Sirocco blows in to Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2008

Ernesto Bertarelli’s Numbers (USA) retains his overall lead in the Mini Maxi Division as does George David’s Rambler (USA) in the Racing division. The event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, sees forty maxi yachts competing in the emerald waters off the north-eastern coast of Sardinia from 1st to 6th September.

This morning’s light breeze prompted the YCCS Race Committee to postpone the start of today’s racing by one hour, a wise move given that by the 12.30 start the breeze had filled in to almost 15 knots from south-southwest. The mini-maxis completed two windward-leeward races while the remaining three divisions sailed 30 nautical miles through the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago accompanied by winds which reached 25 knots at points. From the starting line off Porto Cervo the fleet enjoyed a downwind run to the Monaci island before heading south around the tip of Caprera and leaving the Secca Tre Monti to starboard. The fleet, led by the 100 feet (30.5 metre) supermaxi Alfa Romeo 2, then sailed west through the strait between Capo Ferro and the Isola delle Bisce before beating down to Mortoriotto and doubling back to finish off Porto Cervo.

Among the Mini Maxis Roger Sturgeon’s STP65 Rosebud/Team DYT took victory in real and corrected time in the first of today’s windward-leewards thereby breaking Bertarelli’s winning run on board Numbers. The Alinghi CEO came in a close second on handicap ahead of the other competing STP65, Jim Swarz’s Moneypenny (USA). The second race of the day was extremely close fought between the newly unveiled Alfa Romeo 3, Numbers and Rosebud/Team DYT. Numbers eventually got the upper hand and crossed the finish line little more than one minute ahead of Alfa Romeo 3, skippered by Torben Grael and with a large part of the Ericsson Racing team on board. Rosebud/Team DYT was a mere six seconds behind. Numbers, with four-time America’s Cup winner Brad Butterworth calling tactics, held onto first on corrected time ahead of Rosebud/Team DYT and now has three bullets after four races. Moneypenny was once again in third place. The overall scoreboard now sees Numbers in first place on five points, four points ahead of second place Rosebud/Team DYT with Moneypenny a further four points behind.

“We had been looking forward to a windward leeward day and knew today was going to be a two race day.” confirmed Numbers helmsman Ernesto Bertarelli. “We didn’t expect so much wind in the first race where we saw nearly 20 knots and it was consistently above 20 and up to 24knots for the second race of the day. They were fantastic conditions but very testing for the crew! We did a really good job in the 2nd race and in the 1st we were a little rusty and made a couple of mistakes so we didn’t win but came 2nd. Overall it has been a good day, we are happy. Sailing on Numbers is really fun; it is a fantastic boat. The designers did a really good job, and they are the same people that are part of the Alinghi design team: Rolf Vrolijk and Dirk Kramers.”

In the Racing Division Alfa Romeo 2, with British Olympic Medalist Ben Ainslie as strategist, blazed around the course, crossed the finish line 14 minutes ahead of Rambler and retained victory on corrected time. With today’s victory the New Zealand boat moved back up to the top spot in the overall classification.

Real time victory in the Cruising Division once again went to Arne Glimcher’s Ghost but it was the J Class Ranger who continued her reign with a third bullet on handicap in this third race. Hamilton II came in second in compensated time with Vittorio Moretti’s Viriella (ITA) in third. In the overall standings Ranger now has a nine point lead over Hetairos in second place while Bristolian sits in third.

In the Wally fleet Y3K, owned by Claus Peter Offen, took line honours for the third consecutive day but lost four places on handicap while Jean Charles Decaux’s J One took her first handicap victory of the week ahead of Thomas Bscher’s Open Season and Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling X. J One, which has Volvo Ocean Race navigator Matthew Humphries on board, now sits at the top of the overall classification two points ahead of Magic Carpet2 and Open Season, who both have nine points.

Following yesterday’s owner’s dinner at the YCCS Clubhouse, tonight it is the turn of the crews to relax and unwind at the Rolex Crew Party in Piazza Azzurra. Exclusive social appointments continue tomorrow with a Gala Dinner organized by Rolex at the Cala di Volpe Hotel.

Racing is scheduled to start at 14.00 tomorrow, Friday 5th September and the forecast predicts south-easterly winds of 18 to 20 knots.

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION Place Boat Name Owner Nation, R1-R2- Points

Racing
1. ALFA ROMEO Neville Crichton NZL, 1-2-1 4.0
2. RAMBLER George David USA, 2-1-2 5.0

Cruising
1. RANGER, RSV Ltd USA, 1-1-1 3.0
2. HETAIROS, Rockport Limited (GER), 4-4-4 12.0
3. BRISTOLIAN Edwin Van der Stratan NED, 5-3-7 15.0


Mini Maxi
1. NUMBERS, Meyers/Bertarelli USA, 1-1-2-1 5.0
3. ROSEBUD/TEAM DYT, Roger Sturgeon USA, 3-3-1-2 9.0
2. MONEYPENNY, Jim Swarz USA, 4-2-3-3 13.0

Wally
1. J ONE, Jean-Charles Decaux FRA, 4-2-1 7.0
2. MAGIC CARPET, 2 Lindsay Owen-Jones GBR, 1-4-4 9.0
3. OPEN SEASON, Thomas Bscher GER, 6-1-2 9.0