A sizeable Irish sailing contingent will be spread across some of the leading international campaigns when the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup gets under way in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, on Monday (7 September).
At least 16 sailors with Irish connections are understood to be competing across seven yachts, including several of the principal contenders for the two world championship titles being decided during the five-day regatta.
The Irish representation is particularly strong aboard Galateia, where Nin O’Leary, Justin Slattery, Simon Johnson, Kelvin Harrap and Rory Harrap are listed among the regluar team.
Leopard 3 has Will Byrne, Tom McWilliam and Mark Petticrew aboard, while Bella Mente includes Cian Guilfoyle, Oisin McClelland and Ian Moore.
Elsewhere, Grattan Roberts is racing aboard Django 7x, James O’Mahony is with V, Shane Diviney is aboard the newly launched North Star III and Jeremy Elliott is on Magic Carpet.
Maxi 1 World Championship Battle
The Irish involvement puts several sailors directly into what promises to be one of the week's major battles.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup incorporates the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship for the 80-100ft racing yachts for the second successive year.
Maxi Pressure: Ultra-close racing at the 2025 Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship, where Irish sailors will again feature among the leading campaigns in Porto Cervo this week. Photo: IMA / Studio Borlenghi
Defending champion Galateia returns to face Leopard 3, winner of the inaugural Maxi 1 world title in 2024 and runner-up in 2025.
V arrives in Sardinia as arguably the form boat, having won both the IMA Maxi European Championship in Sorrento in May and the Loro Piana Giraglia inshore racing in June.
V tactician and Olympic 470 gold medallist Šime Fantela expects another close contest.
“It’s going to be tough as usual,” Fantela said. “With Leopard and Galateia – we have been challenging each other this year in every race.”
Magic Carpet is also among the Maxi 1 challengers, bringing Jeremy Elliott into the same championship contest.
Irish Interest in Maxi Grand Prix Worlds
There is further Irish interest in the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship, where Django 7x returns as defending champion.
The wallyrocket 71 faces an experienced fleet including Peter Harrison's Jolt, 2023 winner Bella Mente, 2024 champion Proteus, Jethou and Balthasar.
Django 7x tactician Vasco Vascotto has dismissed any suggestion that the team will approach the event defensively.
“We are not defending, we are attacking!” he said.
Bella Mente's Irish contingent of Guilfoyle, McClelland and Moore will consequently be among those attempting to wrest the title from Django 7x.
Also attracting considerable attention is the newly launched North Star III, with Diviney among the Irish interest. The Judel/Vrolijk-designed 76-footer was built by Persico for North Sails owner Peter Dubens and is making its debut at the event.
Unlike the water-ballasted Maxi Grand Prix yachts, North Star III has a keel capable of canting up to 12 degrees and a twisting rig designed to optimise sail shape.
38-Yacht Fleet in Porto Cervo
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association.
From 43 entries, 32 monohulls and six multihulls are scheduled to compete over five days, with a layday planned for Thursday, conditions permitting.
The two world championship fleets will each have two days of windward-leeward racing, while the remainder of the programme will use the coastal courses around the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena archipelago.
Racing begins on Monday and continues through the week.
