Capri prepares for the Rolex Sailing Week

From 26 to 29 May 2010, the sixth edition of Rolex Capri Sailing Week will fill the turquoise waters of Capri with an impressive fleet and a few days of competitive racing.

This year’s Rolex Capri Sailing Week, an event that has become a favourite as the kick-off for the Mediterranean’s sailing calendar, will have several fleets competing off the Gulf of Naples, sandwiched between an island of devastating beauty and a volcano with a reputation for devastating behaviour, Mount Vesuvius.

The current entry list is made up of 34 entries from six different classes, two of which are one-design models, including the respected Farr 40s that will see Massimo Mezzaroma’s (ITA) Nerone, fresh from their win at the 2010 Rolex Farr 40 Worlds, competing on the water. With the mercurial Vasco Vascotto in the hot seat, Nerone has a reputation to uphold and will certainly capture a fair amount of attention as the current class favourite.

The Farr 40 Class also welcomes other international “top guns” such as the German-American architect Helmut Jahn, who will be racing on Flash Gordon and American Jim Richardson on Barking Mad, joining the rest of this international fleet that also features teams heading to Capri from Germany, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

The other one-design class participating in the 2010 Rolex Capri Sailing Week is the X-41. Launched by X-Yachts, this class consists primarily of Italian competitors and sees the 2009 World Champion Pier Vector Grimani as one of the strongest in the fleet. The focus will also be on Alberto Signorini, co-helm of Nerone at the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds, who will be at the helm of Gianclaudio Bassetti’s WB Five, and Maurizio Pavesi at the helm of Coq Hardy, both contenders for victory in this class.

The Mylius 14E55 and the Comet 41S and 45S will race under the ORC International Rule, a system of measurement for “handicap racing,” designed to allow different sized boats to compete against one another. Handicap racing proves time and time again that a well-honed amateur crew with a competitive and well-maintained boat can upset the expected results. More information about the ORC handicap rule can be found in the Rolex Capri Sailing Week 2010 Press Pack on the regattanews.com event page.

For the Comets all eyes will be on Athanor, winner of its class in the 2009 edition of this event, and Libertine, frequent winner in Capri and overall winner of the 2007 Giraglia Rolex Cup. This year, Libertine’s Italian owner Marco Franco, member of the Yacht Club Capri, and Conny Vuotto, head of the YCC Sailing School, will be sailing onboard to defend the Comet 45S title.

The event this year also welcomes the participation of the Mini Maxi fleet for the first time. This class will include entries such as Andy Soriano’s (GBR) impressive 68-footer Alegre, overall winner at the 2009 Rolex Middle Sea Race, Peter Ogden’s (GBR) Jethou, Brian Benjamin’s (GBR) Aegir and Robertjan Zonneveld’s (ITA) Swan 601 Cuordisole among other massive beauties that complete the entry list.

Rolex Capri Sailing Week is organised by the Yacht Club Capri and is an official leg of the 2010 Rolex IMA Championship for the Mini Maxi Category and the Farr 40 European Circuit.

For more information about the Rolex Capri Sailing Week including entry lists and media accreditation please visit www.yccapri.com.

To receive daily reports and to download high-resolution images, copyright free for editorial purposes, register online at www.regattanews.com.

ROLEX CAPRI SAILING WEEK LIFESTYLE

The social highlight of the week is certain to be the Rolex Party at the Canzone del Mare (“Song of the Sea”), made famous by actress and singer Gracie Fields who adopted the area shortly after World War II, and transformed it into the world-class beach resort it is now today.

For more lifestyle information related to Capri and the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, please click here.

For more inspiration click here.

International Media Contacts
Key Partners (KPMS) 
Anna Maria Gregorini
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M on-site: +39 334 741 38 24

Marina Kienitz
E: marina@kpms.com
T: +41 32 724 28 29
M: +41 79 321 4492
www.kpms.com

Yacht Club Capri Press Office
Emanuela di Mundo
T. +39 06 39910011
M: +39 338 4674606
E: e.dimundo@alice.it