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Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race

Alexander Schaerer’s Mini Maxi Caol Ila R secured line honours and the handicap victory

Tuesday 28 May 2013Redaction SSS [Source RP]

The famous Italian island of Capri and the beguiling Tyrrhenian Sea provided the host setting for the 2013 Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race, which came to a close on Friday 24 May following a week of close-fought inshore and offshore racing. Constantly changing and challenging conditions ensured enthralling sailing for the fleet of Maxi yachts.

The third edition of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race offered a variety of tactical tests and capricious conditions with some of Italy’s most iconic destinations forming the backdrop. The weeklong event, beginning on 18 May, comprised three segments: the first an offshore race from Gaeta, on the Italian mainland, to Capri; the second featured inshore racing off Capri; and the third a long-distance offshore race that started and finished off Capri.

Crews and owners agree that the beauty of the region and the blend of races provided a combination of awe and challenge. “The key draw here is definitely the level and quality of the competition,” revealed Mike Broughton, navigator onboard Sir Peter Ogden’s Mini Maxi Jethou. “The beautiful coast on the southeast side of Capri is a great draw, as is the tactical challenge of sailing around a volcano or an island like Capri. Mastering that is a test in itself and makes for great racing.” Jethou – overall winner of the 2012 event – performed admirably but had to settle for second place.

Alex Schaerer came to the event with prior experience of racing in the waters off Capri, although this was the first year with his new racing yacht – the former Alegre, line honours and overall winner of the event in 2011. Schaerer was surprised by the gale force conditions encountered during the final offshore race. “We went into racing exactly three years ago here in Capri and this is my second regatta with the new boat after last year’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The funny thing is that we thought there would be nice, light winds here in Capri, which would allow us to get to know the boat, which has a new mast and rig for the 2013 season. Well, if anything, in the rough conditions of the offshore race we certainly got to know her! I was lucky to have a very seasoned crew onboard, with over 40 Rolex Sydney Hobart wins in total, and they managed to bring us home safely to this beautiful island.”

After a memorable week in Capri, attention now turns to the Giraglia Rolex Cup scheduled for 14 – 22 June. Another event renowned for changing conditions.


View online : Press info www.internationalmaxiassociation.com


Overall Results Rolex Capri Sailing Week Volcano Race

  • 1st IRC Overall: Caol Ila R (USA), Alexander Schaerer
  • 2nd IRC Overall: Jethou (GBR), Sir Peter Ogden
  • 3rd IRC Overall: Wild Joe (HUN), Marton Jozsa


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