Sardinia - Porto Cervo
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I have had the privilege to be invited by Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley to sail on their 98 footer Maximus on a training day and what an experience. The wind was 12 knots and we sailed at 17 knots, it felt like a low flying aircraft, it was so smooth and effortless. As for the canting keel out to the side, that is an amazing sight, I wonder what the dolphins think of that. Along for the ride also is great supporter of NZ Yachting Peter Cornes.
In port there is the biggest gathering of Maxi's in the world and shaping up for a great week of racing. There are 40 boats in three classes, Wally fleet, Maxi Cruisers and Maxi Racers. Skandia Wild Thing and Maximus line up with the very best racers with 7 in their division. For those who don't know, this is the Skandia that had to be rescued from sinking in Bass Strait in the last Rolex Sydney to Hobart. Quite amazing to see her racing again so soon and even faster than before.
Dinner at the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, a BBQ aboard Peter Cornes Luxury Motor Yacht and swimming in the Yacht club pool, we are having a very nice time.
The sponsor for Maximus is Slam and we are all given a great crew uniform, to compete with the other million dollar campaigns .The fleet of Wally's is the biggest division ranging from 70 feet to 107 feet worth millions ofdollars.
The crew of Maximus is awesome with Mike Quilter, Harold Cudmore,Richard Bouzaid,Geoff Scott, and of course all the famous workers.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2005
5th September 05- Race One
Following for half the race in the inflatable tender Maximus leads at the finish but the race is withdrawn due to the committee boat forgetting to put down a mark of the course. At this standard of racing this should never happen.
6th September - Race Two
The wind is blowing 23 knots and doesn't take long for Maximus to take the lead. According to the skipper of Nariida, a Norwegian 105 footer, Maximus sailed passed them looking like a trimaran and couldn't believe their speed, which was 19 knots. Leading by miles and looking famous at her last mark the sky fell in as they gybed. Everything came down and into the water, as millions of dollars are quickly cut away to protect the hull. In Ian's words "there was an airy silence and then an enormous cracking sound as splinters
of carbon fibre flew through the air". No one was injured and for whatever reason these things happen, it still comes as an enormous shock.
Without a doubt Maximus is the fastest maxi yacht on the water in the world. Reaching she left Skandia for dead, and before her mishap was miles ahead of her.
That's the end of the regatta for us. The masts in two pieces, boom and sails have been salvaged from 40 metres of water, she will now be shipped home and be ready for the Sydney- Hobart Race.
This maybe the most expensive marina in the Mediterranean, but we have been disappointed. The most unbelievable being when Maximus returned she was told that she was no longer in the regatta and couldn't return to her berth where all her equipment was. After a lot of talking by rude arrogant staff, this was rectified. It's also been the most uncomfortable for us as they have put
us on a floating pontoon.
But the yacht club and surrounds are magnificent and the quality of yachts and crew competing mind blowing.
We have been very fortunate while in Sardinia to enjoy the hospitality of our Italian friend Luca who we meet during the Sydney Olympic Games. His family own a holiday house just north of Porto Cervo and his mother and sister were very kind in offering us all assistance especially with washing which is difficult living on a yacht.
Staying till Sunday when Gail Ferguson from Auckland is to join us for 10 days. We would like to sail the west coast of Corsica around Elba and back to Rome. We are leaving Cadiz up the Fumicino Canal at the end of September.
Janey will also be joining us again as Maximus is going on a ship back to New Zealand in 2 weeks, before she fly's back to Australia to join the real world. All good things come to an end.