Big boys dust up

Top line-up due to take to the waters off Porto Cervo tomorrow in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

September. Sardinia. Porto Cervo. Maxi Yacht. Rolex: The ingredients roll off the tongue and run together to form the high-octane mix that is the most spectacular gathering of sailing design and technology held each year. For the 18th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, 38 yachts from 11 countries have gathered and represent the spectrum of three-quarters of a century of monohull yacht design - maxi style. For 2007, the fleet of colossa congregated in the Marina Nuova will be divided into four divisions for a week of competition over a mixture of windward/leeward, coastal and island courses.

In the pressurised surroundings of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Racing Division there is no room on the yachts for the less than alert. On racing maxis, the crews have to be athletic and nimble, and no more so than on the two near sisterships from Australasia - Bob Oatley's Wild Oats (AUS) and Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo (NZL). Both from the drawing board of Reichel-Pugh and launched in 2005, they represent the very latest in racing yacht design and technology. Entirely of carbon-fibre, sporting canting keels, water-ballast and both built by McConaghy yachts in Australia these yachts are at the forefront of the racing supermaxi world. Cutting edges that few others would dare to dream about, these 30m greyhounds that weigh in at a mere 26 tonnes are accustomed to sailing their own race at the head of the fleet.

Elsewhere in the Racing Division may be found the 76ft Titan XII from the USA. More usually witnessed dominating the racing stage in the Caribbean and eastern seaboard of the USA, this is her first sortie into European waters and what a stage to make a debut. Up against Titan XII is George David's 90-foot Rambler (USA). Formerly owned by Neville Crichton, she was launched in 2002 before canting keels became 'de rigeur' on yachts of this size. Rambler recently proved that 'old technology' is not necessarily 'bad technology' finishing second on the water in the 608 mile Rolex Fastnet Race only 45 minutes behind Leopard 3, the latest 30m canting-keeler to be launched.

Hasso Plattner's maxZ86 Morning Glory (GER) is no slouch either. When she was launched in 2003 she heralded a new era in supermaxi design. Despite being superseded in size, by the likes of Wild Oats and Alfa Romeo, last year she kept pace with the 100ft supermaxi Maximus over the 607-mile Rolex Middle Sea Race course. And, whilst they may have little prospect of winning the race for real time victory, Roel Pieper's Swan 80 Favonius (NED) and Stephen Ainsworth's 66ft Loki (AUS) are extremely well sailed and should not be discounted in the battle for handicap honours where, lest it be forgotten in the dash to be home first, the overall trophies are decided.

The Cruising Division boasts ten yachts and provides a cross-reference of design, style and technology. There are the Js, Velsheda (USA) and Ranger (USA) - the mere mention of these names is enough to send shivers down the spine of yacht-racing cognoscenti. Velsheda sailing today is thanks to a rebuild conducted at Southampton Yacht Services in 1997, while Ranger is a 'new-build', a replica of the successful Cup Defender from 1937. She was built and launched in 2003, by Danish Yachts. The original Ranger was launched too late to meet Velsheda when she was in her prime and one of the most feared yachts in the world. Now, though, these classic America's CUp race boats meet regularly on the circuit and readily invoke images of the glory days of yacht racing even with their simplified, yet still massive, sail plans. At the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup expect some spectacular contests between these two 40m 'cruising' yachts.

Just over 50 years ago, in 1954, the 35m Aschanti IV was launched by Burmester and how the world has changed since that time. Racing in the Cruising Division, Aschanti IV represents the anti-thesis of modern yacht design - all beautiful lines, gleaming varnish and polished brasswork. Her rebuild in 1994 has done nothing to lessen the charm of this supreme classic, which has won 'most photogenic yacht awards' at Antigua Classic Week on more than one occasion. Under sail, the sense of power is undoubtedly just as immense as onboard a lightweight racer, albeit in a wholly different way. Aschanti IV will have her work cut out to gain revenge on Hetaros, a winner here last year. Launched in 1993 - a full 40 years after Aschanti - Hetaros was designed by Bruce King and built by Abeking and Rasmussen. She too is unashamedly about traditional values and luxury under sail. Last year she proved that she is well sailed too, winning her Division with three wins in five races.

The modern end of the cruising stable features Arne Glimcher's Ghost (USA) and Vittorio Moretti's Viriella (ITA) both returning for another tilt at overall honours in this usually competitive class. They are joined in the 34+m bracket by Francis Rooney's Perini Navi, Gitana (USA). Small is a relative term in this gathering of maxis, but Aglaya (ITA) and H2O (ITA) are both under 30-metres. Read nothing into this though when looking for a possible winner on handicap.

The largest yacht at the event is Salperton. Launched this year, she is probably the newest too. At 44m (145ft) this Ed Dubois design is twice the length of some the yachts here and, at 207 tonnes, is more than 10 times the displacement of lightweight flier such as Titan XII.

The Mini Maxi Division is the largest class of the fleet, comprising 13 yachts ranging from the 18m Out of Reach (MON) and Carige (ITA) up to the 23.9m Ikaika (SMR). Even this Division features a spread of design style and technology. Annagine (NED) designed by Gerry Dijkstra - who oversaw the refit of Velsheda - and launched in 2004 is a modern classic exuding elegance and a bygone era with beautifully polished brightwork. Her lines are perhaps misleading because whilst she was designed to be comfortable, part of the brief was to make her fast too. By contrast, Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II - overall winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race in 2005 - is from the modern school.

The Wally Division has attracted 8 yachts, ranging in size from the four 24m Wally 80s Aori (FRA), Highland Fling X (GBR), Indio (ITA) and Dangerous But Fun (MON) to the 30m Dark Shadow (MON) and the 30.5m Y3K (GER) owned by Claus Peter Offen, President of the International Maxi Association. The 2006 Division champion, Lindsay Owen-Jones' Magic Carpet Squared is returning to defend her title.

The only item missing from the list of ingredients mentioned above is the Mistral - the legendary northwesterly wind, which gives the Costa Smeralda its enviable sailing reputation. Whilst not predicting a full Mistral just yet, on-site event meteorologist Major Filippo Petrucci expects a fairly light start to the week with a westerly breeze of approximately 5 knots for tomorrow's start hopefully building to 8-9 knots later in the afternoon. Tuesday's racing, on the other hand, will most likely be accompanied by strong westerlies, which could hit gusts of up to 25-30 knots. It that holds true, stand by for some truly spectacular racing.

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will officially greet the competitors tonight with a welcome cocktail at the stunning clubhouse which overlooks Porto Cervo Marina. At the end of each racing day, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda along with title sponsor Rolex will provide a lush array of top class social events: Highlights include the YCCS Dinner on Tuesday, the Rolex Crew Party in the Piazza Azzurra on Thursday and the Rolex Dinner at the world renowned Cala di Volpe luxury resort on Friday. The week ends with Saturday's final Prizegiving Ceremony and Closing Cocktail, where the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cups and Rolex timepieces will be awarded to the overall winner of each Division.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association (IMA), will run from 2-8 September. Racing commences tomorrow, Monday, with a lay-day (or reserve) scheduled for Thursday 7 September. From the most luxurious, through the most traditional, to simply the fastest monohulls afloat today, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is nothing if not an astonishing line up of sailpower.

Full entry list: