Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia
2 – 8 September, 2007
A mechanical failure during the final minute of the countdown to the start of race one of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup off Porto Cervo today cost Australian maxi Wild Oats XI any chance of line or handicap honours.
Just as the 30-metre long Rolex Sydney Hobart Race record holder began to manoeuvre for the final approach to the start line, the engine powering the massive hydraulic ram that controls the 10-tonne canting keel, and the primary winches, failed. As a result Wild Oats XI was unable to tack and was forced to continue on a course to the least favoured end of the start line.
Wild Oats XI, owned Bob Oatley, was some 30 seconds late crossing the line, and by the time the engine was restarted arch rival and near sistership, Alfa Romeo (Neville Crichton, NZ), was in the lead and controlling proceedings on the 30 nautical mile course to Isola Di Spargi and back to Porto Cervo.
A change to a heavier headsail which was more suited to the gusty 15-knot north-westerly wind saw the Australian yacht soon sailing at 11.6 knots and making gains on the leader. At the turn Alfa Romeo held a lead of around one minute over Wild Oats XI, but then the larger gennaker on the Australian yacht became a telling factor. As both yachts raced downwind at 20 knots through a chain of spectacular rocky islands, Alfa Romeo’s lead was soon cut to just a couple of boat lengths. The pair then went gybe for gybe in what promised to be a great battle to the finish, but two slow gybes on Wild Oats XI ended the charge and the kiwi boat took line honours by 38 seconds.
On corrected time the well-sailed German yacht Morning Glory (Hasso Plattner) was a clear cut winner over Rambler (George David, USA) and another Australian entry, Stephen Ainsworth’s 60-footer, Loki, out of Sydney. Wild Oats XI was sixth.
The forecast of an approaching Mistral with winds reaching 35 knots and rough seas over the next two days might make it impossible for championship organisers to lay a start and finish line and as a consequence force them to cancel racing. – Rob Mundle
