Adverse weather conditions change route of Race 4

The severe weather expected tonight and tomorrow around the Aeolian Islands forced the Race Committee to change the route for the long offshore race (Race 4). A new race course of approximately 220-nm was set for the Maxi yacht fleet: Capri-Santa Maria di Castellabate-Capri-Ponza-Capri.

As scheduled, the start for participants in the Rolex Capri Sailing Week / Volcano Race was given at 11 AM off Capri. The regional gale warning- with winds up to 40 knots and waves up to 6 meters - led the race committee to change the course.

Instead of heading to the Aeolian Islands, the new course for the fleet begins with the rounding of a weather mark located about a mile and a half after the start line, then leads the Maxi yachts to a mark located off Santa Maria di Castellabate south of Naples (leave to port), back to Capri (leave to port) between 18:00 and sunset, continuing in the direction of Ponza (leave to port) and then back to Capri, with the finish line located off the Marina Grande. This route is slightly shorter (about 220 miles) than the original course (Capri-Aeolian Islands-Capri, about 300 miles).

Weather permitting, the first boats across the finish line off Capri are expected to arrive around noon on Thursday. In addition to this offshore race, the Maxi yachts completed Race 1 (Gaeta – Capri) from May 18-19 and Race 2 (coastal race off Capri) on 21 May.

The Rolex Capri Sailing Week/Volcano Race final award ceremony will take place Friday evening, 24 May, at Marina Grande.

At the time of writing (14:00), Claus-Peter Offen’s Wally 100 Y3K (GER) is leading the fleet at a speed of about 12 knots and is en route for the first buoy positioned in front of Punta Licosa. Y3K is followed in order, by Caol Ila R (USA), Jethou (GBR), Wild Joe (HUN) and Plis Play (ESP). Trailing at the back of the fleet and working to catch up are Italian boats Good Job Guys, Grande Orazio and Hagar II, along with Italian Navy vessels Shirlaf and Polar Star.

Further information on the Rolex Capri Sailing Week/Volcano Race 2013 and live tracking of the fleet may be found on the IMA homepage: www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

High-resolution photos available for editorial use are available daily on www.regattanews.com.

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