Nineteen crews are preparing in earnest for tomorrow’s start to the first segment of the Rolex Volcano Race taking place in the town of Gaeta, just north of Naples. The scheduled windward/leeward race will enable the array of international crews to test tactics and hone preparations ahead of an intriguing two-part offshore race beginning on Sunday 20 May.
Leg One of the offshore race comprises a 100-nautical mile journey through the Pontine Islands from Gaeta to Capri. There, the fleet will berth for the evening of Monday 21 May before, the following morning, tackling the most challenging and rewarding part of the event, the 300-nautical mile Leg Two around the volcanic Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, beginning and ending in Capri.
“The event has grown considerably from the first edition (held in 2011) both in terms of the number and quality of entrants,” explains Luca Simeone, Vice President of the Yacht Club Gaeta. “There are a number of larger boats and a representation from twelve nations. The event is newborn and has immediately assumed an international character.”
“The fascination of this event come from the boats,” continues Simeone. “The very best technology, in terms of construction, materials and sails, is represented together with the great appeal of having crews from many nations who have gone to great lengths to prepare these Maxis.”
Yachts from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Spain, the UK and the USA as well as seven entrants from Italy make up the fleet. Two impressive winners from last year’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the largest craft on show – Claus-Peter Offen’s 100-ft Y3K (GER) and Filip Balcaen’s 112-ft Nilaya (BEL) – are widely expected to be amongst the frontrunners.
“The forecast is quite different from last year when the race was characterised by light winds,” concludes Simeone. “We are expecting harder conditions, especially for Leg Two of the offshore race, an additional reason for celebrating the performance of these great yachts.”
The Rolex Volcano Race is organised by the International Maxi Association (IMA) and is open to Maxi yachts (measuring over 18.29 metres/60-ft in length). The overall winner of Leg Two will receive the coveted Rolex Trophy and timepiece during the traditional Rolex party at the iconic La Canzone del Mare, held on Friday 25 May.
How To Follow Event
Further information on the Rolex Volcano Race may be found at www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
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About Rolex
Leading brand of the Swiss watch industry, Rolex, headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its OYSTER watches, all certified as chronometers for their precision, are symbols of excellence, performance and prestige.
Pioneer in the development of the wristwatch as early as 1905, the brand is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the OYSTER, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the PERPETUAL rotor self-winding mechanism introduced in 1931.
Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet.
Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities as well as philanthropic and patronage programmes.
