The competition program consists of up to eight tests to be held between 2 and 7 September

The exclusive marina of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in the legendary Italian city of Sardinia: Porto Cervo, this week hosts the trigésome edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a reference race for large sailboats in the Mediterranean... for ships with length from 60 feet.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was born in 1980 to provide the largest and most powerful sailboats at the moment with the opportunity to compete in an environment appropriate to its dimensions. In its first ten editions, it is held every September since 1999. It is dedicated to the exclusive race of the Maxis, monocascos designed by visionaries of the naval architecture, armed and usually timed by people accustomed to success, and that have on board professional crew of the highest level.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup brings together half a hundred ships between 18.3 and 42.7 meters long. If we put them in line, they would cover almost 1.3 kilometres of the crystal clear waters of Costa Esmeralda; sanded, more than 300 meters. They will compete in four main classes: Mini Maxi, Maxi, Supermaxi and Wally.

The "mini maxi" for length between 18.3 and 24.4 meters (60 to 80 feet). It is the largest class, and is subdivided into Racer, Racer / Cruiser and Cruiser / Racer. Among the candidates for the title, the Vallicelli 80 H2O de Riccardo de Michele (Mini Maxi Racer division) and the V62 Supernikka de Roberto Lacorte (Mini Maxi Racer / Cruiser) return as defenders. Both have won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup on the same three occasions: 2018, 2017 and 2015. On this occasion, the Mini Maxi class includes the powerful Maxi 72, including the American Bella Minte, winner in 2016, 2015 and 2012. In division Racer participates the only Spanish ship of this edition, the V68 Pelotari Project by Andrés Varela. Bottled last June, it is an evolution of the Supernikka designed by Mark Mills for the Italian shipyard Vismara, with 20.7 meters in length and retractable keel.

Length between 24.4 and 30.5 meters (80 to 100 feet) frame the "maxis." It is subdivided into Racer and Racer / Cruiser. Among the nine participants, George David's American Rambler 88, a 27-meter-long Juan K design and one of the most laureated ships in Rolex races. He arrives in Sardinia after winning the Rolex Fastnet Race in real time this August.

Slabs above 30.5 meters (100 feet) for the "supermaxis." This year's grill includes the 2015 champion and largest ship of the entire fleet, the J-Class Topaz (JH8, 1935 design launched in 2015), of 42.7 meters (140 feet). It also competes for the 2018 J-Class winner and the fleet's most veteran ship, the Velsheda (JK7, original of 1933 and restored in 1997). The J-Class enjoyed their first apogee in the 1930s, and stand out for their stylized shapes with flying bow and stern, descommunal volleyplanes and crews of more than 30 people.

Boats of the prestigious Italian shipowner Wally. Known for their performance in competition, they combine the latest in design, construction techniques and navigation technology along with everything imaginable in comfort. He defends the title of Terry Hui's Wally 78 Lyra (24 meters long). Among its contenders are two powerful WallyCento (30.5 meters): the Galateia of David M. Leuschen (2017 champion) and the Magic Carpet Cubed of Sir Lindsay Owen Jones (winner in 2014, 2012, 2008 and 2002).