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Profiled Rolex yachting events Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Sydney – Hobart, Australia 26 December 2010
Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup Buenos Aires, Argentina – Punta del Este, Uruguay 16 – 23 January 2010
Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic 21 – 24 April 2010
Rolex China Sea Race Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines 1 April 2010
Giraglia Rolex Cup Saint-Tropez, France – San Remo, Italy 12 – 19 June 2010
Portofino Rolex Trophy Portofino, Italy 13 – 16 May 2010
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy 5 – 12 September 2010
Rolex Capri Sailing Week Capri, Italy 26 – 29 May 2010
Rolex Swan Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy 14 – 19 September 2010
Rolex Baltic Week Kiel, Germany 30 June – 4 July 2010
Rolex Middle Sea Race Valletta, Malta 23 October 2010
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week Ilhabela, São Paulo, Brazil 18 – 24 July 2010
Rolex Fastnet Race Cowes – Plymouth, United Kingdom 14 August 2011
Rolex Big Boat Series San Francisco, CA, United States 16 – 19 September 2010 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France 26 September – 3 October 2010 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Athens, Greece 9 November 2010
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“We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.� Ralph Waldo Emerson
Introduction New Perspectives Sailing offers a host of perspectives and attracts people from all walks of life for a multitude of reasons: competition, camaraderie, adventure, business, technology, nature and lifestyle are but a few of the driving forces. This portfolio sets out to inspire and encourage a view beyond simply the sport, the yachts and those who sail them. The selection of images is a small sample and is intended to awaken editorial inspirations and possibilities throughout your publication. Rolex Yachting presents a world of opportunity, living up well to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Please do not hesitate to contact us should something strike your interest. www.regattanews.com
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The events Profiled rolex yachting even ts
Rolex Sydney Hobart
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Going south
A BOXING DA Y T R A D I T I O N
More than 60 years of tradition, nine degrees of latitude, an estimated 45,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is a veritable feast of figures. From the length of the racecourse to the number of television viewers, this is an event immersed in impressive statistics. Since it was first held in 1945, when nine yachts took part and the 35-foot Rani took six and a half days to complete the course, this race has advanced considerably in both notoriety and popularity. One element has remained stable throughout its life: the length of the track is 628 nautical miles from Port Jackson in Sydney Harbour, south through the Tasman Sea to the Bass Strait and the 180 nautical mile open ocean passage to the northern tip of Tasmania, and then south to the Organ Pipes at Tasman Island and into the Derwent River for the finish. No short journey for the faint of heart, in 2005 the 98-foot Wild Oats XI clocked a time of 1 day 18 hours 40 minutes 10 seconds and who is to say that will not be beaten. The enduring popularity of the race amongst competitors is more than matched by the Sydneysiders who turn out in droves to witness the fleet set sail, covering the shore line and spilling onto the thousands of boats that form the spectator fleet. Starting each year on the 26 December, the event has become a sporting icon throughout Australia with the lunchtime start and live television broadcast biting chunks from the viewing figures of the
traditional Boxing Day cricket test held in Melbourne. This iconic status stretches beyond national borders to the four corners of the earth, with almost every country in the world carrying news of the start and, if conditions are tough, the finish. No other sailing event achieves the same. “Physically and culturally, the harbor is the center of Sydney, never more so than the day after Christmas, when the start of the 630-mile race from Sydney to Hobart‌ causes it to become an enormous natural amphitheatre. Virtually everyone in Sydney watches the start, either in person or on television.â€? G. Bruce Knecht, The Proving Ground.
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Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Dominican Republic
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High energy, discreet pleasures CASA DE CAMPO DE L I G H T S
The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is an event like no other. Every year the venue changes, moving around the globe in search of high-end destinations combining getaway pleasures with top sailing conditions. For 2010, the venue of choice is a Caribbean hideaway – the Casa de Campo resort in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The 7,000 acres of Casa de Campo on the southeast coast of the island offer perfect trade winds for the competition at sea and, on land, unparalleled accommodations and amenities. The resort has long been known as a destination for the discretely rich and famous. Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta was one of the first to build a home here. The Farr 40 class counts among its ranks eminent individuals from the worlds of commerce, finance, technology, architecture, and property. The racing is top-level too. The yachts are identical, the crews a blend of professionals and amateurs, with the owners always on the helm.
First across the line is the winner. Just as in business. With golf being the second sport of choice for many yachtsmen, the selection of Casa de Campo is hardly surprising. The World Travel Awards, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of global travel and tourism by the Wall Street Journal, named Casa de Campo the “World’s Leading Golf Resort” for 2009. Once back on shore the teams mingle and relax as friendly rivals should, and, on-the-water scores may well be settled on the legendary Pete Dye designed “Teeth of the Dog” golf course, consistently listed in the top 100 courses in the world. Those seeking a complete break from the intensity of combat have the lure of immaculate white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and beckoning outlying islands. Cultural diversions exist too. The village of Altos de Chavon, sited overlooking a river, is a 16th century replica of a Mediterranean village and an architectural marvel. Dominican artisans handcrafted the stone
pathways, decorative ironwork, furniture and enchanting buildings. All in all a beguiling setting for a world-class competition.
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Portofino Rolex Trophy
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Heritage highlights
A WEEKEND ESC A P E T H R O U G H T I M E
Considered to be one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports, Portofino is a small fishing village that made an international name for itself when European aristocracy began frequenting the area in the 1920s. Known for its many charming colours and the cobblestone Piazzetta on the water’s edge, Portofino is a place of elegance, fine Italian dining and majestic ocean views. It is not for nothing that the Ligurian coastline is a popular yachting destination, and a boat trip along the coast, that is also a protected natural park (Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino), is simply breathtaking. Once a year, this picturesque port hosts a series of races dedicated to the barca d’epoca (classic yachts), vessels that have helped form sailing history. The Portofino Rolex Trophy unites a variety of classic yachts with one of Italy’s most iconic locations. The event is as much about what takes place onshore as it is about the competition on the water. The highlight of the social calendar is the Rolex Dinner Party held at La Cervara. Surrounded by ancient Mediterranean woods, La Cervara is an historic Benedictine abbey (Abbazia di San Girolamo) situated in the hills between Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure, which features marvellous gardens that once hosted illustrious names
of history, literature and the Christian faith. Now the only remaining Italianate monumental garden in the region, the well-tended grounds extend over two levels and are included on the exclusive list of “Great Italian Gardens.” Declared a national monument in 1912, the abbey welcomes guests for an evening of local specialties, live music and an unrivalled view over the Gulf of Tigullio. This is an event where yacht racing and history fuse within a convivial setting, forming the perfect weekend escape and offering a fresh glimpse of La Dolce Vita.
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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Sardinia
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Porto Cervo
I taly ’s E merald C oast
The Costa Smeralda is one of the places in the world to visit. Its appeal is diverse, but perhaps most significant is the effortless and harmonious blending of chic, glamorous villages and ports with the raw Sardinian landscape of windblown granite, a clear turquoise sea and secluded beaches. Famous for attracting the rich and celebrated, Porto Cervo has become the focal point of this mix of opulence and natural beauty, particularly since its development started by the Aga Khan in the 1960s. As a stepping stone to the region’s attractions ashore and afloat, Porto Cervo is second to none. The showpiece Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, simply one of the most striking yacht clubs anywhere in the world, stands proudly overlooking the harbour, a command centre for the waterborne activities that have added to the fame of the area since the late 1970s. Whilst the stylish five-star hotels and beach resorts exert a magnetic draw for all well-heeled vacationers, it is the sea and the Maddalena archipelago, spreading northwards
from Porto Cervo, that are the true celebrities. The surrounding waters are peppered with rocky outcrops, islets and islands; amongst the yachting fraternity these waters are considered some of the most entertaining and challenging in the world. And the yachts that traverse them form a true link between the natural treasures offshore and the man-made ones onshore. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held every September, is one event capable of enhancing the majestic view that stretches from Sardinia across the chain of offshore islands to Corsica. Maxi yachts are large enough to fill the gaps between the rocks with their length, mast height and speed, all seemingly working to compress the twenty nautical mile water-wonderland into a short stroll through this designated National Park. In addition, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup includes the most exclusive social event on the annual yachting calendar: the Rolex Gala Dinner at Cala Di Volpe Hotel & Resort, the ultimate in glamorous lifestyle.
It is easy to cover a location in superlatives to hide its flaws, but this is one that rarely resorts to self-flattery and rarely disappoints.
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Rolex Middle Sea Race Malta
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Maltese crossroads
A COMMON B O N D
The start and finish point for the Rolex Middle Sea Race is cultural collision between east, west, north and south. Visually spectacular, Malta bombards the senses in a multitude of ways: architecture, cuisine, noise and scent... sometimes good, sometimes bad, but never lacking and never disappointing. And, if ever there was a racecourse that linked the past with the present, myth with historical fact, natural beauty with man-made wonders, it is the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Starting from Grand Harbour beneath the 16th Century bastions of Valletta, built by the Knights of St John, the course takes yachts on a partial circumnavigation of Sicily, within touching distance of active volcanoes, through the narrow Strait of Messina that saw monsters challenge Ulysses, past the scenes of immense sea battles, through waters used by
every great trading empire the world has seen, around islands touched by the aroma of Africa before returning to an archipelago with archaeological remains dating back 7,000 years. Add to this mix an incomparable warmth of welcome, an extraordinary fusion of cultures and a weather pattern capable of confusing the most experienced, and one begins to wonder if the island where this race starts and finishes really occupies less than 100 square miles (245km2). Malta is the crossroads of the Mediterranean. Its enviably strategic location has placed it in the forefront of world history time and again. Even now Malta pushes the visitor to think differently about everything.
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H ong Kong – Subic Bay , P hilippines
Rolex China Sea Race ADVENTURE AWA I T S Hong Kong: this international capital of cultural fusion is big, busy and often overwhelming. Skyscraper after skyscraper line the horizon, an ever-changing landscape that reflects the pace of life in this incredibly modern metropolis. Here longstanding traditions face off daily with progressive influences as this city takes its place among the ranks of the world’s top financial centres. And while sailing may be considered a developing sport, maritime influence has long infiltrated life in Hong Kong, spreading through the kitchens, into the fashion, lifestyle and beyond. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is the city’s oldest sailing and rowing club, and it has become a hub for cultural exchange. People from all corners of the globe have found common ground in the RHKYC: their love for the sea brings them together. The camaraderie is strong and the
Club provides a base for all cultures to interact, something very unique in a city that often sees the locals in one corner and the expatriates in another. The Rolex China Sea Race, a biennial calendar highlight on the Asian sailing circuit, capitalizes on Hong Kong’s powerful energy. The race start is in Causeway Bay,
surrounded by the city’s impressive high-rise skyline. From there it’s a 565-mile offshore race to Subic Bay, the Philippines, through the South China Sea. From ultra-big city to quiet beach town, this race takes participants on a unique journey that is not without its fair share of danger; an adventure to say the least.
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Ilhabela, São Paulo, Brazil
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week P URE NATURAL LUXURY
Brazil has long drawn international tourists to its rainforests, beaches and famous cities, but just 140 miles northeast of São Paulo lies the stunning island territory of Ilhabela. “Beautiful Island” is home to some 30,000 people and has been attracting locals for decades, especially during the time of the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week when a fleet of 200 boats fills the São Sebastião channel, bringing normal life to a standstill. Eighty-nine percent of the territory is a National Park Reserve and the island’s villas have become increasingly exclusive, as the popularity of the place has increased among wealthy Brazilians. Ideal winds and warm water temperatures have made Ilhabela famous as a yearround water sports capital for sailors, divers, swimmers, in short anyone who loves the ocean. The authenticity of the island’s colonial past as a trading port is well-preserved in the characterful town centre, a small, but bustling hub that sits happily
alongside the rural simplicity found elsewhere. It is the locals’ choice for good reason, and one cannot help but be taken by the island’s charm and 346 square kilometres of unspoilt, Brazilian beauty.
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Saint-Tropez, FrancE
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
VIL L E D E L U X E O F T H E F R E N C H R I V I E R A Saint-Tropez is often cast as a place of chic extravagance, but behind this image rests a deeper character, a strong and historical connection to the sea perpetuated by artists and yachtsmen. The connection may be traced back to the town’s earliest roots as a fishing village and today, the Vieux Port remains the beating heart of the town, bustling with activity. In late autumn, harbour ambiance goes back in time with Les Voiles de SaintTropez, a regatta that welcomes an impressive fleet every year for one last round of warm weather sailing. As summer slowly comes to a close, the 300+ vessels take to the water in spectacular show. Saint-Tropez plays host to a large classic fleet of varnished wood, polished brass and white canvas together with some stunning high-tech maxi yachts,
effectively linking tradition and modernity through yachting fraternity. This incredible opportunity to travel through sailing’s history does not escape the passing port-goers. If the true Tropézienne experience is sitting at a portside café watching the world go by, what better time than now to soak it all in? Sailor or no, one cannot help but stare in awe at such well-kept classic vessels and the men who work to keep them running and competitive in today’s modern world. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez lights up the town in all regards and promises a truly impressive encounter with bygone eras.
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P orto C er v o , S ardinia , ital Y
Rolex Swan Cup
EFFO R T L E S S E L E G A N C E
Swans are evocative creatures. The classic display of elegance in flight, white wings effortlessly beating a powerful path, contrasted against a clear, blue sky. Bring them closer to water, and the model of deportment remains visible above the surface irrespective of the turbulence below. So too a Swan yacht. Swans have been the vanguard of haute couture when it comes to production yacht design over the past 40 years. While the world has changed dramatically since the first yachts emerged from the factory in Finland, 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle, two things remain the same: the spirit of the Finnish workforce, proud to be the driving force behind the legend, and, the spirit of the yachts’ owners and crew, proud to be part of the ongoing legacy. Every two years, the Swan fleet gathers at its spiritual home in Sardinia
and owners, crews and guests meet for a week of frenetic activity on the water and ashore. And, whilst the human element may occasionally give the appearance of disorder, the Swans take everything in their stride on the racecourse or at anchor. Life for them is effortless.
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