Menorca Maxi is starting tomorrow in Mahon, Menorca

Mahón is ready to welcome the second edition of the Menorca Maxi regatta, starting tomorrow, Wednesday May 27. Following last year big success, the city of Mahón will embrace one of the world’s most exclusive regattas open to the Wally and Maxi72 fleets. The Menorca Maxi is organized by the Club Marítimo de Mahón and is promoted by the Consell Insular de Menorca.

17 yachts will participate (12 are Wally yachts - three more than last year - and five Maxi72s): in the Wally fleet are "IMA boats" Y3K, Kenora, Open Season, Magic Carpet, Galma; in the Maxi 72 Class are Momo, Jethou, Robertissima III and Caol Ila R. 

High competition and fierce battle are guaranteed, with top sailors on every yacht, helmed by the relevant Owner in both Divisions. Four windward/Leeward and two coastal races are scheduled over the four days.

Record breaking participation in the Wally Class that will align 12 yachts, ranging from 33 to 24 meters, and including the defending champion Magic Blue, and the newly refitted Open Season, that won the inaugural regatta of the season two weeks ago in Palma de Mallorca. The incomers are: Lyra, Inti and Y3K. The newly refitted Lyra is debuting at Menorca Maxi 2015. The Wally classifications include the Overall (the whole fleet), the Group 2 (yachts with a limitation in the number of sails), and Group 80 (among the five 80 footers competing) standings. In addition, the the special Gino Bossi Trophy, established by the Onwer of Kenora also this year, will be assigned to the winner of the Combined Coastal Races.

The Menorca Maxi will be the first regatta in Spain where 5 Maxi 72 boats will race together. Momo is coming from Mallorca, after winning PalmaVela regatta two weeks ago. Designed by Rolf  Vrölijk for Dieter Schön, she was built in Persico Shipyard and launched at the end of 2014.

Caol Ila R is a Mark Mills and Andy Soriano design. She was built by the Spanish shipyard Longitud 0 and launched in 2013 (named Alegre). Alex Schärer is the new owner and the Menorca Maxi will be the second race of the year for this boat who already won the Mini Maxi Worlds in porto Cervo when still named "Alegre".

Jethou is a Maxi72 designed by Rolf Vrolijk for Alessandro Rombelli. She was built by Baltic Yachts and launched in 2012 as "Stig".

Robertissima is also a Maxi72 designed by Rolf Vrolijk for Niklas Zennström in 2008/2009, built by Green Marine and launched in 2009 as Rán. Its design and building team marked new standards and  won many important regattas, like the Mini Maxi World Championship (3 times) and the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race (twice).

Tomorrow May 27 the Skippers Briefing is scheduled at 18:00. At 19:30 the Opening Ceremony will take place at the "Isla del Rey" island.

(by Helena de La Gandara, Menorca Maxi 2015 press officer)