Exceptional debuts and top competitors set to return for Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2022

One month ahead of the start of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, entries have now closed and the fleet taking part has reached 50. The regatta, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in collaboration with the International Maxi Association (IMA) and with the support of long-standing title sponsor Rolex, is scheduled to run from 4 to 10 September and promises a week of spectacular racing on the waters of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena archipelago. 

The 32nd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will go down in history as the first to open the door to foiling boats. The event will in fact host the race debut of Roberto Lacorte's FlyingNikka, the first mini maxi capable of "flying" on foils in a similar way to the AC75 boats currently used in the America's Cup. Another much-awaited debut will be that of the Clubswan 80 My Song, owned by Pier Luigi Loro Piana, which will be officially presented by Nautor's Swan on the morning of 4 September at the YCCS in Porto Cervo. 

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will see an exceptional fleet on the water this year, including four J Class yachts racing together, one original and three replicas of the elegant boats of over 40 metres designed to compete in the America's Cup during the 1930s. Svea, the largest yacht in the fleet at 43.6 metres, will sail alongside two regular competitors in the event, Velsheda and Topaz. The J Class Ranger will also return, having last participated in the event in 2014.

The event has always stood out among international yachting events for its high standard of competition, gathering the cream of nautical design and boat building in Porto Cervo together with globally renowned professional sailors, champions who have earned Olympic medals and America's Cup victories. Among the most competitive boats in the fleet are undoubtedly the five former Maxi 72s, with Dario Ferrari on Cannonball returning to defend his title from last year.

Bullitt, the Wally 93' owned by Andrea Recordati, will be taking part in her first Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup this year. The entry list also includes the maxi racers Rambler and Deep Blue, while returning to defend titles claimed in 2021 will be Magic Carpet Cubed and the mini maxi Capricorno. The mini maxi cruiser division will see the return, among others, of the Vallicelli 78' H2O and the Swan 651 Lunz am Meer, owned by Riccardo de Michele and Marietta Strasoldo respectively.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an unmissable annual event that combines competitive sailing with the glamour of the location and social events ashore. Owners and crew from all over the world meet in Porto Cervo each year as much to renew ties of friendship as for the fierce competition. The event will open officially on 4 September with a Welcome cocktail at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, with racing scheduled to begin the following day, 5 September. 

The Annual General Meeting of the International Maxi Association will be held as usual during the week.

EVENT WEBSITE: www.yccs.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marialisa Panu/Giuliano Luzzatto (YCCS press Office)

Tel. +39 345 7938513 - +39 348 5966160

pressoffice@yccs.it 

Note to Editors:

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was founded in Porto Cervo, Sardinia in 1967 by current president H.H. the Aga Khan and a group of founder-members as a non-profit sporting association for fellow sailing enthusiasts. The YCCS is renowned for organizing international sailing events such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup as well as World and European championships for top one-design fleets. In recent years the Club has focused on promoting new superyacht events such as the Superyacht Regatta and the Perini Navi Cup. The Club has also promoted international challenges such as Azzurra - the first Italian challenger for the America's Cup in 1983 which became a legendary Italian brand and was relaunched by the YCCS in 2009 with a victorious participation in the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice, in 2001-2002 the participation in the Volvo Ocean Race with a two boat campaign one of which had an all-female crew, and the motor yacht Destriero which to this day holds the transatlantic crossing record set in 1992. 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the Club's foundation and saw the launch of a new sustainability program with One Ocean Foundation, in which YCCS added its voice to the global conservation effort. In 2020, the YCCS also launched the Young Azzurra Sporting programme dedicated to young Italian sailors, with a focus on equal opportunities.