35th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda - Day 3
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 11 Sep 08:55 NZST
7-13 September 2025
The WallyCento V leads the provisional classification in the Maxi 1 class - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi
The forecast Mistral arrived right on time today for the third day of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, providing a challenge for both boats and crews. Starting procedures got under way on both race courses at 1 p.m., as scheduled by the Race Committee, with initial winds of 12 knots building to reach 18-20 knots and gusting at up to 25. The fleet of nine yachts competing for the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship took to the windward-leeward course today, while all remaining classes completed a coastal race.
In the Maxi 1 class, the WallyCento V - with Ken Read as tactician - retains the overall lead after posting a fourth and a first place today, racking up the same points as fellow WallyCento Galateia, which won the first race and finished fourth in the second. A third and a fifth place in today's races leaves Bullitt, the Wally 93 owned by YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati, in third place overall. Onboard as part of the Bullitt crew today was Maddalena Spanu, an athlete in the Young Azzurra sports programme and reigning European Wingfoil Racing champion. "It was a fantastic experience. I was welcomed on board by a top-level crew, including Igor Marenic, Olympic gold medallist in Rio, tactician Joca Signorini and Luna Rossa veteran Shannon Falcone. I was impressed by the downwind speeds, well over 20 knots, and I also had the honour of taking the helm on the return to Porto Cervo." commented Maddalena.
The coastal race was approximately 40 miles for the boats competing in the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship and 36 miles for the other classes. After an offset mark, the fleet headed south to round the island of Mortoriotto - with the Grand Prix class stretching out to round the island of Soffi - before sailing back up towards Capo Ferro, through the Passo delle Bisce strait and up the channel between Sardinia and La Maddalena to a mark off Spargi island. From there, the fleet had a broad reach back down through the channel, went on to leave the Monaci islet to starboard, and finally back to Porto Cervo. The course was a demanding one with highly variable winds, which the fastest boats completed in about three hours, while others were kept busy for nearly four. The changeable weather and dramatic skies, with storm clouds interspersed with clear patches, made for a striking backdrop as the Maxis powered through the La Maddalena Archipelago.
In the Grand Prix class, Django 7X, owned by YCCS member Giovanni Lombardi Stronati and with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, beat Vesper by just 24 seconds to take the overall lead in the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship after three races. Third place today went to North-Star, owned by YCCS member Peter Dubens.
With today's victory in the Maxi 3 class, Oscar 3, with Paolo Cian on tactics, takes the lead in the provisional overall standings. Spirit of Lorina sits in second place overall with Grande Orazio, owned by YCCS member Massimiliano Florio, in third.
In the Maxi 4 group, the winning streak continued for the Vallicelli 78 H2O, owned by YCCS member Riccardo De Michele and fielding tactician Lorenzo Bodini, which finished ahead of Yoru and @robas.
The Supermaxi class also has a clear frontrunner in the Swan 115 Moat, owned by YCCS member Juan Ball and with Gonzalo Araujo on tactics. Second place today went to Inoui and third to Inti.
Racing will continue tomorrow, 11 September, from 12 noon CEST. Forecasts indicate strengthening Mistral winds of 20-25 knots, with gusts of up to 30.
Follow racing live on the tracking system here. Live images from the race course are also posted on the YCCS Instagram account.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, now in its 35th edition, is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of the International Maxi Association and title sponsor Rolex.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Rolex's partnership with the regatta, which began in 1985.
For further information, results, entry list, live tracking, the programme, the news and the photo gallery please visit the YCCS website.