46 for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Ran and Alegre head up the Mini Maxi fleet

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup returns for its 22nd edition in Porto Cervo over 5-10 September. Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with partner Rolex, the event will see 46 of the world's largest and most competitive maxi racing yachts competing on the waters off Sardinia's Costa Smeralda. 16 of the participating yachts will compete in the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship 2011 which takes place within the traditional Maxi event.

The fleet of yachts, ranging from 18-45m in length, will be divided into various divisions according to their size and technical characteristics and will race off Porto Cervo over five days, with no lay day scheduled this year. The Mini Maxi fleet (yachts from 18.29 to 24.08m) includes many strong candidates for the title of World Champion including Niklas Zennström's Rán 2, winner of the title in 2010 and fresh from overall from her second victory in the Rolex Fastnet Race and Andres Soriano's Alegre.

The remaining 30 maxi yachts racing in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, with an average length of around 30 metres, cover a vast spectrum of designs, models and technological solutions. From new launches such as the prototype for the new F-Class one-design Firefly, the Comet 100 Shadow and the classic Bermudian sloop Annagine - all launched this year - to veteran competitors such as the 38m ketch Hetairos, launched in 1993 and winner of the Supermaxi division in 2010. Following last year's victory in the Racing and Racing/Cruising division, Esimit Europa 2 owned by Igor Simčič will be looking to repeat her performance. The 30 metre Reichel-Pugh sloop, with a crew of top European sailors, recently took line honours in the 2011 Giraglia Rolex Cup.

As always a rich social programme has been organized for owners and crews including a welcome cocktail at the YCCS Clubhouse, a Rolex Gala Dinner and Crew Party and the closing prize giving on the Yacht Club's Piazza Azzurra.

Maxi entries:

Mini maxi entries: