The wind that everyone was waiting for finally arrived yesterday at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia.

After the first two days of racing with light wind, and after a third that was cancelled due to lack of wind, a mistral of about 12 knots made this fourth day of racing a spectacular event. The wind pushed the yachts for the entire race on a route that took the Maxis towards the archipelago islands of La Maddalena. Rounding the Spargi islands, where they hoisted the spinnaker, they passed the Budelli on a route towards Punta Sardegna, Capo d’Orso and Capo Ferro, thus crossing the finish line.

This third race was won by ‘Alexia’ in the IMS division, driven by Alberto Roemmers Jr. (in non corrected time, the first to cross the finish line was ‘Morning Glory’). Second was ‘Sotto Voce’ belonging to the German Arien Van Vemde and third Pigi Loro Piana’s ‘My Song’.

In the Wally division the race was won by Mattia Gualtiero’s ‘Askherout’ (in non corrected time the first to cross was ‘Tiketitan’). Second place was awarded to ‘Vae Victis’ belonging to Alessandro Grande, a 77ft. Wally, and third place to Lindsay Owen Jones’s ‘Magic Carpet’. Last but not least, the Cruising division was led by ‘Unfurled’ belonging to the American John Macklowe, second and third place were awarded to, respectively, ‘Viriella’ and ‘Antonisa’. The final ratings show ‘Alexia’ to be the leader of the IMS division, followed by ‘Sotto Voce’ and ‘My Song’. For the Wally division, the leader is ‘Magic Carpet’, then ‘Askherout’ and ‘Genie of the Lamp’, while in the Cruising division the first place is shared by ‘Unfurled’ and ‘Antonisa’.

Because of their size, ‘Nautor Challenge’ and ‘Nafta’ are not participating in the Rolex Cup 2002, as they are VOR design and not IMS for Maxis. These two yachts are racing in the Unlimited division, which is being led by ‘Nautor Challenge’.