All set for start of Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008
'Paul Cayard and Jim Swartz training on MONEYPENNY. Rolex Maxi Cup 2008'
© Rolex/ Kurt Arrigo
Forty Maxi yachts are lined up along the quays of the Marina Nuova in Porto Cervo eagerly awaiting the start of racing in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008, scheduled for tomorrow, 2nd September, at 11.30 am.
The event, now in its 19th edition, is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and racing on the emerald waters off Sardinia's north-eastern coast will take place each day from 2nd to 6th September.
Competing boats will be divided into four divisions: Cruising, Mini Maxi, Racing and Wally. The cruising division sees 12 maxi yachts racing under IRC handicap and includes the largest of the fleet, the 44 metre (144 feet) Bermudian sloop Salperton. This division also includes all three top-placed boats from the 2007 edition: Ranger (CAY.ISL), owned by John Williams, Velsheda (GBR) and Arne Glimcher's Ghost (USA).
The Mini Maxi division hosts 18 boats measuring between 60 and 79 feet which will race under IRC handicap. With a host of world-class sailors and newly launched racing yachts competing in this division the field is wide open. Among those to watch will be the newly launched Alfa Romeo 3 with five-time Olympic medalist Torben Grael at the helm. Grael's brother Lars will be heading up the mixed disabled and able-bodied crew on board Argo on Atalanta II (ITA), owned by Carlo Puri Negro.
Also sailing in the Mini Maxi division are the first two examples of the new STP65 box rule racing yacht Moneypenny (USA)owned by Jim Swarz with America's Cup veterans Paul Cayard, Francesco De Angelis and Gavin Brady forming part of the crew and Rosebud/Team DYT owned by Roger Sturgeon with former Shosholoza helmsman Tommaso Chieffi on board. Taking a break from his ongoing legal battles is two-time America's Cup winner Ernesto Bertarelli who will be sailing on board the chartered Numbers together with Ed Baird, Brad Butterworth and several other members of the Alinghi crew.
'I'm really happy to be back in Porto Cervo,' commented YCCS member Bertarelli. ' I think this is one of the most beautiful and interesting places to sail in the world and this is the second time I've been here this summer. I am really hoping for some of Sardinia's famous winds which can normally be relied on in this part of the island. Hopefully we'll get some of the Mistral that makes regattas so spectacular here.'
The Racing division sees only two sailing giants competing but with Finn class sailor Ben Ainslie fresh from taking gold in the Olympics on board Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo 2, together with the best part of the Ericsson Volvo Ocean Race sailing team, and team New Zealand's Ray Davies calling tactics on George David's Rambler, the competition is sure to be spectacular.
The eight-strong Wally fleet includes past division winners such as Peter Offen with his Y3K (GER, 2005), Lindsay Owen Jones' Magic Carpet 2 (GBR, 2006) and Jean Charles Decaux's J One (FRA, 2007). Luca Bassani, CEO and President of Wally yachts will be onboard the boatyard's latest creation, the Bill Tripp-designed 43.7 metre (144 feet) sloop Esense (ITA).
After a hard days racing owners and crews will be looking forward to relaxing at the wide array of social events organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and title sponsor Rolex including gala dinners, crew parties and after-race refreshments on the Club's Piazza Azzurra.
Tomorrow's forecast predicts westerly winds of approximately 12 to 15 knots. Racing is scheduled to start at 11.30 am.
For further information on the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the entire YCCS sporting season please visit www.yccs.itor www.regattanews.com
by YCCS Press Office 
