Rolex Capri Sailing Week - Magnifica Capri!

Faraglioni is considered to be one of the most natural wonders in all of Italy. Today, the competitors taking part in Rolex Capri Sailing Week were treated to a close encounter with the rock formations that are famous throughout the world. Nicknamed, Stella, Mezzo and Scopolo, the three magnificent limestone stacks mark the location of the first Roman port for Capri. The Capresi consider that passing through the archway under Mezzo brings good luck and many married couples venture there after they have taken their vows.

On day two of Rolex Capri Sailing Week the race committee set a course of about 30 miles for the Mini Maxi fleet. The big boat class was powering through the start line bound at top speed towards Faraglioni, on their way to Ischia. Hiking hard to windward, the crew were coaxing every ounce of speed, to make it to the top mark. Brian Benjamin’s Maxi Dolphin Aegir got off to a flying start, but the powerful sleek silver hull of Andres Soriano’s Alegre soon took up the running. Alegre was first to round the mark off Faraglioni. Accelerating downwind, the spray was exploding over the bow as they hoisted their gossamer white spinnaker but the race was far from won, as Andres Soriano explains.

“That was a tough race today, on the first beat we saw gusts of up to 18 knots and on the first run Jethou could get up on the plane sooner than us, so they were a real handful. Later on we had four big transitions in the wind, and as we were out in front, Alegre was a great indicator of things to come for the competition. We had to keep our heads out of the boat to make the right calls, especially on sail changes. Towards the end, the wind really started to fade and there were windless traps all over the racecourse. We hoisted our bowman, Mark Bartlett, up the mast as a wind seeker and Jethou was closing on us bringing more breeze, but we managed to hold on.”

Filippo Petrucci, meteorologist for the Italian Air Force, predicts lighter wind for tomorrow, possibly with some additional breeze in the Strait between Capri and the mainland. After two days of excellent sailing conditions and a variety of courses, all classes are expected to be racing tactical windward leeward races tomorrow.

Provisional Standings
Place, Boat Name, Owner, Nation, R's-Points

Mini Maxi
1. ALEGRE Andres Soriano GBR, 1-1-1-1-4.00
2. JETHOU Sir Peter Ogden GBR, 3-2-2-2-9.00
3. AEGIR Brian Benjamin GBR, 2-3-3-5(DNF)-13.00

Full Mini Maxi Results

For more information related to Capri and the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, please click here.
For daily press releases, high-resolution images free of charge for editorial use and results please subscribe to www.regattanews.com