18 maxis set sail on Rolex Giraglia by James Boyd / International Maxi Association 16 Jun 20:42 BST 16 June 2021
The longest yachts in IRC 0 were the first to get away from the Sanremo start today in the Yacht Club Italiano s Rolex Giraglia.
This fourth event of the International Maxi Association s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge set sail on time at midday, but on a new course. Due to the pandemic this year s race starts and finishes in Italy, rather than running between France and Italy, following the event s historic raison d etre - to improve détente between the two nations post-World War Two.
From the start the maxis were sent off on a short beat east in 12 knots of breeze before turning west onto the course proper. At the weather mark it remained ultra-close between the lead trio of 100 footers. Joost Schuijff s Farr 100 Leopard was a nose ahead of Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones Magic Carpet Cubed, but the crew of the dark blue Wallycento was slicker hoi