Opening Ceremony today for second edition of Menorca Maxi
Mahon, Menorca, May 27 2015With the opening ceremony in the lovely "Island del Rey" , the second edition of Menorca Maxi officially started. From tomorrow May 28 to Sunday May 31, two fleets (12 Wallys and 5 Maxi 72s) will compete on the turquoise waters off Menorca over four windward/leeward races and two coastal ones.
World-class sailors, many with America’s Cup and round-the-world backgrounds, gathered in Mahon for the event.The Port of Mahón, the second largest natural-port in Europe, is ready to provide a big show from tomorrow with two regattas scheduled from 12.30 hrs.
Wally fleet
The big spectacle is on the water with the tight battle of the 12 Wallys from the start line, with the compulsory steering of owners to the finish.
Magic Blue and Magic Carpet Cubed arrive in the Port of Mahón as top favourites, following their first and second place finish respectively in the first edition of the Regatta.
29-metre Magic Blue will have a tough fight on their hands with the WallyCento, Sir Lindsay Own-Jones’ Magic Carpet Cubed (with Sebastien Col and Marcel Van Triest on the afterguard), along with Dr.Thomas Bscher`s Open Season, in Menorca after their victory three weeks ago in Palma de Mallorca.
The Wally class great majesty will be lionized with a fleet where the smaller length is 24 meters (Lyra, Inti, Ryokan 2, Tango G and J One) and the biggest length goes to more than 30 meters (Kenora and Open Season with 33meters).
Maxi 72 Fleet
Five Maxi 72s will participate in Menorca; Dieter Schon`s Momo and Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou are back to battle it out again, but won´t be taking their eyes off their competition with teams such as Alexader Shaerer’s Caol Ila R, the powerful Robertissima III and Schockwave.
A full programme of racing in this year’s Menorca Maxi with a combination of round the can races and the chance to experience the magnificence and incredible beauty of the Menorcan coastline in the coastal races.
A maximum of six races are scheduled for both Wally and Maxi 72 fleet- with a maximum of two races per day.
PRESENTATION OF THE MENORCA MAXI IN THE CONSELL INSULAR DE MENORCA
A Press Conference was hosted this morning at the Consell Insular de Menorca: Luca Bassani, Wally Class President, commented: “We are really happy to be back in Menorca, and we hope it will become a regular feature in the Wally class calendar. The island is simply spectacular, the wind conditions too, and the locals are very welcoming".
Mr. Alberto Palatchi, owner of the Wally Galma and “Ambassador of Menorca”: “Twelve Wallys in a regatta is a record for this class, only equalled in St.Tropez.I would like to thank all the people of Menorca and the Club Marítimo de Mahón for their wonderful support for this Regatta".
MENORCA MAXI REGATTA
Helena de la Gándara - helena delagandara@gmail.com - +34 609481394
Valenca Figuera - valenca.figuera@equiposingular.com - +34 634227502