The 2016 Volcano Race set sail

One of the world’s most spectacular offshore yacht races set sail today, 18th May at 13:00 off Gaeta, Italy, with the International Maxi Association’s Volcano Race, organised in collaboration with the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS and Base Nautica Flavio Gioia.
The fleet left Gaeta – 80 km northwest of Naples – and will sail south across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily, and then back to Gaeta passing between the island of Capri and the mainland on their return.
The record to beat is the one created by 'Esimit Europa 2’ in 2015 when they completed the 398 mile course  in 1 day, 21 hours and 2 minutes.
This year’s maxi fleet sees IMA Members’ Rambler (USA), Atalanta II (ITA) and Wild Joe (HUN), as well as Swan 65 Shirlaf (ITA), Mylius 60 Fra’ Diavolo (ITA) and Open 60 OZ (NED).

This year the Volcano Race also includes an offshore fleet of boats smaller than 18.2 metres (non maxis), but with a minimum IRC rating of 1.102: Armonia (ITA, Bavaria 46), Hi-Fidelity (South Africa, Welbourne 46), Kuka-Light (SUI, Open 42), Phosphorus (GBR, Rodman 42), Roccabella (LAT, XP 44), who will race for a different set of prizes.