eight competing yachts, L’Oreal President Lindsay Owen-Jones took first place with his Magic Carpet 2 (GBR) ahead of Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling X (GBR) and Thomas Bscher’s Open Season (GER). The final overall classification shows just how close the competition was, with only two points separating the top four boats.
Overall Standings
Racing 1. Rambler, George David, USA, 6 points 2. Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton, NZL, 6
Cruising 1. Ranger, Rsv Ltd, USA, 4 2. Hetairos, Rockport Limited, GER, 15 3. Velsheda, Tarbat Inv Ltd, GBR, 19
Mini Maxi 1. Numbers, Meyers/Bertarelli, USA, 4 2. Rosebud/Team Dyt, Roger Sturgeon, USA, 9 3. Moneypenny, Jim Swartz, USA, 10
Wally 1. Magic Carpet 2, Lindsay Owen-Jones, GBR, 11 2. Highland Fling X, Irvine Laidlaw, GBR, 12 3. Open Season, Thomas Bscher, GER, 13
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