 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - 2012 : Sardinian Storm: Racing Abandoned
PORTO CERVO, ITALY
Today’s scheduled second day of racing at the 2012 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was abandoned in the face of thunder, lightning, torrential rain and extreme gusts.
Cervo, Sardinia, usually conspicuous with blue skies and sunshine in early September, witnessed a series of severe squalls and even persistent hail storms. “Our intention was to have coastal races for four classes and windward/leeward racing for the Mini Maxis,” explains Principal Race Officer Peter Craig. “We delayed the start this morning because we had reports of a very confused sea state which we decided to let settle with every intention of getting racing underway. Things then looked good. The breeze was further east than predicted and about 10-14 knots.”
Around midday, the elements took a turn for the worse as Craig reveals: “Unfortunately reports about conditions inside the strait led to some different decisions as the situation deteriorated very quickly. Wind speeds of 25 knots became 35 knots with hail and cloud formations which we deemed to be unsafe.” The Race Committee had no alternative than to call the 34-strong international fleet back off the water.
The forecast for the coming days remains hard to predict due to the intense low pressure system prevailing over the northeast of Sardinia.
Weather permitting, tomorrow sees windward/leeward racing scheduled for the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship and coastal races for the other four classes. Crews will now expect to race on Thursday, previously scheduled as a lay day.
The competition’s current leaders after yesterday’s first day of racing are: Rán 2 (GBR) in the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship; Velsheda in Maxi Racing; Aegir (GBR) in Maxi Racing/Cruising; Nilaya (GBR) in Supermaxi and Magic Carpet 2 (GBR) in Wally.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the International Maxi Association, prestigious organizations with close ties to Rolex. A first-class social programme is in store, including the Rolex Crew Party and the final Prize-Giving Ceremony, where the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cups and Rolex timepieces will be presented to the winners.
How to Follow the Event
Further information on the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup may be found at www.yccs.it and www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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About Rolex
Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its OYSTER watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the OYSTER, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the PERPETUAL rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities as well as philanthropic and patronage programmes.
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