Buenos Aires to Punta del Este

70 yachts to compete in today's first race of the Circuito Atlantico Sur Rolex Cup 2007

70 yachts will cross the starting line on the Rio Plata, off Buenos Aires, on Sunday, January 14, 2007, for the first race of the Circuito Atlantico Sur Rolex Cup 2007.
The Yacht Club Argentino, Yacht Club Olivos, Yacht Club Punta del Este and the Yacht Club Uruguayo are organizing this first set of races being part of the Campeonato Sudamericano Oceanico 2007 Formulas I.M.S. y O.R.C. Club.

Boats from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will race for a Rolex timepiece and trophies in 6 series: Formula IMS, Series A and B, Formula ORC Club, Series A and B and Formula IRC, Series A.

Representatives from each yacht were briefed about the 167 mile coastal race to Punta del Este during the skippers meeting two days before the start at the Yacht Club Argentino, a yacht club founded in 1943. The 56th edition of this race has seen famous skippers like four time winner German Frers with Fjord and two time winner Alberto Roemmers with Matador. Roemmers successfully races Alexia on the maxi circuit and has also won the Circuito Atlantico Sur six times in the IMS class with Matador.

The weather forecast for the start is for 5 to 10 knots from the east southeast, which should give the fleet an upwind battle all the way out of the Rio Plata, around Punta Brava and into Punta del Este.

Only the biggest yachts will reach the long white beaches of the 'St Tropez of the Southern Hemisphere' by Monday night. The German Frers designed Fortuna III, , under 'Capitan de Fragata' Alberto von Wernich, from the Armada Argentina, is expected to cross the finish line first. Last year's IMS 500 winner Ricardo Fabini is back with Memo Memulini to defend his title.