the crown in sailing
DESCRIPTION
Best events in SailingTRANSCRIPT
I N T E R N AT I O N A L R O L E X YA C H T I N G P O R T F O L I O 2 0 11
ENG
Rolex and yachting
Among the sports with which Rolex has partnered for many years, sailing holds a special place. The association dates back to the late 1950s and the close ties that bind the company to the world of yachting grow stronger every year.
Rolex’s approach to sport is to link with disciplines and events in alignment with its philosophies and ideals, that exemplify its values. In the sport of yachting, the primary associations are with the Maxi class of yachts, significant offshore races, select championships and classic yacht regattas that unite historic and beautiful vessels.
Off the water, Rolex participates in the development of the sport through its support of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the world governing body, and the annual ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards that recognise male and female sailors who have distinguished themselves over the course of a year.
Rolex has also cultivated close relationships with the sport’s best-known yacht clubs, those that organise landmark events and hold traditions that
Rolex respects and appreciates. As part of its Testimonee programme Rolex counts a number of exemplary sailors among its ranks; exponents that practise
the sport in a spirit and manner universally admired.
Through this interaction with yachting, Rolex has become more than a mere sponsor of the sport. It is a true partner.
The Crown in Sailing
The spirit and philosophy
of the sport are in perfect harmony
with values that Rolex holds dear :
excellence, precision
and team spirit
Table of contents
6 MaxiYachtRolexCup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
10 RolexMiddleSeaRace Valletta, Malta
18 GiragliaRolexCup Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa, Italy
4 Rolex and the IMA circuit
24 RolexSydneyHobartYachtRace Sydney – Hobart, Australia
28 RolexFastnetRace Cowes – Plymouth, United Kingdom
22 Rolex and ocean racing traditions
14 RolexVolcanoRace Capri, Italy
48 Media and Rolex yachting
34 RolexFarr40WorldChampionship Sydney, Australia
36 RolexSwanCup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
32 Rolex and championship yachting
40 PortofinoRolexTrophy Portofino, Italy
41 LesVoilesdeSaint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France
38 Rolex and classic sailing
44 ISAFRolexWorldSailoroftheYearAwards
50 www.regattanews.com
52 Internationalmediacontacts
42 ISAF and Rolex Testimonees
54 Rolex yachting calendar 2011
46 SpotlightonPaulCayard
2� 3
St. Tropez
Genoa
Capri
Malta
Porto Cervo
Rolex and the IMA circuit
Maxi yachts are breathtaking in action. Their size alone is impressive but there is so much more to these titans: state-of-the-art technology, crews that include the best sailors of the day, owners ready to risk their irreplaceable craft on the start-line.
With yachts over 60-feet, often weighing upwards of 20 tonnes and still able to accelerate like a dinghy, there is little room for error: precision and timing are crucial. When everything moves in harmony it is because the finest of skills have combined to achieve full potential. That is the magnificence of the Maxi: huge in size yet capable of surprising agility.
Rolex has been involved with the Maxi class since the early 1980s, when it first became a partner of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia. In 2010, Rolex and the International Maxi Association (IMA) came together to create an annual circuit linking several Mediterranean events. The culmination will take place each September at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The IMA circuit is typified by excellent racing and first-class organization in popular ports of call for the Maxi fleet. Success over the season will take nerves of steel, a sense of adventure and a highly-tuned competitive spirit.
For more information about the IMA circuit please contact:IMA Race SecretariatT. +39 3474413194E. [email protected]. www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
The Essentials
>� Maxi�Yacht�Rolex�Cup:�September�2011
>� Organised�by�the�Yacht�Club�Costa�Smeralda�in�conjunction�with�the�International�Maxi�Association
>� Open�to�IMA�yachts�of�all�categories�&�IRC�rated�yachts�with�an�LOA�>18.29�metres
>� IMA�circuit�event
>� Probable�classes�include�Mini�Maxi,�Maxi,�Wally�and�Supermaxi
>� Six�days�of�inshore�and�coastal�courses
Yacht Club Costa SmeraldaPorto�Cervo�Marina07021�Porto�Cervo�(OT)�ItalyT.� +39�0789902200E.� [email protected].� www.yccs.it
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ForoneweekinSeptember,alongtheSardinian“Emerald”coastline,theworld’smostgracefulandpowerfulyachtswillcutthroughtheMediterraneanwithagility,refinementandease.TheMaxiYachtRolexCupunitessomeofthemostimposingyachtsforaweekofintensecompetition.Withabackdropofraw,windblowngranite,aclearturquoiseseaandsecludedbeaches,thebiggestracingyachtsintheworldwillgoheadtoheadinpursuitofoneofthebiggestprizesinsailing.Thefirst-ratecompetitiononthewaterwillbecomplimentedbyanequallyimpressivesocialcalendar.Sailingismorethansimplyasport,forthepassionateitbecomesawayoflifeandtheMaxiYachtRolexCupembodiesallthebestofthislifestyle.
High-powered people, high-prestige racing
BeyondSailing
A SettingThe Costa Smeralda’s development
was started by HH the Aga Khan in the 1960s and this designated National Park has since become one of the places in the world to visit, famous for attracting the rich and celebrated to its five-star hotels and glamorous beach resorts. The surrounding sea and Maddalena archipelago are peppered with rocky outcrops, islets and islands, known amongst the yachting fraternity as some of the most entertaining and challenging waters in the world.
A VenueYacht Club Costa Smeralda,
one of the most striking yacht clubs anywhere in the world, underwent extensive renovations in 2003 led by New York architect Peter Marino. Today, nautical influence can be felt throughout the clubhouse, from the long teak floorboards of the interior which remind one of looking down a long deck, to the lookout over the main bar’s balcony that gives one the feeling of floating out to sea, the clubhouse stands like a command ship guarding the harbour.
A StoryIn 2006, four of the world’s
most cutting edge Maxis clashed on Sardinian waters: Wild Oats XI, Course Record holder, Line Honours and Overall winner of the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart, her near sistership Alfa Romeo II, Maximus, Overall winner of the 2005 Rolex Transatlantic, and Morning Glory. All four sported the latest thinking in Maxi design and construction. Carbon fibre was in abundance, canting keels de rigueur and all-pro crew a pre-requisite. The racing was tight. Perfect technique was taken for granted. Minor errors were
punished and costly. Windows of opportunity were taken fully or regretted. The final day was a showpiece dust-up and the weary crews at last exhibited signs of human frailty with mistakes creeping in. Alfa Romeo prevailed in the end having held a narrow edge throughout the week. Alfa Romeo’s excellence was rewarded with a trophy, but the respect and congratulations of her competitors was just as inspiring to her crew.
One of the biggest
prizes in sailing
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Rolex Middle Sea Race
The Essentials>� Rolex�Middle�Sea�Race:��
October�2011
>� 606-nautical�mile�offshore�race:�Malta�–�Aeolian�Islands�(Stromboli)�–�Egadi�Islands�–Pantelleria�–�Lampedusa�–�Malta
>� Organised�by�the�Royal�Malta�Yacht�Club�in�conjunction�with�the�Royal�Ocean�Racing�Club
>� Open�to�monohull�and�multihull�yachts�between�30�and�100-feet�in�length
>� ISAF�Offshore�Special�Regulations�2010�–�2011:�Category�2
>� IMA�circuit�event
>� Classes�include�IRC�and��ORC/ORC�Club�Handicap��for�monohull�and�MOCRA��for�multihull
>� One�inshore�warm-up�race�off�Malta
Royal Malta Yacht ClubTa’Xbiex�SeafrontTa’Xbiex�XBX1028MaltaT.�� +356�21333109E.�� [email protected].��www.rmyc.orgW.��www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
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TheRolexMiddleSeaRaceistheMediterranean’smostfamousracecourse,oftenmentionedinthesamebreathastheRolexSydneyHobartandRolexFastnetasoneofthe"mustdo"eventsontheyachtracingcalendar.
The crossroads of Europe
The race was created in 1968 by a group of friends living in Malta who wanted to match the test set by the other, illustrious 600-nautical mile races. Designing a race track featuring four corners, narrow straits, volcanoes, a myriad
of islands and different influential weather regimes, the founders shaped a course that has attracted all types of sailors, from the Corinthian adventurer to the full professional.
All participants have one common goal: to master this famous challenge.
Volcanoes, mythology,
straits and sea battles
BeyondSailing
A SettingIf ever there was a racecourse that
linked the past with the present, myth with historical fact, natural beauty with man-made wonders, it is this one. Starting from Grand Harbour beneath the 16th Century bastions of Valletta, the course
takes yachts on a partial circumnavigation of Sicily, within touching distance of active volcanoes, through the narrow Strait of Messina that saw monsters challenge Odysseus, past scenes of immense sea battles, through waters used by every great trading nation before returning to an archipelago with ruins dating back 7,000 years.
A VenueJust as the Rolex Fastnet and
Giraglia Rolex Cup have their iconic turning marks, so too does this race. The volcanic island of Stromboli is often referred to as the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". It has been in almost constant eruption for some 20,000 years and regularly provides spectacular night time entertainment for race crews. The cone shaped island rises 2,000-metres from the sea floor and stands 926-metres above sea level. It is home to an intrepid 350 people.
A StoryThe world admires those
prepared to take risks, to challenge the natural order, to succeed. In 2007 George David’s 90-foot Maxi Rambler, with a seasoned crew including skipper Ken Read, twice America’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, took on a weather system of biblical proportions to snatch an amazing treble: Overall victory, Line Honours and Course Record. That they had been on the edge through much of the race was etched on the faces of the crew when they crossed the finish.
Twenty-four hours into the race, two-thirds of the fleet had retired because of the conditions. For Rambler the worst was still to come, stalking her off the western tip of Sicily. Preparation was everything. A drastically reduced sail plan established early and before the storm truly hit was key to survival. When the wind arrived it did so in an instant, 40-knots accompanied by waterspouts.
Having prioritised the safety of the boat and crew, David and Read were able to contemplate continuing racing. That they overcame adversity in style was testament to their judgment, the experience of the crew and the preparedness of the yacht.
By testing themselves so comprehensively, Rambler has forced those that follow in search of the course record to raise their game substantially.
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The Essentials>� Rolex�Volcano�Race:�May�2011
>� 400-nautical�mile�offshore�race:�Gaeta�–�Tyrrhenian�Sea�–�Capri
>� Organized�by�the�International�Maxi�Association�in�conjunction��with�the�Yacht�Club�Capri�and��the�Yacht�Club�Gaeta�EVS
>� Open�to�IMA�yachts�of�all��categories�&�IRC�rated�yachts��with�an�LOA�>18.29�metres
>� IMA�circuit�event
International Maxi AssociationRace�Secretariat�T.�� +39�3474413194info@internationalmaxiassociation.comwww.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Yacht Club Capri T.�� +39�0818389455�E.�� [email protected]�W.��www.yccapri.org
Capri welcomes the Rolex Volcano Race
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TheRolexCapriSailingWeekhasbeenanopenerfortheMediterraneansailingseasonsinceitscreationin2005.Eachyear,first-ratesailorsfromallovertheworldgatheronthiscaptivatingislandtoraceontheBayofNaples.CapriisahistoricItalianoutpost,risingnearly600-metresfromthecobaltblueseaandexhibitingitsownmicro-climatethatcreatesauniquesailingenvironmentwithspectacularvistas.
A modern day odyssey
For the 2011 Rolex Capri Sailing Week a brand new challenge has been announced: the Rolex Volcano Race, a 400-nautical mile offshore race for monohull Maxi yachts that starts in Gaeta, just north of Naples, and takes the fleet around two magnificent archipelagos in the central and southern Tyrrhenian Sea – the Pontine Islands and the Aeolian Islands, including the active volcano of Stromboli – before returning to the finish off Capri. A race designed to take Maxi crews on a journey through the best of the region; a fight to keep the lead in a place that has been shared and loved for centuries not only by sailors, but emperors, politicians, thespians, and glitterati the world over.
BeyondSailing
A SettingCapri’s combination of natural and man-made attractions is unique. The small island boasts beautiful hills and cliffs that overlook the blue water of the Mediterranean, with Naples and Vesuvius looming in the distance. Capri offers an unparalleled view that sweeps from the island of Ischia to the Sorrento Peninsula, taking in the entire expanse of the Gulf of Naples. And onshore, with its characteristic arcades that merge into a labyrinth of narrow alleys that pass churches, historic villas, and Roman ruins along the way, Capri works its own special charm on every visitor.
A race of challenge
and mythology
A VenueUnder a carpet of stars and the
sound of the sea, the Rolex Dinner and Crew Party is an unforgettable evening for the owners and crew participating in Rolex Capri Sailing Week, and what better venue for such an occasion than La Canzone del Mare (Song of Sea) in the Marina Piccola. Thought to be the spot on Capri where the Sirens sang to lure sailors towards the perilous island cliffs, La Canzone del Mare is one of Capri's most elegant locations. As the closest place to swim near the Faraglioni, Capri’s legendary limestone rock formations, this beach club was destined for glamour since its
construction by singer Gracie Fields. Today, as always, with the romantic backdrop, waterside terraces and traditional, elegant interiors, La Canzone del Mare is truly enchanting.
A StoryThe Rolex Volcano Race will
take participants on a race through history. Beginning in Gaeta, crews will race south past the Pontine Islands, across the Tyrrhenian Sea and towards the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago just north of Sicily, before heading north to finish the race off Capri. The Aeolian Islands are listed as an UNESCO
World Heritage Site and are named after the Greek demigod Aeolus. Known as the “Keeper of the Winds” in The Odyssey, Aeolus graciously gave Odysseus a leather bag of captured winds and sent him and his crew home towards Ithica with a gentle West Wind. Just as Ithica came into sight on the horizon, and while Odysseus slept, his crew foolishly opened the bag expecting to find gold. Instead they released the winds in a fury that blew their ship all the way back to Aeolus, who refused to help the men any further.
The winner of the Rolex Volcano Race will likely be the crew that treats Aeolus’ gift with the greatest respect.
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Giraglia Rolex Cup
The Essentials
>� Giraglia�Rolex�Cup:�June�2011
>� 245-nautical�mile�offshore�race:�Saint-Tropez�–�La�Giraglia�–��Genoa
>� Organised�by�the�Yacht�Club�Italiano�in�conjunction�with�the��Société�Nautique�de�Saint-Tropez�and�the�Yacht�Club�de�France
>� Open�to�all�monohull�yachts�over�30-feet�in�length
>� IMA�circuit�event
>� Probable�classes�include�IRC�and�ORC/ORC�Club�Handicap
>� Three�days�inshore�racing�in�the�Bay�of�Saint-Tropez
Yacht Club ItalianoPorticciolo�Duca�degli�Abruzzi16128�–�Genoa�ItalyT.�� +39�0102461206E.�� [email protected]�W.��www.yci.itW.��www.giragliarolexcup.com
18� 19
TheGiragliaRolexCupisoneofthemostrenownedyachtingeventsintheMediterraneanandhasbeenatraditionforover55years.TheregattarunsforafullweekinJunewithinshoreracesintheBayofSaint-Tropezforthefirstthreedays.Onthefourthdaythedistancerace,‘LaGiraglia’,startsfromthelegendaryportofSaint-Tropez.TheprimarytargetisLaGiraglia,arockyoutcropatthenortherntipofCorsica,atwhichpointtheyachtswillmaketheirturntowardsthefinish.
Tradition, history, style & sophistication
First held in 1953, the event has come a long way from humble beginnings. It was founded in a Paris bistro with noble intentions to prove the fences between France and Italy had been mended in the aftermath of World War II. 22 yachts led the way, competing over a course that took the fleet from Cannes to San Remo, via La Giraglia. Recent editions attract over 200 yachts ranging in size from 30 to 120-feet.
The event is evocative of all things Mediterranean. The ports involved in the start and finish have always been glamorous and alluring: Cannes, Toulon, Le Lavandou and Saint-Tropez have offered the French perspective of style, San Remo and Genoa the Italian element of sophistication. The Giraglia Rolex Cup is an annual rendezvous for top-flight professionals, Corinthian owners and crew, all with a common passion for the sea and sailing.
BeyondSailing
A SettingThe Italian and French Riviera
need little introduction, having captivated visitors with their dramatically beautiful coastline for generations. Sailors have been crossing the Ligurian Sea that straddles the two regions for centuries. Legend even has it that this sea played a part in the naming of Saint-Tropez. Following the beheading of Saint Torpes, his remains were cast adrift in a boat on the River Arno, which flows into the Ligurian. The boat eventually came ashore in France and the name of the town was born.
A VenueLa Giraglia is a huge ridge-backed
rock, an extension of Cap Corse. 800-metres long, 50-metres wide and 60-metres above sea level, it is an exposed and often desolate place. Its strategic and navigational importance led to various endeavours to secure and then light the rock. Today, the remains of the Genoese Tower built in 1585 and the powerful, automated lighthouse are testament to the men involved.
A Story The Giraglia Rolex Cup has at its
heart keen rivalry between spirited sportsmen and women enthused by the sea. The 2001 distance race was one where the largest yachts competing made a significant mark. Ten yachts over 70-feet in length participated, all with ambitions of being first to finish. The competition was fierce. At the front the ability to dodge holes in the wind is far more difficult than further back: you have no one else’s mistakes to guide you. Shortly before the rock, early race leader Tiketitan reported coming to a standstill and watching three yachts sail around her. Once at La Giraglia these three Maxis rounded within a thirty-minute window. As the finish approached, the drama increased. First the American yacht Sagamore was becalmed and left standing. Then, Italian yacht My Song looked to have a comfortable lead, until the weight of her cruising interior began to cost her dear. Raffiole Raiola’s Idea paid little heed to crew comforts. Speed was her essence. Within grasp of the finish line, My Song succumbed to the challenge, hardly swept aside, but
enough for Idea to creep home first by less than three minutes. Her crew had succeeded in the greatest challenge of all: never giving up.
Winning might not be everything, but it is determined by those that set demanding standards and continually strive for excellence.
An evocation of all
things Mediterranean
20� 21
Sydney
Hobart
PlymouthCowesFastnet
Rolex and oceanracing traditions
Ocean racing came to prominence at the beginning of the twentieth century, as yachtsmen discovered the challenge and enjoyment of racing out of sight of land for days at a time. The groundbreaking race in European waters was the Rolex Fastnet Race, first held in 1925. Its 608-nautical mile course from Cowes to Plymouth, via the Fastnet rock off the southwest corner of Ireland, is legendary. Its justly deserved fame and notoriety have spawned a myriad of other similar events.
In Australia, the Rolex Sydney Hobart was born in 1945. It has since become one of the sporting icons of the modern era. The 628-nautical mile dash from Sydney to Hobart is no cruise. Just mentioning the Bass Strait, which separates the mainland from Tasmania, is enough to raise hairs on the necks of even the most seasoned sailors.
Ocean racing draws on the same exacting qualities as inshore racing, but doubles the demand for endurance and the willingness to pursue the finish through whatever the weather and sea might contrive to throw up in opposition. Executing a precision manoeuvre in the midst of a dark and stormy night, making a race-winning tactical decision after two days without proper sleep; these are the moments that distinguish the winners.
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The Essentials
>� Rolex�Sydney�Hobart�Yacht�Race:�December�2010
>� 628-nautical�mile�offshore�race:�Sydney�Harbour�–�Derwent�River,�Hobart
>� Organised�by�the�Cruising�Yacht�Club�of�Australia�in�conjunction�with�the�Royal�Yacht�Club�of�Tasmania
>� Open�to�monohull�yachts�between�30�and�100-feet�in�length
>� Yachting�Australia�Special�Regulations�2010�–�2011:�Category�1�
>� Classes�include�IRC,�PHS�and�ORCi�Handicap,�plus�a�Cruising�Division
>� Rolex�Trophy�warm-up�series�of�inshore�races�in�and�around�Sydney�Harbour
Cruising Yacht Club of AustraliaNew�Beach�RoadDarling�PointNew�South�Wales�2027AustraliaT.�� +61�282927800E.�� [email protected].��www.cyca.com.auW.��www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
24� 25
TheRolexSydneyHobartisthesouthernhemisphere’sanswertotheRolexFastnet.Withmorethan60yearsoftradition,ninedegreesoflatitudeandanestimated45,000participantssinceitbegan,itismorethanjustayachtrace;itisaniconamongstsportingchallenges.MorepeoplearoundtheworldhaveheardoftheRolexSydneyHobartthananyothersailingevent.
The Christmas institution
Every year since 1945 the race has started on 26 December from Sydney Harbour. Every year it has brought a country to a standstill. An audience of 500,000 gathers to witness the start live on shore and on the water. The television audience in Australia alone matches this. Simply put, the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart is the single most-watched sailing event in the world.
The race is famous for its acts of human endeavour. Why would anyone sail south from Sydney in summer, when better weather and beaches lie to the north? Therein lies the enigma and deep-set challenge that this race presents.
BeyondSailing
A SettingDecember is prime holiday
season in Sydney, the waterways and beaches are abuzz with crowds basking in glorious sunshine and high temperatures. It is the height of summer in Hobart too, but when
snow falls on Mount Wellington, one realises just how close 42 degrees south actually is to the Antarctic.
The race is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests of seamanship in the sport of sailing. Almost every year, heavy weather conditions are encountered on the course as the fleet heads south. The notoriety of the race comes from its ability to offer up wild conditions with little warning.
A VenueBass Strait, nicknamed the
“paddock”, has a nefarious reputation. It can be dead calm or spectacularly rough. The water is relatively shallow and the winds can be fierce: two elements that often come together creating a steep and difficult sea for yachts. Tragedy struck the 1998 Sydney Hobart when the worst storm in the history of the race hit as most of the fleet entered, or were already crossing, the Strait. Yachts reported winds of up to 80-knots and seas of 15-metres, frequently more, as a so-called “Bass Strait Bomb” exploded.
A StoryIn 2005, Wild Oats XI became the
first yacht to win the treble of Line Honours, Course Record and Overall victory since John Illingworth and Rani in the inaugural race. Owner Bob Oatley had built his hi-tech Maxi to win Line Honours. To break the course record was an added bonus. To win the Tattersalls Cup for fastest yacht on handicap was beyond his wildest dreams.
The win was not simple. A month prior to the start, Wild Oats XI was still in the builder’s yard being completed. She then had to overcome her near sistership Alfa Romeo II, which led in the early stages of the race. En route, Wild Oats had jarring encounters with three sunfish and a shark, and, even as she closed on the finish, damage to the mainsail forced her to race the final 12-miles up the Derwent River under headsail alone.
It is moments like these that set the winners apart: the vision to succeed and the commitment to follow it through, whatever the circumstances.
A true test
of human endurance
26� 27
RolexFastnet Race
The Essentials
>� Rolex�Fastnet�Race:�August�2011
>� 608-nautical�mile�offshore�race:�Cowes�–�Fastnet�Rock�–�Plymouth�
>� Organised�by�the�Royal�Ocean�Racing�Club�in�conjunction�with�the�Royal�Yacht�Squadron�and��the�Royal�Western�Yacht�Club
>� Open�to�monohull�and�multihull�yachts�between�30�and�100-feet��in�length
>� ISAF�Offshore�Special�Regulations�2010-2011:�Category�2�with�RORC�prescriptions
>� Classes�include�IRC�Handicap�for�monohull/MOCRA�for�multihulls
Royal Ocean Racing Club20�St�James’s�PlaceLondon�SW1A�1NNUnited�KingdomT.���+44�2074932248E.���[email protected].�www.rorc.org
28� 29
MentionthetopoffshoreracesintheworldandtheRolexFastnetwillviewiththeRolexSydneyHobartfortopspotinmostracingsailors’answerdependinguponwhichhemispheretheyhailfrom.Madenotoriousbythedisasterthatclaimed15livesin1979,theRolexFastnethasbeenaninstitutionsince1925.EveryyachtsmanworthhissaltcherishesaFastnetonhissailingCV.
Once raced,
never forgotten
A legendary experience
The Rolex Fastnet is sometimes considered three races in one: an English Channel leg fraught with complicated tides, the outward leg across the Celtic Sea when weather tactics are critical and the return from the Fastnet Rock when wayward crews are prone to relax, thinking the job done.
The weather in August is dominated by prevailing westerly winds driven by a series of depressions that ride across the Atlantic. It is rare for a Rolex Fastnet not to provide at least one blow. The severity and timing often determine the eventual outcome.
Once raced, this course is never forgotten.
BeyondSailing
A SettingFrom the birthplace of competitive
yachting, to the teardrop of Ireland, to the departure point of
the Mayflower, the Rolex Fastnet touches the nautical history of the British Isles like few other sailing events. Cowes has long been regarded as the world’s spiritual home for yacht racing. In 1851 it was the scene of the 100 Guinea Cup won by the yacht America, thereby laying the foundations for one of yachting’s greatest prizes: the America’s Cup. The Fastnet Rock was the last piece of land seen by Irish emigrants to the USA and the passengers of the ill-fated Titanic. When the Pilgrim Fathers fled from England to the New World, they left from the Barbican area in Plymouth.
A VenueThe Fastnet Rock, located off the
south-western tip of Ireland, is a lonely outcrop situated 4.5-nautical miles southwest of Cape Clear. It has had a lighthouse since 1854, but it was not until 1904 that the present light was fully operational after nine years of toil, which involved
setting a granite plinth of 89 courses of interlocking stones brought from Cornwall. Originally, the lighthouse was manned by four keepers at a time; today it is completely automated.
A StoryIn 2005, the headlines before the
start were all about rock-star Simon LeBon’s participation on Drum and the anticipated match-up between Skandia Wild Thing from Australia and Maximus from New Zealand, then two of the fastest Maxi racing yachts in the world. Maximus prevailed easily in the battle for Line Honours. Drum retired at The Scillies.
The real story was at the finish. After a mainly light-wind race,
freshening westerly winds began to push the smaller yachts in the fleet into the Overall reckoning. Just after midday on the fifth day of racing the 33-foot Iromiguy, owned by Frenchman Jean-Yves Chateau, crossed the line to enter the history books. It was the first time in thirty years that a yacht this small had won on handicap.
Iromiguy had a wholly Corinthian crew, yet had still beaten some of the world’s top ocean racers. She is testament to the spirit throughout the sport of ocean racing. To do well it is necessary to possess all the true hallmarks of a sportsman – skill, courage and endurance. In sailing, reputation counts for nothing so far as the wind and the sea are concerned.
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Rolex and championship yachting
Very few classes or types of yacht secure sufficient status and popularity to maintain a dominant position at the forefront of the ever-evolving sailing world. Nautor’s Swan and the Farr 40 have done just that. They are formed of different creeds but have attracted yachtsmen that demand quality, expect performance and exhibit loyalty. The owners know when they have tapped into a mother lode and need look no further to satisfy their lofty expectations.
Nautor’s Swan first came to prominence in the late 1960s, launching the first series produced fibre-class yacht. Since that defining moment, the company has harnessed the talents of some of the world’s top designers – Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers – together with Finnish boat-building skills, to create a distinctive brand of yacht recognized the world over for both its aesthetic and sea-going qualities.
The Farr 40 strode into the yacht racing arena in 1997, an active period in the search for the ultimate grand-prix type yacht. In a competitive market where obsolescence is often regarded as the rule, the Farr 40’s timeless, modern design has outlived expectation and outlasted its competition. It is a high-performance one design that is fast, user-friendly and benefits from a strong class association. That a great deal of thought and experience went into the Farr 40 is witnessed by its continuing longevity.
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Rolex Farr 40 World Championship
The Essentials
>� Rolex�Farr�40�World�Championship:�Sydney,�February�2011
>� Organised�by�the�Farr�40�Class�Association
>� Open�to�all�Farr�40�yachts
>� Up�to�10�windward/leeward�races
Farr 40 One Design Class AssociationStagg�Yachts,�Inc.620�Chesapeake�AvenueAnnapolis�MD�21403USAT.���+1�4102681001E.����[email protected].��www.farr40.org
The event, held in a different venue each year, attracts the keenest commercial minds and the most accomplished yachtsmen to stand at the helm of a 40-foot racing yacht. In a role reversal that has the makings of reality television, it is the amateur owner of the boat who is obliged to hold the wheel and steer. And for once, these corporate titans have to bend their ear to the more-experienced, professional tactician
whose job it is to advise, encourage and cajole. Just like the stock market, racecourse losses and gains are visible and immediate. Success and failure are easily measured by whether one returns home clutching the silverware or empty-handed. And it’s much more exciting than your average boardroom meeting.
Risk management, quick decisions
Success and failure
are easily measured
Whatdoyougetwhenagroupofhighlycompetitiveamateursandprofessionalscometogethertoraceidenticalyachtsoverfast-paced,technicallydemanding,shortcourses?TheRolexFarr40WorldChampionship,wheretheworldsofbusinessandsailingcollide.
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Rolex Swan CupThe Essentials>� Rolex�Swan�Cup:��
September�2012
>� Organised�by�the�Yacht�Club�Costa�Smeralda�in�conjunction�with�Nautor’s�Swan
>� Open�to�all�Swan�yachts
>� Incorporates�the�Rolex�Swan�45�World�Championship
>� ISAF�Offshore�Special�Regulations:�Category�3�with�amendments
>� Classes�include�Maxi�for�Swans�over�18.29�metres,�Grand�Prix�for�Swans�under�18.28�metres,�Classic�for�Swans�designed�by�Sparkman�&�Stephens,�Swan�45�One�Design�and�Club�Swan�42�
Yacht Club Costa SmeraldaPorto�Cervo�Marina07021�Porto�Cervo�(OT)ItalyT.�� +39�0789902200E.�� [email protected].� www.yccs.it
The vanguard of
yacht-building haute couture
Effortless elegance
Swans have been the vanguard of haute couture when it comes to production yacht design over the past 40 years. While the world has changed dramatically since the first yachts emerged from the shipyard in Finland, 250-miles south of the Arctic Circle, two things remain the same: the spirit of the Finnish workforce, proud to be the driving force behind the legend, and the spirit of the yachts’ owners and crew, proud to be part of the ongoing legacy.
Every two years, the Swan fleet gathers at its spiritual home at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia where owners, crews and guests meet for a week of frenetic activity on the water and ashore. And whilst the human element may occasionally give the appearance of disorder, the Swan yachts take everything in stride whether on the racecourse or at anchor. Life for them is effortless.
Swansareevocativecreatures.Theclassicdisplayofeleganceinflight,whitewingseffortlesslybeatingapowerfulpath,contrastedagainstaclear,bluesky.Bringthemclosertowater,andthemodelofdeportmentremainsvisibleabovethesurfaceirrespectiveoftheturbulencebelow.SotooforaSwanyacht.
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Classic sailing events bring together many of the world’s most beautiful vintage yachts, along with a host of racers and sailing enthusiasts from all the corners of the globe. Events such as the Portofino Rolex Trophy and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez are held as much in the name of camaraderie as challenge. They are a perfect match with the elegance and spirit that Rolex has brought to sailing competition over many years of involvement.
To watch historic yachts in action is truly an inspiring sight. One is reminded of their glorious past and one cannot help but be filled with admiration for those who still sail them today. Tactical skill and racing prowess are fully in evidence even aboard the most traditional of yachts. Classic sailing events salute the elegance of these vessels, with their wood and brass fittings, and they applaud the owners who have preserved their splendour with passion and sacrifices. Yachts and crews are united for “timeless” events that pay homage to a rich sailing history and exemplify respected qualities: the treasuring of nautical traditions, a love for beauty over function and the enthusiastic embrace of team spirit.
Rolex andclassic sailing
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Heritage highlights
Considered to be one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports, Portofino is a small fishing village that is known, along with its charming colours and cobblestone Piazzetta, as a place of elegance, fine Italian dining and majestic sea views. Once a year, this picturesque port hosts the Portofino Rolex Trophy, a series of races dedicated to the barca d’epoca (classic yachts) that have played an essential role in the history of sailing.
This regatta unites a variety of the world’s classic yachts in one of Italy’s most iconic locations for some vintage racing. The action primarily takes place in the Marconi Gulf, part of the Ligurian coastline famous as a popular yachting destination and protected natural park. The event also hosts a series of onshore activities, including
an exhibition of historic wooden Olympic classes in the main square of Portofino and, the highlight of the social calendar, the Rolex Dinner Party held at La Cervara, a historic Benedictine abbey situated in the hills between Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.
This is an event where yacht racing and history fuse within a convivial setting, forming the perfect weekend escape with a reminder of decades past.
Portofino Rolex Trophy
The Essentials
>� Portofino�Rolex�Trophy:�May�2011
>� Organised�by�the�Yacht�Club�Italiano�in�collaboration�with�the�Circolo�Vela�of�Santa�Margherita�Ligure
>� The�regatta�is�open�to�wooden�yachts�of�the�following�classes:��J�Class,�12-Metre,�8-Metre,�6-Metre,�5.50-Metre
Yacht Club ItalianoPorticciolo�Duca�degli�Abruzzi16128�–�GenoaItalyT.���+39�0102461206E.���[email protected]�W.�www.yci.it
A fusion of history
and racing
One last round of warm weather racing
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an event of mixed emotions, of torn loyalties: the magnificence of the past versus the cutting edge of the present, traditional refinement versus form and functionality. There are those seated deep within both camps, but all are drawn together by a common passion: the sea and sailing.
The town of Saint-Tropez has a strong connection to the sea perpetuated by the artists and yachtsmen that fill the Vieux Port, the beating heart of the town that bustles with activity. In late autumn, the ambiance in this chic harbour goes back in time with Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, an annual regatta that welcomes over 300 vessels for one last round of warm weather sailing in the Mediterranean. Whilst both modern and classic boats are welcomed, and the fleet takes to
the water in a spectacular contrast of varnished wood and gel-coat, polished brass and carbon-fibre, as summer slowly comes to a close it is the traditional yachts that draw the eye. This unique regatta is an incredible opportunity to travel through sailing’s history. And enthusiast or not, one cannot help but stare in awe of the well-kept classic vessels and those who work to keep them running and competitive in the modern world. It is no easy task.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
The Essentials
>� Les�Voiles�de�Saint-Tropez:�September�–�October�2011
>� Organized�by�the�Société�Nautique�de�Saint-Tropez
>� Competitors�will�be�divided�into�three�categories:��Modern,�Spirit�of�Tradition��and�Tradition
Société Nautique de Saint-TropezNouveau�Port�-�BP�7283992�Saint-Tropez�CedexFranceT.��+33�494973054E.��[email protected]�W.�www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
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From then on, the advances of the Oyster would be inextricably linked to sportsmen and women excelling in disciplines that were new at the time like aviation, automobile racing or mountaineering. In 1933 Stewart Blacker flew over Everest; in 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell
broke the land speed record in his bolide Bluebird; in 1947, pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier; in 1953, the expedition led by Sir John Hunt, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay was the first to conquer Everest. Through their achievements, these
ThenameRolexissynonymouswithperformanceandpioneeringspirit.HansWilsdorf,founderofRolex,hadthebrilliantideatoequipMercedesGleitzewithaRolexOysterwhensheswamtheEnglishChannelin1927.WilsdorfreservedthefrontpageoftheDaily Mail toannouncethatalthoughthewatchhadbeenimmersedinseawaterforovertenhours,itcontinuedtokeepaccuratetime,attestationthatitwaswaterproofandrobust–thefirstofitskind.
ISAF and RolexTestimonees
An image
of excellence
highly visible personalities would underscore the technical qualities of the Oyster.
Through its support of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the world reference in sailing, Rolex participates in the development of this spectacular and exciting sport. Since 2001, the company has sponsored the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, honorary prizes that celebrate male and female sailors who have particularly distinguished themselves. The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are recognised as the pinnacle award a sailor can receive in recognition of outstanding achievements in the world of sailing.
Among its Testimonees, Rolex counts a number of exemplary sailors:
> Denmark’s Paul Elvström, the legendary regatta winner with four Olympic gold medals and nineteen medals in world championships. Elvström is today considered an icon;
> Paul Cayard from the United States has participated six times in the America’s Cup, twice in the Olympic Games and has won seven world titles in sailing. He has also participated in two Round the World Races, winning in 1998;
> Sofia Bekatorou-Kosmatopoulos, from Greece, a 470 gold medallist in the Olympic Games in Athens and bronze medal winner in Beijing, has twice received the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award;
> Brazil’s Robert Scheidt is a four-time Olympic medallist with two golds and two silvers accumulated over four consecutive games since 1996. He is also a two-time winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor Award;
> American sailor Gary Jobson, Ted Turner’s tactician when Courageous won the America’s Cup in 1977, is now a highly respected sports journalist. He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2003.
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ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
A night of honours
Launched in 1994, the Awards are presented annually based on a worldwide selection process that incorporates an open invitation for nominations, followed by a vote amongst the 130 member nations of ISAF. Two Awards, one for a female sailor/crew and one for a male sailor/crew, are presented at a ceremony held each year in November during the ISAF Annual Conference. A glance at the list of previous winners demonstrates that recipients of the World Sailor of the Year Awards are drawn from the many diverse disciplines of the sport of sailing: Olympic dinghy and keel-boats, single-handed ocean racing, transatlantic record breaking, match-racing, America’s Cup and windsurfing are all represented.
Rolex has sponsored the Awards since 2001 and the 2011 edition will take place in Puerto Rico. Previous editions have been held in Athens, Greece (2010), Busan, Korea (2009), Madrid, Spain (2008), Estoril, Portugal (2007) and Helsinki, Finland (2006). Each winner is presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.
TheInternationalSailingFederation(ISAF)istheworldgoverningbodyforthesportofsailingandtheISAFRolexWorldSailoroftheYearAwardsarerecognisedasthepinnacleawardasailorcanreceiveinrecognitionofoutstandingachievementintheworldofsailing.
2009�winners,�Anna�Tunnicliffe�and�Torben�Grael
Past Winners Male Female
2009 TorbenGrael(BRA) AnnaTunnicliffe(USA)
2008 BenAinslie(GBR) AlessandraSensini(ITA)
2007 EdBaird(USA) ClaireLeroy(FRA)
2006 MikeSanderson(NZL) PaigeRailey(USA)
2005 FernandoEchavarri&AntónPaz(ESP) EllenMacArthur(GBR)
2004 RobertScheidt(BRA) SofiaBekatorou&EmiliaTsoulfa(GRE)
2003 RussellCoutts(SUI) SirenSundby(NOR)
2002 BenAinslie(GBR) SofiaBekatorou&EmiliaTsoulfa(GRE)
2001 RobertScheidt(BRA) EllenMacArthur(GBR)
2000 MarkReynolds&MagnusLiljedahl(USA) ShirleyRobertson(GBR)
1999 MateuszKusznierewicz(POL) MargrietMatthijsse(NED)
1998 BenAinslie(GBR) CarolijnBrouwer(NED)
1997 PeteGoss(GBR) RuslanaTaran&ElenaPakholchik(UKR)
1996 JochenSchümann(GER) LeeLaiShan(HKG)
1995 RussellCoutts(NZL) IsabelleAutissier(FRA)
1994 PeterBlake(NZL) & TheresaZabell(ESP) RobinKnox-Johnston(GBR)
The Essentials
>� ISAF�Rolex�World�Sailor�of�the�Year�Awards:�November�2011
>� Initial�nominations�may�be�made�by�anyone.�A�shortlist�is�then�finalized�from�all�nominations�followed�by�a��vote�amongst�the�130�member�nations�of�the�International�Sailing�Federation
>� The�criterion�for�nomination��for�the�2011�Awards�is�“outstanding�achievement”�in��the�period�of�1�September�2010��to�31�August�2011
ISAFT.��+44�2380635111E.��[email protected].�www.sailing.org/worldsailor
44� 45
Paul CayardSpotlight on an outstanding career
Cayard is a seven-time sailing world champion, including the Star Worlds in 1988, a six-time America's Cup veteran and two-time Olympian. He has versatile skills and has even taken to ocean racing, becoming the first American skipper to win the Whitbread Round the World Race with EF Language in the 1997/98 race.
“Precise timing is a key element to winning sailing races,” said Cayard. “The start, for example, is a critical moment: one second too early and you have to restart, two seconds late and you are in the back row. To get the best start, the whole crew has to work together with flawless timing and accuracy.” Following his victory in the 1997/98 Round the World Race, Cayard was honoured as 1998 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in the USA and has continued to mix it up ever since.
Cayard has never hesitated to take opportunities to perfect his already considerable skills, whether in small boats (Star Class, Athens 2004), offshore (Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006) or ocean racing (Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06). He also continues to be honoured by his peers and in 2006 received the St. Francis Yacht Club Yachtsman of the Year Award.
The consummate professional, Cayard is always in demand. In an average year he spends 200 days competing on all the major grand-prix circuits around the world. For Cayard, the search for perfection is never-ending.
TheRolexOysterPerpetualYacht-MasterII
Benefiting from over a century of craftsmanship and expertise, Rolex continually expands the limits of watch technology. In 2007, it launched the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II featuring a programmable countdown mechanical memory, enabling the chronograph to be set according to the starting sequence of any particular yacht race.
This timepiece was born of the longstanding relationship that Rolex enjoys with the sea and sailing, and is intended for experienced skippers as well as yachting enthusiasts.
PaulCayardexemplifiesRolex'spassionforcommitmentandexcellenceandhasbeenaRolexTestimoneesince1998.“Rolexisagreatbrandtohaveinvolvedinsailing,”saidCayard.“Theirsupporthasallowedsomeiconiceventstodevelopevenmorelegendandtradition.”
OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER II
paul cayard
rolex. a crown for every achievement.
Tactician. Skipper. Leader.
First American skipper to win
the Whitbread Round the World Race.
Star World Champion. Likes to break
new ground. On water.
CrownInSailing_Cayard_ENG_0810.indd 1 18.08.10 08:05
Media andRolex yachting
Sailingoffersahostofperspectivesandattractspeoplefromallwalksoflifeforamultitudeofreasons:competition,camaraderie,adventure,business,technology,natureandlifestylearebutafewofthedrivingforces.
TheeventsthatformtheRolexYachtingPortfolioinspireandencourageaviewbeyondsimplythesport,theyachtsandthosewhosailthem.Imagesandstoriesfromtheeventspresentaworldofopportunityforengagingaudiencesdirectlyinterestedinthesportitselfandthosesimplyinterestedinthechallenge,spiritandhumanendeavourthataccompanyRolexsailing.
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> qualified, multi-lingual media team operating year-round
> www.regattanews.com virtual media centre, smartphone compatible, with RSS feed and twitter
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> assistance with interview requests and onboard opportunities
> guidance on image selection and feature angles
��������������www.regattanews.com
the media source for multi-lingual
information, high-resolution images,
audio/video news material and more
48� 49
regattanews .com
< Home Page
www.regattanews.com is the ultimate media resource for multi-lingual information, high-resolution images, audio/video news material, lifestyle features and more from the Rolex Yachting Portfolio.
Here media will find links to current, past and upcoming events.
For more about each event in the Rolex yachting calendar, look for the event name/logo and click to visit the event page. Clicking “Calendar” will show a full event list.
Media may also access an extensive lifestyle archive by clicking “Lifestyle”.
Event Page >
Here media can find the latest event information including:
– press releases
– access to the photo gallery
– audio interviews
– press packs
– official documents
– links to event websites
everythingneededtocoverRolexYachting
Welcometo
Photo Gallery
Web media may select images immediately for use online, while print media may request access to the high-resolution files having first registered with regattanews.com. Once a registered media has approved access, the high-res images may be instantly downloaded to the desktop or received by email.
TV Broadcast News Page
TV media may sign-up for notifications about broadcast quality video news releases available via the regattanews.com FTP server.
Registration Page >
By filling out this form media may:
– choose to receive press releases by email
– request access to the copyright free high-resolution photos for print publication
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UK & IRElANdGiles PearmanKey Partners (KPMS)20, Av. Edouard-DuboisCH - 2000 Neuchâtel | SwitzerlandM. +41 793480023F. +41 327242833E. [email protected]
SPAINJavier SobrinoKey Partners (KPMS)C/ Maria Auxiliadora, 4 | 36202 VigoT. +34 986441001F. +34 986225981M. +34 629893637E. [email protected]
ITAlyantonella asnaghi & associati Via Giacomo Leopardi 14 | 20123 MilanoT. +39 0248008294F. +39 0243916618E. [email protected]
FRANCEThomas CampionOlivia PayerneAgence olivia payerne 1, boulevard Jean-Jaurès 92100 Boulogne BillancourtT. +33 146040862F. +33 146041460E. [email protected] [email protected]
GERMANyAndreas KlingFöhrdener Strasse 6 | 25563 WristT. +49 4822360900F. +49 4822360901M. +49 1722578817E. [email protected]
USASusan Maffei PlowdenKey Partners (KPMS)45 Calvert Place | Jamestown | RI 02835M. +1 4018550234E. [email protected]
Barby MacGowan (US Events) Media Pro International41 Memorial Blvd. | Newport | RI 02840T. +1 4018490220F. +1 4018474535M. +1 4012250249E. [email protected]
AUSTRAlIALisa RatcliffOCC – On Course CommunicationsPO Box 1513 | Mona Vale NSW 1660 T. + 61 418428511 F. + 61 280881260 E. [email protected]
International media contacts
INTERNATIONAl MEdIA INFORMATION
KeyPartners(KPMS)20, Av. Edouard-DuboisCH - 2000 Neuchâtel | SwitzerlandT. +41 327242829F. +41 327242833E. [email protected]. www.regattanews.com
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For the latest event information,
visit www.regattanews.com
Rolex yachting calendar 2011
Today,RolexistheTitleSponsorofsome20majorinternationalevents.WhethersupportingthecreationofnewchallengessuchastheRolexVolcanoRace,orcontinuinghistorictraditionwiththeRolexSydneyHobart,Rolexenjoysaprivilegedrelationshipwiththesea,theworldofsailingandthecallofthedeep.Thisisthecrowninsailing.
Asenseofadventureandconstantdesireforprecision,combinedwithdetermination,passionandcamaraderie,iswhatittakestosucceedintheworld’sgreatestyachtraces.TheRolexyachtingeventsdemandallthesequalitiesandmore,asenthusiasmandexcellenceareexpectedfromorganizers,participantsandaficionadosalike.
Rolexhasalwaysrepresentedtopperformanceandpioneeringspiritandhasbroughtthesesamequalitiestosailingcompetitionovermanyyearsofinvolvement.Asthatinvolvementcontinuestogrow,itiswithpridethatthenextfewpageshighlighttheRolexyachtingcalendarfor2011.Acompletelistingofallevents,alongwiththelatesteventinformation,canbefoundonwww.regattanews.com.
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2011
RolexSydneyHobartYachtRaceSydney – Hobart, Australia | December 2010 – January 2011
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual 628-nautical mile offshore race organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with the co-operation of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. Owners and charterers of eligible boats are invited to apply for entry.CYCA – T. +61 282927800 – E. [email protected] – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
CircuitoAtlánticoSurRolexCupBuenos Aires, Argentina – Punta del Este, Uruguay | January 2011
The Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup 2011 is an annual weeklong regatta for monohull yachts organised jointly by the Yacht Club Argentino, Yacht Club Olivos, Yacht Club Punta del Este and Yacht Club Uruguayo. The event includes a 165-nautical mile offshore race.YCA – T. +54 1143140505 – E. [email protected] – www.yca.org.ar
RolexMiamiOCRMiami, Florida, USA | January 2011
Rolex Miami OCR is an annual weeklong regatta for Olympic class boats organised by US Sailing. It forms part of the annual ISAF Sailing World Cup.US Sailing – E. [email protected] – www.rmocr.ussailing.org/
RolexFarr40WorldChampionshipSydney, Australia | February 2011
The Rolex Farr 40 Worlds is an annual four-day championship that changes venue each year. The 2011 Worlds will be organised by the Farr 40 Class Association.Farr40CA – T. +1 4102681001 – E. [email protected] – www.farr40.org
Calendar of Rolex yachting events
InternationalRolexRegattaSt.Thomas, US Virgin Islands | March 2011
The International Rolex Regatta is an annual three-day regatta for One Design and handicap monohull and multihull classes, and is organised by the St. Thomas Yacht Club.StTYC – T. +1 3407756320 – E. [email protected] – www.rolexcupregatta.com.
PortofinoRolexTrophyPortofino, Italy | May 2011
The Portofino Rolex Trophy is an annual three-day regatta organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Circolo Vela of Santa Margherita Ligure and under the patronage of the cities of Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. YCI – T. +39 0102461206 – E. [email protected] – www.yci.it
RolexVolcanoRace/RolexCapriSailingWeekCapri, Italy | May 2011
The Rolex Volcano Race will be an annual 400-nautical mile offshore race organised by the International Maxi Association in conjunction with the Comitato Vela nel Golfo di Gaeta and the Yacht Club Capri. The race will form part of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, an annual four-day regatta organised by the YCC.IMA – T. +39 3474413194 – E. [email protected] – www.internationalmaxiassociation.comYCC – T. +39 0818389455 – E. [email protected] – www.yccapri.org
GiragliaRolexCupSaint-Tropez, France – Genoa, Italy | June 2011
The Giraglia Rolex Cup is an annual weeklong competition that comprises three days of inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez and a 245-nautical mile offshore race to Genoa via La Giraglia. It is organised by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez under the supervision of the Federazione Italiana Vela, the Fédération Française de Voile, with the collaboration of the city of Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France.YCI – T. +39 0102461206 – E. [email protected] – www.yci.it – www.giragliarolexcup.com
BlockIslandRaceWeekPresentedbyRolexBlock Island, Rhode Island, USA | June 2011
Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex is a biennial weeklong regatta organised by the Storm Trysail Yacht Club for monohull yachts greater than 24-feet competing in One Design, IRC and PHRF handicap classes.STC – T. +1 9148348857 – E. [email protected] – www.blockislandraceweek.com
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RolexBalticWeekFlensburg, Germany | June – July 2011
Rolex Baltic Week is an annual weeklong regatta. In 2011 the event will be organised by the Flensburger Segelclub in cooperation with the Kieler Yacht Club. The regatta is open to the 6-Metre, 8-Metre and 12-Metre classes, and includes the 2011 12-Metre World Championship.FSC – T. +49 46313233 – E. [email protected] – www.fsc.de
RolexIlhabelaSailingWeekIlhabela, São Paulo, Brazil | July 2011
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week is an annual weeklong regatta organised by the Yacht Club Ilhabela for monohull yachts competing in One Design and ORCi Handicap classes.YCI – T. +55 1131513616 – E. [email protected] – www.risw.com.br
RolexFastnetRaceCowes – Plymouth, UK | August 2011
The Rolex Fastnet Race is a biennial 608-nautical mile offshore race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal Western Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron.RORC – T. +44 2074932248 – E. [email protected] – www.rorc.org
RolexInternationalWomen'sKeelboatChampionshipRochester, New York, USA | August – September 2011
The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship is a biennial weeklong regatta that is recognized as the pinnacle of competitive keelboat racing for women. The Rochester Yacht Club will host the 2011 running of the regatta.RYC – T. +1 5855461234 – E. [email protected] – www.rochesteryc.com
NewYorkYachtClubInvitationalCuppresentedbyRolexNewport, Rhode Island, USA | September 2011
The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is a biennial weeklong regatta organised by the New York Yacht Club. Entry is by invitation only to a limited number of the world's preeminent yacht clubs. The regatta format is fleet racing in Swan 42 Class yachts.NYYC – T. +1 2123821000 – E. [email protected] – www.nyyc.org
MaxiYachtRolexCupPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2011
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an annual weeklong regatta organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2011 includes the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship 2011.YCCS – T. +39 0789902200 – E. [email protected] – www.yccs.it
RolexBigBoatSeriesSan Francisco, CA, USA | September 2011
The Rolex Big Boat Series is an annual four-day regatta for monohull yachts organised by the St. Francis Yacht Club. Participation is by invitation only. Entrants are divided into two groupings: One Design Racing: J/120, Sydney 38, Melges 32, Express 37, OD 35, J/105, Farr 40, Beneteau 36.7 and Cal 40; and, IRC Handicap for yachts of 35-feet and above.StFYC – T. +1 4155636363 – E. [email protected] – www.stfyc.com
LesVoilesdeSaint-TropezSaint-Tropez, France | September – October 2011
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an annual weeklong regatta organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Competitors are divided into three categories: Modern, Sprit of Tradition and Tradition. The Rolex Trophy is awarded to the best performing yacht over 16-metres in the Tradition class.SNST – T. +33 494973054 – E. [email protected] – www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
RolexMiddleSeaRaceValletta, Malta | October 2011
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is an annual 606-nautical mile offshore race organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and under the auspices of the Maltese and Italian Sailing Federations.RMYC – T. +356 21333109 – E. [email protected] – www.rmyc.org –www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
ISAFRolexWorldSailoroftheYearAwardsPuerto Rico | November 2011
These annual awards recognize the top male and female sailor in the world. The winners are selected by the 130 ISAF Member National Authorities from an always-impressive field of nominees. The venue for the Awards ceremony changes each year.ISAF – T. + 44 2380635111 – E. [email protected] www.sailing.org/worldsailor
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2012 Biennial events
RolexChinaSeaRaceHong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines | April 2012
The Rolex China Sea Race is a biennial 565-nautical mile race for monohull and multihull yachts from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, through the South China Sea to the finish in Subic Bay, the Philippines. It is organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, in co-operation with Manila Yacht Club and the Subic Bay Yacht Club, and is run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The race was first held in 1962.RHKYC – T. +852 28322817 – E. [email protected] – www.rhkyc.org.hk
RolexSwanCupPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012
The Rolex Swan Cup is a biennial weeklong regatta organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with Nautor’s Swan. The 2012 Rolex Swan 45 World Championship will take place within the Rolex Swan Cup.YCCS – T. +39 0789902200 – E. [email protected] – www.yccs.it
For the complete
Rolex yachting calendar please visit
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