It's all down to the final race at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia. Peter Rusch previews the day…
There’s everything to play for in Porto Cervo, Sardinia on this, the final day, of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
In the top division, the Racing Class, Morning Glory and Loki are equal first with nine points from four races. Titan 12 is three points further adrift in the seven-boat division. Alfa Romeo, which has scooped the bulk of the line honours this week, is mired in sixth place, seemingly hurt by a punitive rating.
Things are also tight in the eight-boat Wally Class, where J One leads Indio by just one point. Indio has won the last two races – three in a row and Indio could vault into the lead, with another win.
The Cruising Class, which features the glamour boats of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, sees the J’s Ranger and Velsheda battling it out for top spot. Velsheda has been a model of consistency, with second place finishes in all four races. Sadly for her, Ranger has won three of the races, and holds a two point lead heading into the final race. With a race today meaning a discard comes into play, it would appear Ranger has it locked up.
In the oddly named ‘Mini Maxi Class’, Atalanta II, featuring America’s Cup maestro Francesco de Angelis, is the runaway leader. She’s eight points clear of Ops 5. In this fleet the race is for second place, where Ops 5, Allsmoke, and Out of Reach are separated by just one point.
It’s another stunning Sardinian sailing day here; warm temperatures, bright sunshine and a Northerly breeze that’s jumping between six and 12 knots. Game on!