Regate di Primavera a Portofino, Day 1

The Mediterranean maxi racing season got underway today with the opening races of a new event in the calendar, the Yacht Club Italiano’s Regate di Primavera a Portofino - Splendido Mare Cup in Portofino, Italy. This sees a welcome return of maxi racing to the picturesque Ligurian fishing village where the YCI has a clubhouse with entries largely from Swan, Mylius, Southern Wind and Wally. 

The first race took place in superb conditions with 15-20 knots of wind and the 15 maxis were sent off on a 19 mile course between Portofino and Sestri Levante. Ultimately it was Pendragon VI, the Laurie Davidson-designed 69 footer campaigned by new International Maxi Association member Carlo Alberini who was first home, completing the course in 2 hours, 1 minute and 26 seconds. 

With time compensation it was Rinaldo Del Bono's Capricorno that corrected out in first place ahead of Luciano Gandini's Mylius 80 Twin Soul B and Andrea Bianchedi's Swan 98 Drifter Cube. This was a great performance by Capricorno (ex-Morning Glory), a true thoroughbred Reichel/Pugh designed 78 fotter built by McConaghy in 1995. She is racing in Portofino with an exceptional crew, comprising much Italian sailing talent including Tiziano Nava, Alberto Fantini, Stefano Rizzi, Giovanni Cassinari, Matteo Plazzi and Angelo Romanengo.

Boosting the exposure of the event is live video coverage with Roberto Ferrarese in the studio and correspondents on the water, some on supporting boats, others on board yachts taking part in the race.

Tomorrow for the second day of racing the weather is expected to be tougher with 3.5m waves and a strong wind.

"Today we saw the very beginning of the 2021 maxi season in the Med,” said IMA Secretary General Andrew McIrvine. “May I thank the Yacht Club Italiano, the shipyards and the sponsors and suppliers that strongly believed Portofino could host the first edition of the Regate di Primavera - Splendido Mare Cup, despite the difficulties still depending from the sanitary emergency. And thanks to maxi owners, that have been insisting on their desire to race leaving behind them the emptiness of last year".

The Regate di Primavera – Splendido Mare Cup are organised by the Yacht Club Italiano, Municipality of Portofino and the International Maxi Association under the aegis of the Federazione Italiana Vela. 

Belmond Ltd. is title partner, Rolex the official timepiece, while Loro Piana and Veuve Clicquot are technical partners; completing the supporters is the Banca Passadore.

(Race report by YCI press office)  

CONTACTS:

Luigi Magliari: Luigi.magliari@yci.it

Pietro Pisano: Pietro.pisano@yci.it

Event' website: www.yci.it