The Giraglia Rolex Cup. Renowned. Respected. Prestigious. Historic. The ‘Fastnet of the Mediterranean’ is back for a 59th year as Corinthian sailing talent from around the world compete for one of the most illustrious and sought-after prizes in the sport. Given the prospective talent on show and enthralling encounters experienced in recent years, the 2011 edition promises to be another rich fixture in the sailing calendar.
Wally Yachts and the Financial Times have joined forces to launch a new Maxi Yacht racing series. The FT Wally Grand Prix Series is a unique series of races for the world’s largest fleet of Maxi racing yachts. The racing teams feature sailing’s premier talent from the America’s Cup and the Olympics together with some of the most prominent captains of industry. The series takes place between April and October, moving between the Mediterranean’s most glamorous and vibrant sailing locations.
In preparation for the 2011 America’s Cup World Series, which kicks off this August in Cascais, Portugal and features stops in Plymouth, UK and San Diego, event organizers will stage on and off the water dress rehearsals in Auckland April 26-29 and May 2-6.
Whitsunday blue water sailor Ian Thomson set a lonely record when he sailed alone around Australia last year. His challenge under the Save Our Seas banner gained international media recognition during and after the marathon voyage. He will be chasing further fame next month as an important crew member when Australia’s most famous offshore racing maxi yacht Brindabella now owned by Jim Cooney sets a course to circum-navigate Australia in under 37 days.
The world renowned waters of Sardinia’s Porto Cervo will be the venue for the 2011 Audi TP52 World Championships as the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) hosts to the regatta from the 2nd to the 8th of October. The last time that the TP52 World Championships were hosted on these waters was the 2007 edition, won by Sweden’s Torbjorn Tornqvist ‘s Artemis.
The prestigious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda have confirmed that they will compete on the Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 in the colours of the new Audi Azzurra Sailing Team with a crew built around a core group of sailors from the 2009 TP52 World Champions Matador. Guillermo Parada, Francesco Bruni and Vasco Vascotto will lead the team.