"Svea" tactician Bouwe Bekking: "We didn't have any breakages to complain about - that's important in the J-Class"
Tactician Bouwe Bekking said after the final of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: "We had a fantastic week. We trained a lot and sailed well. We had good starts and that helped a lot. The crew's work was excellent, the boat was well prepared. We didn't have any breakages - that's important in the J class with boats weighing 185 tonnes. Porto Cervo is a fantastic sailing area. Sailing around the rocks and the mix with some up-and-down racing, good race management and a fantastic area: you can see the best pictures of these boats here."
Sailing under the Swedish flag, "Svea" won four out of five races in the majestic J-Class at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. "Ranger" sailed to second place ahead of last year's winner "Velsheda" and "Topaz". On the final day of the Maxi Rolex Yacht Cup, all three new owners of the puristically beautiful "Svea" were on board for the first time: Niklas Zennstrøm, Filip Engelbert and Hjalmar Winbladh. Here it goes to the results of the J-Class yachts.
In the Supermaxis class, the Swan 115 "Shamanna" prevailed against the Spirit Yachts 111 "Geist" and the Swan 115 "Moat 1". In the largest group of maxis with 13 starters, "Highland Fling XI" won ahead of the Wallycento "Galateia" and the Wally 93 "Bullitt". Claus-Peter Offen's Wally 100 "Y3K" sailed to sixth place.
In the Mini Maxi 1 group, "Vesper" secured victory ahead of "Proteus" and "Bella Mente". The Mini Maxi 2 division was very close, with "Capricorno" ultimately winning by just one point ahead of Milieus 80 "Twin Soul B". Third place went to Sven Wackerhagen's Wally 78 "Rose". After four wins in a row, the "H2O" clearly won the Mini Maxi 3 & 4 class ahead of the Milieus 65 FD "Oscar 3" and the Dehler 60 "Blue Oyster". Click here for all results of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck: "Owners and sailors are the true protagonists of this event"
The highly competitive 32nd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will also be remembered for the regatta premiere of the "Flying Nikka". Due to its radical design, the Mini-Maxi-Foiler formed its own class called Mini Maxi 0 at this first appearance.
At the prize-giving ceremony, Michael Illbruck, Commodore of the organising Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, reviewed the regatta week once again:
"The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is a special event, unique I would say, and we are proud to organise it. Some of the best sailors in the world come to Porto Cervo to sail on J-class boats designed in the 1930s. And on maxi yachts that are at the cutting edge of marine technology. We will continue to raise the bar and follow the path of innovation and excellence. My thanks go to our partner Rolex, the Race Committee and the international jury, the YCCS staff and all the owners and sailors. They are the true protagonists of this event. My congratulations go to all the winners of this 32nd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup."
In memory of Queen Elizabeth II: minute's silence on board
The late Queen of England was also commemorated at the Sardinia Classic. As a sign of respect for Queen Elizabeth II, Peter Duben's "North Star" and Sir Peter Ogden's "Jethou" had already taken part in the race on Friday for just 96 seconds before the crews cancelled their sails. Their crews stood on deck with their heads bowed for a minute's silence before returning to harbour.
