The Crown in Sailing - Regattanews.com

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L R O L E X YA C H T I N G P O R T F O L I O 2 0 11

Rolex and yachting
The spirit and philosophy
of the sport are in perfect harmony
with values that Rolex holds dear:
excellence, precision
and team spirit
The Crown in Sailing
Among the sports with which Rolex has partnered for many years,
sailing holds a special place. The association dates back to the late
1950s and the close ties that bind the company to the world of yachting
grow stronger every year.
Rolex’s approach to sport is to link with disciplines and events in alignment
with its philosophies and ideals, that exemplify its values. In the sport
of yachting, the primary associations are with the Maxi class of yachts,
significant offshore races, select championships and classic yacht regattas
that unite historic and beautiful vessels.
Off the water, Rolex participates in the development of the sport through
its support of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the world
governing body, and the annual ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Awards that recognise male and female sailors who have distinguished
themselves over the course of a year.
Rolex has also cultivated close relationships with the sport’s best-known
yacht clubs, those that organise landmark events and hold traditions that
Rolex respects and appreciates. As part of its Testimonee programme Rolex
counts a number of exemplary sailors among its ranks; exponents that practise
the sport in a spirit and manner universally admired.
Through this interaction with yachting, Rolex has become more than a mere sponsor
of the sport. It is a true partner.

2 3
Table of contents
4 Rolex and the IMA circuit
6 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
14 Rolex Volcano Race
Capri, Italy
10 Rolex Middle Sea Race
Valletta, Malta
32 Rolex and championship yachting
34 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship
Sydney, Australia
38 Rolex and classic sailing
36 Rolex Swan Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy
40 Portofino Rolex Trophy
Portofino, Italy
41 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez, France
18 Giraglia Rolex Cup
Saint-Tropez, France –
Genoa, Italy
42 ISAF and Rolex Testimonees
44 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
46 Spotlight on Paul Cayard
22 Rolex and ocean racing traditions
24 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney – Hobart, Australia
28 Rolex Fastnet Race
Cowes – Plymouth,
United Kingdom
48 Media and Rolex yachting
50 www.regattanews.com
52 International media contacts
54 Rolex yachting calendar 2011

4 5
Rolex and
the IMA circuit
Genoa
Maxi yachts are breathtaking in action. Their size alone is impressive but there is so
much more to these titans: state-of-the-art technology, crews that include the best sailors
of the day, owners ready to risk their irreplaceable craft on the start-line.
St. Tropez
Porto Cervo
Capri
With yachts over 60-feet, often weighing upwards of 20 tonnes and still able to
accelerate like a dinghy, there is little room for error: precision and timing are crucial.
When everything moves in harmony it is because the finest of skills have combined to
achieve full potential. That is the magnificence of the Maxi: huge in size yet capable of
surprising agility.
Rolex has been involved with the Maxi class since the early 1980s, when it first
became a partner of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia. In 2010, Rolex and the
International Maxi Association (IMA) came together to create an annual circuit linking
several Mediterranean events. The culmination will take place each September at the
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The IMA circuit is typified by excellent racing and first-class
organization in popular ports of call for the Maxi fleet. Success over the season will
take nerves of steel, a sense of adventure and a highly-tuned competitive spirit.
Malta
For more information about
the IMA circuit please contact:
IMA Race Secretariat
T. +39 3474413194
E. info@internationalmaxiassociation.com
W. www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

6 7
Maxi Yacht
Rolex Cup
The Essentials
> Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup:
September 2011
> Organised by the Yacht Club
Costa Smeralda in conjunction
with the International Maxi
Association
> Open to IMA yachts of all
categories & IRC rated yachts
with an LOA >18.29 metres
> IMA circuit event
> Probable classes include
Mini Maxi, Maxi, Wally and
Supermaxi
> Six days of inshore and coastal
courses
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Porto Cervo Marina
07021 Porto Cervo (OT)
Italy
T. +39 0789902200
E. secretariat@yccs.it
W. www.yccs.it

8 9
High-powered people,
high-prestige racing
For one week in September, along the Sardinian “Emerald” coastline, the world’s most graceful and powerful
yachts will cut through the Mediterranean with agility, refinement and ease. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup unites
some of the most imposing yachts for a week of intense competition. With a backdrop of raw, windblown granite,
a clear turquoise sea and secluded beaches, the biggest racing yachts in the world will go head to head in pursuit
of one of the biggest prizes in sailing. The first-rate competition on the water will be complimented by an equally
impressive social calendar. Sailing is more than simply a sport, for the passionate it becomes a way of life and
the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup embodies all the best of this lifestyle.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
The Costa Smeralda’s development
was started by HH the Aga Khan
in the 1960s and this designated
National Park has since become one
of the places in the world to visit,
famous for attracting the rich and
celebrated to its five-star hotels
and glamorous beach resorts. The
surrounding sea and Maddalena
archipelago are peppered with rocky
outcrops, islets and islands, known
amongst the yachting fraternity as
some of the most entertaining and
challenging waters in the world.
A Venue
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda,
one of the most striking yacht
clubs anywhere in the world,
underwent extensive renovations
in 2003 led by New York architect
Peter Marino. Today, nautical
influence can be felt throughout
the clubhouse, from the long teak
floorboards of the interior which
remind one of looking down a long
deck, to the lookout over the main
bar’s balcony that gives one the
feeling of floating out to sea, the
clubhouse stands like a command
ship guarding the harbour.
punished and costly. Windows
of opportunity were taken fully
or regretted. The final day was a
showpiece dust-up and the weary
crews at last exhibited signs of
human frailty with mistakes
creeping in. Alfa Romeo prevailed
in the end having held a narrow
edge throughout the week. Alfa
Romeo’s excellence was rewarded
with a trophy, but the respect and
congratulations of her competitors
was just as inspiring to her crew.
A Story
In 2006, four of the world’s
most cutting edge Maxis clashed
on Sardinian waters: Wild Oats XI,
Course Record holder, Line
Honours and Overall winner of
the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart,
her near sistership Alfa Romeo II,
Maximus, Overall winner of the
2005 Rolex Transatlantic, and
Morning Glory. All four sported
the latest thinking in Maxi design
and construction. Carbon fibre
was in abundance, canting keels
de rigueur and all-pro crew a
pre-requisite. The racing was
tight. Perfect technique was taken
for granted. Minor errors were
One of the biggest
prizes in sailing

10 11
Rolex Middle
Sea Race
The Essentials
> Rolex Middle Sea Race:
October 2011
> 606-nautical mile offshore
race: Malta – Aeolian Islands
(Stromboli) – Egadi Islands –
Pantelleria – Lampedusa – Malta
> Organised by the Royal Malta
Yacht Club in conjunction with
the Royal Ocean Racing Club
> Open to monohull and multihull
yachts between 30 and 100-feet
in length
> ISAF Offshore Special
Regulations 2010 – 2011:
Category 2
> IMA circuit event
> Classes include IRC and
ORC/ORC Club Handicap
for monohull and MOCRA
for multihull
> One inshore warm-up race off
Malta
Royal Malta Yacht Club
Ta’Xbiex Seafront
Ta’Xbiex XBX1028
Malta
T. +356 21333109
E. info@rmyc.org
W. www.rmyc.org
W. www.rolexmiddlesearace.com

12 13
The crossroads of Europe
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is the Mediterranean’s most famous racecourse, often mentioned in the same breath
as the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Rolex Fastnet as one of the "must do" events on the yacht racing calendar.
Volcanoes, mythology,
straits and sea battles
The race was created in 1968 by
a group of friends living in Malta
who wanted to match the test set
by the other, illustrious 600-nautical
mile races. Designing a race track
featuring four corners, narrow
straits, volcanoes, a myriad
of islands and different influential
weather regimes, the founders shaped
a course that has attracted all
types of sailors, from the Corinthian
adventurer to the full professional.
All participants have one common
goal: to master this famous challenge.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
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 this one. Starting from Grand
Harbour beneath the 16th Century
bastions of Valletta, 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 Odysseus, past scenes of
immense sea battles, through waters
used by every great trading nation
before returning to an archipelago
with ruins dating back 7,000 years.
A Venue
Just as the Rolex Fastnet and
Giraglia Rolex Cup have their
iconic turning marks, so too does
this race. The volcanic island of
Stromboli is often referred to as the
"Lighthouse of the Mediterranean".
It has been in almost constant
eruption for some 20,000 years
and regularly provides spectacular
night time entertainment for race
crews. The cone shaped island rises
2,000-metres from the sea floor and
stands 926-metres above sea level.
It is home to an intrepid 350 people.
A Story
The world admires those
prepared to take risks, to challenge
the natural order, to succeed. In
2007 George David’s 90-foot Maxi
Rambler, with a seasoned crew
including skipper Ken Read, twice
America’s Rolex Yachtsman of the
Year, took on a weather system of
biblical proportions to snatch an
amazing treble: Overall victory, Line
Honours and Course Record. That
they had been on the edge through
much of the race was etched on the
faces of the crew when they crossed
the finish.
Twenty-four hours into the race,
two-thirds of the fleet had retired
because of the conditions. For
Rambler the worst was still to come,
stalking her off the western tip of
Sicily. Preparation was everything.
A drastically reduced sail plan
established early and before the
storm truly hit was key to survival.
When the wind arrived it did so in
an instant, 40-knots accompanied
by waterspouts.
Having prioritised the safety of
the boat and crew, David and Read
were able to contemplate continuing
racing. That they overcame adversity
in style was testament to their
judgment, the experience of the crew
and the preparedness of the yacht.
By testing themselves so
comprehensively, Rambler has
forced those that follow in search
of the course record to raise their
game substantially.

14 15
The Essentials
> Rolex Volcano Race: May 2011
> 400-nautical mile offshore race:
Gaeta – Tyrrhenian Sea – Capri
> Organized by the International Maxi
Association in conjunction
with the Yacht Club Capri and
the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS
> Open to IMA yachts of all
categories & IRC rated yachts
with an LOA >18.29 metres
> IMA circuit event
International Maxi Association
Race Secretariat
T. +39 3474413194
info@internationalmaxiassociation.com
www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Yacht Club Capri
T. +39 0818389455
E. secretariat@yccapri.org
W. www.yccapri.org
Capri
welcomes
the Rolex
Volcano Race

16 17
A modern day odyssey
The Rolex Capri Sailing Week has been an opener for the Mediterranean sailing season since its creation in 2005.
Each year, first-rate sailors from all over the world gather on this captivating island to race on the Bay of Naples.
Capri is a historic Italian outpost, rising nearly 600-metres from the cobalt blue sea and exhibiting its own microclimate
that creates a unique sailing environment with spectacular vistas.
A race of challenge
and mythology
For the 2011 Rolex Capri Sailing
Week a brand new challenge has
been announced: the Rolex Volcano
Race, a 400-nautical mile offshore
race for monohull Maxi yachts
that starts in Gaeta, just north of
Naples, and takes the fleet around
two magnificent archipelagos in the
central and southern Tyrrhenian Sea
– the Pontine Islands and the Aeolian
Islands, including the active volcano
of Stromboli – before returning to
the finish off Capri. A race designed
to take Maxi crews on a journey
through the best of the region; a fight
to keep the lead in a place that has
been shared and loved for centuries
not only by sailors, but emperors,
politicians, thespians, and glitterati
the world over.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
Capri’s combination of natural and
man-made attractions is unique.
The small island boasts beautiful
hills and cliffs that overlook the
blue water of the Mediterranean,
with Naples and Vesuvius looming
in the distance. Capri offers an
unparalleled view that sweeps
from the island of Ischia to the
Sorrento Peninsula, taking in the
entire expanse of the Gulf of Naples.
And onshore, with its characteristic
arcades that merge into a labyrinth
of narrow alleys that pass churches,
historic villas, and Roman ruins
along the way, Capri works its own
special charm on every visitor.
A Venue
Under a carpet of stars and the
sound of the sea, the Rolex Dinner
and Crew Party is an unforgettable
evening for the owners and crew
participating in Rolex Capri Sailing
Week, and what better venue for
such an occasion than La Canzone
del Mare (Song of Sea) in the
Marina Piccola. Thought to be the
spot on Capri where the Sirens
sang to lure sailors towards the
perilous island cliffs, La Canzone
del Mare is one of Capri's most
elegant locations. As the closest
place to swim near the Faraglioni,
Capri’s legendary limestone rock
formations, this beach club was
destined for glamour since its
construction by singer Gracie
Fields. Today, as always, with
the romantic backdrop, waterside
terraces and traditional, elegant
interiors, La Canzone del Mare is
truly enchanting.
A Story
The Rolex Volcano Race will
take participants on a race through
history. Beginning in Gaeta, crews
will race south past the Pontine
Islands, across the Tyrrhenian Sea
and towards the Aeolian Islands,
a volcanic archipelago just north
of Sicily, before heading north to
finish the race off Capri. The Aeolian
Islands are listed as an UNESCO
World Heritage Site and are named
after the Greek demigod Aeolus.
Known as the “Keeper of the Winds”
in The Odyssey, Aeolus graciously
gave Odysseus a leather bag of
captured winds and sent him and
his crew home towards Ithica with
a gentle West Wind. Just as Ithica
came into sight on the horizon,
and while Odysseus slept, his crew
foolishly opened the bag expecting
to find gold. Instead they released
the winds in a fury that blew their
ship all the way back to Aeolus, who
refused to help the men any further.
The winner of the Rolex Volcano
Race will likely be the crew
that treats Aeolus’ gift with the
greatest respect.

18 19
Giraglia Rolex Cup
The Essentials
> Giraglia Rolex Cup: June 2011
> 245-nautical mile offshore race:
Saint-Tropez – La Giraglia –
Genoa
> Organised by the Yacht Club
Italiano in conjunction with the
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
and the Yacht Club de France
> Open to all monohull yachts
over 30-feet in length
> IMA circuit event
> Probable classes include IRC
and ORC/ORC Club Handicap
> Three days inshore racing in the
Bay of Saint-Tropez
Yacht Club Italiano
Porticciolo Duca degli Abruzzi
16128 – Genoa
Italy
T. +39 0102461206
E. info@yci.it
W. www.yci.it
W. www.giragliarolexcup.com

20 21
Tradition, history,
style & sophistication
The Giraglia Rolex Cup is one of the most renowned yachting events in the Mediterranean and has been a
tradition for over 55 years. The regatta runs for a full week in June with inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez
for the first three days. On the fourth day the distance race, ‘La Giraglia’, starts from the legendary port of Saint-
Tropez. The primary target is La Giraglia, a rocky outcrop at the northern tip of Corsica, at which point the yachts
will make their turn towards the finish.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
The Italian and French Riviera
need little introduction, having
captivated visitors with their
dramatically beautiful coastline
for generations. Sailors have
been crossing the Ligurian Sea
that straddles the two regions
for centuries. Legend even has it
that this sea played a part in the
naming of Saint-Tropez. Following
the beheading of Saint Torpes, his
remains were cast adrift in a boat
on the River Arno, which flows into
the Ligurian. The boat eventually
came ashore in France and the
name of the town was born.
A Venue
La Giraglia is a huge ridge-backed
rock, an extension of Cap Corse.
800-metres long, 50-metres wide
and 60-metres above sea level, it
is an exposed and often desolate
place. Its strategic and navigational
importance led to various
endeavours to secure and then light
the rock. Today, the remains of the
Genoese Tower built in 1585 and the
powerful, automated lighthouse are
testament to the men involved.
A Story
The Giraglia Rolex Cup has at its
heart keen rivalry between spirited
sportsmen and women enthused
by the sea. The 2001 distance race
was one where the largest yachts
competing made a significant mark.
Ten yachts over 70-feet in length
participated, all with ambitions of
being first to finish. The competition
was fierce. At the front the ability
to dodge holes in the wind is far
more difficult than further back:
you have no one else’s mistakes
to guide you. Shortly before the
rock, early race leader Tiketitan
reported coming to a standstill
and watching three yachts sail
around her. Once at La Giraglia
these three Maxis rounded within a
thirty-minute window. As the finish
approached, the drama increased.
First the American yacht Sagamore
was becalmed and left standing.
Then, Italian yacht My Song looked
to have a comfortable lead, until
the weight of her cruising interior
began to cost her dear. Raffiole
Raiola’s Idea paid little heed to
crew comforts. Speed was her
essence. Within grasp of the finish
line, My Song succumbed to the
challenge, hardly swept aside, but
enough for Idea to creep home first
by less than three minutes. Her
crew had succeeded in the greatest
challenge of all: never giving up.
Winning might not be everything,
but it is determined by those that
set demanding standards and
continually strive for excellence.
An evocation of all
things Mediterranean
First held in 1953, the event has
come a long way from humble
beginnings. It was founded in a
Paris bistro with noble intentions
to prove the fences between France
and Italy had been mended in the
aftermath of World War II.
22 yachts led the way, competing
over a course that took the fleet
from Cannes to San Remo, via La
Giraglia. Recent editions attract over
200 yachts ranging in size from 30
to 120-feet.
The event is evocative of all things
Mediterranean. The ports involved
in the start and finish have always
been glamorous and alluring:
Cannes, Toulon, Le Lavandou and
Saint-Tropez have offered the French
perspective of style, San Remo
and Genoa the Italian element of
sophistication. The Giraglia Rolex
Cup is an annual rendezvous for
top-flight professionals, Corinthian
owners and crew, all with a common
passion for the sea and sailing.

22 23
Rolex and ocean
racing traditions
Ocean racing came to prominence at the beginning of the twentieth century, as yachtsmen discovered the
challenge and enjoyment of racing out of sight of land for days at a time. The groundbreaking race in European
waters was the Rolex Fastnet Race, first held in 1925. Its 608-nautical mile course from Cowes to Plymouth, via
the Fastnet rock off the southwest corner of Ireland, is legendary. Its justly deserved fame and notoriety have
spawned a myriad of other similar events.
In Australia, the Rolex Sydney Hobart was born in 1945. It has since become one of the sporting icons of the modern
era. The 628-nautical mile dash from Sydney to Hobart is no cruise. Just mentioning the Bass Strait, which separates
the mainland from Tasmania, is enough to raise hairs on the necks of even the most seasoned sailors.
Sydney
Ocean racing draws on the same exacting qualities as inshore racing, but doubles the demand for
endurance and the willingness to pursue the finish through whatever the weather and sea might contrive
to throw up in opposition. Executing a precision manoeuvre in the midst of a dark and stormy night,
making a race-winning tactical decision after two days without proper sleep; these are the moments
that distinguish the winners.
Hobart
Fastnet
Plymouth
Cowes

24 25
The Essentials
> Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race:
December 2010
> 628-nautical mile offshore race:
Sydney Harbour – Derwent River,
Hobart
> Organised by the Cruising Yacht
Club of Australia in conjunction
with the Royal Yacht Club of
Tasmania
> Open to monohull yachts between
30 and 100-feet in length
> Yachting Australia Special
Regulations 2010 – 2011: Category 1
> Classes include IRC, PHS and ORCi
Handicap, plus a Cruising Division
> Rolex Trophy warm-up series
of inshore races in and around
Sydney Harbour
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
New Beach Road
Darling Point
New South Wales 2027
Australia
T. +61 282927800
E. sailingoffice@cyca.com.au
W. www.cyca.com.au
W. www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Rolex
Sydney Hobart
Yacht Race

26 27
The Christmas institution
A true test
of human endurance
The Rolex Sydney Hobart is the southern hemisphere’s answer to the Rolex Fastnet. With more than 60 years of
tradition, nine degrees of latitude and an estimated 45,000 participants since it began, it is more than just a yacht
race; it is an icon amongst sporting challenges. More people around the world have heard of the Rolex Sydney
Hobart than any other sailing event.
Every year since 1945 the race
has started on 26 December from
Sydney Harbour. Every year it has
brought a country to a standstill.
An audience of 500,000 gathers
to witness the start live on shore
and on the water. The television
audience in Australia alone
matches this. Simply put, the start
of the Rolex Sydney Hobart is the
single most-watched sailing event
in the world.
The race is famous for its acts
of human endeavour. Why would
anyone sail south from Sydney in
summer, when better weather and
beaches lie to the north? Therein lies
the enigma and deep-set challenge
that this race presents.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
December is prime holiday
season in Sydney, the waterways
and beaches are abuzz with crowds
basking in glorious sunshine and
high temperatures. It is the height
of summer in Hobart too, but when
snow falls on Mount Wellington, one
realises just how close 42 degrees
south actually is to the Antarctic.
The race is widely regarded as
one of the toughest tests of
seamanship in the sport of sailing.
Almost every year, heavy weather
conditions are encountered on the
course as the fleet heads south. The
notoriety of the race comes from its
ability to offer up wild conditions
with little warning.
A Venue
Bass Strait, nicknamed the
“paddock”, has a nefarious
reputation. It can be dead calm or
spectacularly rough. The water is
relatively shallow and the winds
can be fierce: two elements that
often come together creating a steep
and difficult sea for yachts. Tragedy
struck the 1998 Sydney Hobart
when the worst storm in the history
of the race hit as most of the fleet
entered, or were already crossing,
the Strait. Yachts reported winds of
up to 80-knots and seas of 15-metres,
frequently more, as a so-called “Bass
Strait Bomb” exploded.
A Story
In 2005, Wild Oats XI became the
first yacht to win the treble of Line
Honours, Course Record and Overall
victory since John Illingworth and
Rani in the inaugural race. Owner
Bob Oatley had built his hi-tech
Maxi to win Line Honours. To break
the course record was an added
bonus. To win the Tattersalls Cup
for fastest yacht on handicap was
beyond his wildest dreams.
The win was not simple. A month
prior to the start, Wild Oats XI
was still in the builder’s yard
being completed. She then had to
overcome her near sistership Alfa
Romeo II, which led in the early
stages of the race. En route, Wild
Oats had jarring encounters with
three sunfish and a shark, and, even
as she closed on the finish, damage
to the mainsail forced her to race the
final 12-miles up the Derwent River
under headsail alone.
It is moments like these that set
the winners apart: the vision to
succeed and the commitment to
follow it through, whatever the
circumstances.

28 29
The Essentials
> Rolex Fastnet Race: August 2011
> 608-nautical mile offshore race:
Cowes – Fastnet Rock – Plymouth
Rolex
Fastnet Race
> Organised by the Royal Ocean
Racing Club in conjunction with
the Royal Yacht Squadron and
the Royal Western Yacht Club
> Open to monohull and multihull
yachts between 30 and 100-feet
in length
> ISAF Offshore Special Regulations
2010-2011: Category 2 with RORC
prescriptions
> Classes include IRC Handicap for
monohull/MOCRA for multihulls
Royal Ocean Racing Club
20 St James’s Place
London SW1A 1NN
United Kingdom
T. +44 2074932248
E. info@rorc.org.uk
W. www.rorc.org

30 31
A legendary experience
Mention the top offshore races in the world and the Rolex Fastnet will vie with the Rolex Sydney Hobart for top
spot in most racing sailors’ answer depending upon which hemisphere they hail from. Made notorious by the
disaster that claimed 15 lives in 1979, the Rolex Fastnet has been an institution since 1925. Every yachtsman worth
his salt cherishes a Fastnet on his sailing CV.
Once raced,
never forgotten
The Rolex Fastnet is sometimes
considered three races in one: an
English Channel leg fraught with
complicated tides, the outward
leg across the Celtic Sea when
weather tactics are critical and the
return from the Fastnet Rock when
wayward crews are prone to relax,
thinking the job done.
The weather in August is
dominated by prevailing westerly
winds driven by a series of
depressions that ride across the
Atlantic. It is rare for a Rolex
Fastnet not to provide at least one
blow. The severity and timing often
determine the eventual outcome.
Once raced, this course is never
forgotten.
Beyond Sailing
A Setting
From the birthplace of competitive
yachting, to the teardrop of
Ireland, to the departure point of
the Mayflower, the Rolex Fastnet
touches the nautical history of the
British Isles like few other sailing
events. Cowes has long been
regarded as the world’s spiritual
home for yacht racing. In 1851 it
was the scene of the 100 Guinea
Cup won by the yacht America,
thereby laying the foundations for
one of yachting’s greatest prizes:
the America’s Cup. The Fastnet Rock
was the last piece of land seen by
Irish emigrants to the USA and the
passengers of the ill-fated Titanic.
When the Pilgrim Fathers fled from
England to the New World, they left
from the Barbican area in Plymouth.
A Venue
The Fastnet Rock, located off the
south-western tip of Ireland, is a
lonely outcrop situated 4.5-nautical
miles southwest of Cape Clear. It has
had a lighthouse since 1854, but it
was not until 1904 that the present
light was fully operational after
nine years of toil, which involved
setting a granite plinth of 89 courses
of interlocking stones brought from
Cornwall. Originally, the lighthouse
was manned by four keepers at
a time; today it is completely
automated.
A Story
In 2005, the headlines before the
start were all about rock-star Simon
LeBon’s participation on Drum and
the anticipated match-up between
Skandia Wild Thing from Australia
and Maximus from New Zealand,
then two of the fastest Maxi racing
yachts in the world. Maximus
prevailed easily in the battle for Line
Honours. Drum retired at The Scillies.
The real story was at the finish.
After a mainly light-wind race,
freshening westerly winds began
to push the smaller yachts in the
fleet into the Overall reckoning.
Just after midday on the fifth day of
racing the 33-foot Iromiguy, owned
by Frenchman Jean-Yves Chateau,
crossed the line to enter the history
books. It was the first time in thirty
years that a yacht this small had
won on handicap.
Iromiguy had a wholly Corinthian
crew, yet had still beaten some of
the world’s top ocean racers. She is
testament to the spirit throughout
the sport of ocean racing. To do well
it is necessary to possess all the true
hallmarks of a sportsman – skill,
courage and endurance. In sailing,
reputation counts for nothing so far as
the wind and the sea are concerned.

32 33
Rolex and
championship yachting
Very few classes or types of yacht secure sufficient status and popularity to maintain a dominant position at the
forefront of the ever-evolving sailing world. Nautor’s Swan and the Farr 40 have done just that. They are formed of
different creeds but have attracted yachtsmen that demand quality, expect performance and exhibit loyalty. The owners
know when they have tapped into a mother lode and need look no further to satisfy their lofty expectations.
Nautor’s Swan first came to prominence in the late 1960s, launching the first series produced fibre-class yacht.
Since that defining moment, the company has harnessed the talents of some of the world’s top designers – Sparkman
& Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers – together with Finnish boat-building skills, to create a distinctive brand
of yacht recognized the world over for both its aesthetic and sea-going qualities.
The Farr 40 strode into the yacht racing arena in 1997, an active period in the search for the ultimate grand-prix type
yacht. In a competitive market where obsolescence is often regarded as the rule, the Farr 40’s timeless, modern design
has outlived expectation and outlasted its competition. It is a high-performance one design that is fast, user-friendly and
benefits from a strong class association. That a great deal of thought and experience went into the Farr 40 is witnessed
by its continuing longevity.

34 35
The Essentials
> Rolex Farr 40 World Championship:
Sydney, February 2011
> Organised by the Farr 40 Class
Association
> Open to all Farr 40 yachts
Success and failure
are easily measured
> Up to 10 windward/leeward races
Farr 40 One Design Class Association
Stagg Yachts, Inc.
620 Chesapeake Avenue
Annapolis MD 21403
USA
T. +1 4102681001
E. farr40@staggyachts.com
W. www.farr40.org
Rolex Farr 40
World
Championship
Risk management,
quick decisions
What do you get when a group of highly competitive amateurs and professionals come together to race
identical yachts over fast-paced, technically demanding, short courses? The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship,
where the worlds of business and sailing collide.
The event, held in a different
venue each year, attracts the
keenest commercial minds and the
most accomplished yachtsmen
to stand at the helm of a 40-foot
racing yacht. In a role reversal
that has the makings of reality
television, it is the amateur owner
of the boat who is obliged to
hold the wheel and steer. And for
once, these corporate titans have
to bend their ear to the moreexperienced,
professional tactician
whose job it is to advise, encourage
and cajole. Just like the stock
market, racecourse losses and
gains are visible and immediate.
Success and failure are easily
measured by whether one returns
home clutching the silverware
or empty-handed. And it’s much
more exciting than your average
boardroom meeting.

36 37
Rolex Swan Cup
Effortless elegance
The Essentials
> Rolex Swan Cup:
September 2012
> Organised by the Yacht Club
Costa Smeralda in conjunction
with Nautor’s Swan
> Open to all Swan yachts
> Incorporates the Rolex Swan 45
World Championship
> ISAF Offshore Special Regulations:
Category 3 with amendments
> Classes include Maxi for Swans
over 18.29 metres, Grand Prix for
Swans under 18.28 metres, Classic
for Swans designed by Sparkman
& Stephens, Swan 45 One Design
and Club Swan 42
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Porto Cervo Marina
07021 Porto Cervo (OT)
Italy
T. +39 0789902200
E. secretariat@yccs.it
W. www.yccs.it
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 for a Swan yacht.
The vanguard of
yacht-building haute couture
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
shipyard 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 at
the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in
Sardinia where 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 Swan yachts take
everything in stride whether on the
racecourse or at anchor. Life for
them is effortless.

38 39
Rolex and
classic sailing
Classic sailing events bring together many of the world’s most beautiful vintage yachts, along with a host of racers
and sailing enthusiasts from all the corners of the globe. Events such as the Portofino Rolex Trophy and Les Voiles de
Saint-Tropez are held as much in the name of camaraderie as challenge. They are a perfect match with the elegance and
spirit that Rolex has brought to sailing competition over many years of involvement.
To watch historic yachts in action is truly an inspiring sight. One is reminded of their glorious past and one cannot help
but be filled with admiration for those who still sail them today. Tactical skill and racing prowess are fully in evidence
even aboard the most traditional of yachts. Classic sailing events salute the elegance of these vessels, with their wood
and brass fittings, and they applaud the owners who have preserved their splendour with passion and sacrifices. Yachts
and crews are united for “timeless” events that pay homage to a rich sailing history and exemplify respected qualities:
the treasuring of nautical traditions, a love for beauty over function and the enthusiastic embrace of team spirit.

40 41
Portofino
Rolex Trophy
A fusion of history
and racing
Heritage highlights
Les Voiles de
Saint-Tropez
One last round
of warm weather racing
The Essentials
> Portofino Rolex Trophy: May 2011
> Organised by the Yacht Club
Italiano in collaboration with the
Circolo Vela of Santa Margherita
Ligure
> The regatta is open to wooden
yachts of the following classes:
J Class, 12-Metre, 8-Metre,
6-Metre, 5.50-Metre
Yacht Club Italiano
Porticciolo Duca degli Abruzzi
16128 – Genoa
Italy
T. +39 0102461206
E. info@yci.it
W. www.yci.it
Considered to be one of the most
beautiful Mediterranean ports,
Portofino is a small fishing village
that is known, along with its
charming colours and cobblestone
Piazzetta, as a place of elegance, fine
Italian dining and majestic sea views.
Once a year, this picturesque port
hosts the Portofino Rolex Trophy,
a series of races dedicated to the
barca d’epoca (classic yachts) that
have played an essential role in the
history of sailing.
This regatta unites a variety of
the world’s classic yachts in one
of Italy’s most iconic locations for
some vintage racing. The action
primarily takes place in the Marconi
Gulf, part of the Ligurian coastline
famous as a popular yachting
destination and protected natural
park. The event also hosts a series
of onshore activities, including
an exhibition of historic wooden
Olympic classes in the main square
of Portofino and, the highlight
of the social calendar, the Rolex
Dinner Party held at La Cervara, a
historic Benedictine abbey situated
in the hills between Portofino and
Santa Margherita Ligure.
This is an event where yacht
racing and history fuse within
a convivial setting, forming the
perfect weekend escape with a
reminder of decades past.
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an
event of mixed emotions, of torn
loyalties: the magnificence of the
past versus the cutting edge of the
present, traditional refinement versus
form and functionality. There are
those seated deep within both camps,
but all are drawn together by a
common passion: the sea and sailing.
The town of Saint-Tropez has
a strong connection to the sea
perpetuated by the artists and
yachtsmen that fill the Vieux Port,
the beating heart of the town that
bustles with activity. In late autumn,
the ambiance in this chic harbour
goes back in time with Les Voiles
de Saint-Tropez, an annual regatta
that welcomes over 300 vessels for
one last round of warm weather
sailing in the Mediterranean. Whilst
both modern and classic boats are
welcomed, and the fleet takes to
the water in a spectacular contrast
of varnished wood and gel-coat,
polished brass and carbon-fibre, as
summer slowly comes to a close
it is the traditional yachts that
draw the eye. This unique regatta
is an incredible opportunity to
travel through sailing’s history.
And enthusiast or not, one cannot
help but stare in awe of the wellkept
classic vessels and those who
work to keep them running and
competitive in the modern world. It
is no easy task.
The Essentials
> Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez:
September – October 2011
> Organized by the Société Nautique
de Saint-Tropez
> Competitors will be divided into
three categories:
Modern, Spirit of Tradition
and Tradition
Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez
Nouveau Port - BP 72
83992 Saint-Tropez Cedex
France
T. +33 494973054
E. snsttropez@aol.com
W. www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr

42 43
ISAF
and Rolex
Testimonees
The name Rolex is synonymous with performance and pioneering spirit. Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, had the
brilliant idea to equip Mercedes Gleitze with a Rolex Oyster when she swam the English Channel in 1927. Wilsdorf
reserved the front page of the Daily Mail to announce that although the watch had been immersed in seawater for
over ten hours, it continued to keep accurate time, attestation that it was waterproof and robust – the first of its kind.
An image
of excellence
From then on, the advances of the
Oyster would be inextricably linked
to sportsmen and women excelling
in disciplines that were new at
the time like aviation, automobile
racing or mountaineering. In 1933
Stewart Blacker flew over Everest;
in 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell
broke the land speed record in his
bolide Bluebird; in 1947, pilot Chuck
Yeager became the first person to
break the sound barrier; in 1953, the
expedition led by Sir John Hunt, Sir
Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay
was the first to conquer Everest.
Through their achievements, these
highly visible personalities would
underscore the technical qualities of
the Oyster.
Through its support of the
International Sailing Federation
(ISAF), the world reference in
sailing, Rolex participates in the
development of this spectacular
and exciting sport. Since 2001,
the company has sponsored the
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the
Year Awards, honorary prizes that
celebrate male and female sailors
who have particularly distinguished
themselves. The ISAF Rolex World
Sailor of the Year Awards are
recognised as the pinnacle award
a sailor can receive in recognition
of outstanding achievements in the
world of sailing.
Among its Testimonees, Rolex counts a number of exemplary sailors:
> Denmark’s Paul Elvström, the legendary regatta winner with four
Olympic gold medals and nineteen medals in world championships.
Elvström is today considered an icon;
> Paul Cayard from the United States has participated six times in the
America’s Cup, twice in the Olympic Games and has won seven world
titles in sailing. He has also participated in two Round the World Races,
winning in 1998;
> Sofia Bekatorou-Kosmatopoulos, from Greece, a 470 gold medallist in
the Olympic Games in Athens and bronze medal winner in Beijing, has
twice received the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award;
> Brazil’s Robert Scheidt is a four-time Olympic medallist with two golds
and two silvers accumulated over four consecutive games since 1996. He
is also a two-time winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor Award;
> American sailor Gary Jobson, Ted Turner’s tactician when Courageous
won the America’s Cup in 1977, is now a highly respected sports
journalist. He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2003.

44 45
ISAF Rolex
World Sailor of
the Year Awards
A night of honours
Past Winners
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing and the ISAF
Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are recognised as the pinnacle award a sailor can receive in recognition of
outstanding achievement in the world of sailing.
2009 winners, Anna Tunnicliffe and Torben Grael
Launched in 1994, the Awards
are presented annually based on a
worldwide selection process that
incorporates an open invitation for
nominations, followed by a vote
amongst the 130 member nations
of ISAF. Two Awards, one for a
female sailor/crew and one for a
male sailor/crew, are presented
at a ceremony held each year in
November during the ISAF Annual
Conference. A glance at the list of
previous winners demonstrates that
recipients of the World Sailor of the
Year Awards are drawn from the
many diverse disciplines of the sport
of sailing: Olympic dinghy and keelboats,
single-handed ocean racing,
transatlantic record breaking,
match-racing, America’s Cup and
windsurfing are all represented.
Rolex has sponsored the Awards
since 2001 and the 2011 edition
will take place in Puerto Rico.
Previous editions have been held
in Athens, Greece (2010), Busan,
Korea (2009), Madrid, Spain (2008),
Estoril, Portugal (2007) and Helsinki,
Finland (2006). Each winner is
presented with the prestigious ISAF
Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Award Trophy and a distinctive
Rolex timepiece.
Male
Female
2009 Torben Grael (BRA) Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
2007 Ed Baird (USA) Claire Leroy (FRA)
2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL) Paige Railey (USA)
2005 Fernando Echavarri & Antón Paz (ESP) Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA) Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2003 Russell Coutts (SUI) Siren Sundby (NOR)
2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA) Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA) Shirley Robertson (GBR)
1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) Margriet Matthijsse (NED)
1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
1997 Pete Goss (GBR) Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
1996 Jochen Schümann (GER) Lee Lai Shan (HKG)
1995 Russell Coutts (NZL) Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Theresa Zabell (ESP)
Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR)
The Essentials
> ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the
Year Awards: November 2011
> Initial nominations may be
made by anyone. A shortlist
is then finalized from all
nominations followed by a
vote amongst the 130 member
nations of the International
Sailing Federation
> The criterion for nomination
for the 2011 Awards is
“outstanding achievement” in
the period of 1 September 2010
to 31 August 2011
ISAF
T. +44 2380635111
E. worldsailorawards@isaf.co.uk
W. www.sailing.org/worldsailor

paul cayard
Tactician. Skipper. Leader.
First American skipper to win
the Whitbread Round the World Race.
Star World Champion. Likes to break
new ground. On water.
Paul Cayard
Spotlight on an outstanding career
rolex. a crown for every achievement.
Paul Cayard exemplifies Rolex's passion for commitment and excellence and has been a Rolex Testimonee since
1998. “Rolex is a great brand to have involved in sailing,” said Cayard. “Their support has allowed some iconic
events to develop even more legend and tradition.”
Cayard is a seven-time sailing
world champion, including the
Star Worlds in 1988, a six-time
America's Cup veteran and two-time
Olympian. He has versatile skills
and has even taken to ocean racing,
becoming the first American skipper
to win the Whitbread Round the
World Race with EF Language in the
1997/98 race.
“Precise timing is a key element to
winning sailing races,” said Cayard.
“The start, for example, is a critical
moment: one second too early and
you have to restart, two seconds
late and you are in the back row. To
get the best start, the whole crew
has to work together with flawless
timing and accuracy.” Following his
victory in the 1997/98 Round the
World Race, Cayard was honoured
as 1998 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year
in the USA and has continued to mix
it up ever since.
Cayard has never hesitated to take
opportunities to perfect his already
considerable skills, whether in small
boats (Star Class, Athens 2004),
offshore (Rolex Middle Sea Race
2006) or ocean racing (Volvo Ocean
Race 2005/06). He also continues
to be honoured by his peers and in
2006 received the St. Francis Yacht
Club Yachtsman of the Year Award.
The consummate professional,
Cayard is always in demand. In an
average year he spends 200 days
competing on all the major grandprix
circuits around the world. For
Cayard, the search for perfection is
never-ending.
The Rolex Oyster
Perpetual Yacht-Master II
Benefiting from over a century
of craftsmanship and expertise,
Rolex continually expands the
limits of watch technology. In
2007, it launched the Oyster
Perpetual Yacht-Master II featuring
a programmable countdown
mechanical memory, enabling the
chronograph to be set according
to the starting sequence of any
particular yacht race.
This timepiece was born of the
longstanding relationship that Rolex
enjoys with the sea and sailing, and
is intended for experienced skippers
as well as yachting enthusiasts.
OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER II

48 49
Media
and
Rolex yachting
www.regattanews.com
the media source for multi-lingual
information, high-resolution images,
audio/video news material and more
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.
The events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio inspire and encourage a view beyond simply the sport, the
yachts and those who sail them. Images and stories from the events present a world of opportunity for engaging
audiences directly interested in the sport itself and those simply interested in the challenge, spirit and human
endeavour that accompany Rolex sailing.
Media services
> qualified, multi-lingual media team
operating year-round
> www.regattanews.com virtual media centre, smartphone compatible,
with RSS feed and twitter
> editorial-free information, photos, features and audio interviews
> professionally staffed and equipped media centres
> assistance with interview requests and onboard opportunities
> guidance on image selection and feature angles

50 51
regattanews
Welcome to
everything needed to cover Rolex Yachting
.com
Photo Gallery
Web media may select images immediately for use online, while print media
may request access to the high-resolution files having first registered with
regattanews.com. Once a registered media has approved access, the high-res
images may be instantly downloaded to the desktop or received by email.
< Home Page
www.regattanews.com is the ultimate media resource for multi-lingual
information, high-resolution images, audio/video news material, lifestyle
features and more from the Rolex Yachting Portfolio.
Here media will find links to current, past and upcoming events.
For more about each event in the Rolex yachting calendar, look for the event
name/logo and click to visit the event page. Clicking “Calendar” will show a
full event list.
Media may also access an extensive lifestyle archive by clicking “Lifestyle”.
TV Broadcast News Page
TV media may sign-up for notifications about broadcast quality video
news releases available via the regattanews.com FTP server.
Event Page >
Here media can find the latest event information including:
– press releases
– access to the photo gallery
– audio interviews
– press packs
– official documents
– links to event websites
Registration Page >
By filling out this form media may:
– choose to receive press releases by email
– request access to the copyright free high-resolution photos
for print publication

52 53
International media contacts
UK & Ireland
Giles Pearman
Key Partners (KPMS)
20, Av. Edouard-Dubois
CH - 2000 Neuchâtel | Switzerland
M. +41 793480023
F. +41 327242833
E. giles@kpms.com
Spain
Javier Sobrino
Key Partners (KPMS)
C/ Maria Auxiliadora, 4 | 36202 Vigo
T. +34 986441001
F. +34 986225981
M. +34 629893637
E. javier@kpms.com
Italy
antonella asnaghi & associati
Via Giacomo Leopardi 14 | 20123 Milano
T. +39 0248008294
F. +39 0243916618
E. sinergie@asnaghiassociati.it
France
Thomas Campion
Olivia Payerne
Agence olivia payerne
1, boulevard Jean-Jaurès
92100 Boulogne Billancourt
T. +33 146040862
F. +33 146041460
E. thomas@agence-op.fr
olivia@agence-op.fr
Germany
Andreas Kling
Föhrdener Strasse 6 | 25563 Wrist
T. +49 4822360900
F. +49 4822360901
M. +49 1722578817
E. andreas@kpms.com
USA
Susan Maffei Plowden
Key Partners (KPMS)
45 Calvert Place | Jamestown | RI 02835
M. +1 4018550234
E. suma@kpms.com
Barby MacGowan (US Events)
Media Pro International
41 Memorial Blvd. | Newport | RI 02840
T. +1 4018490220
F. +1 4018474535
M. +1 4012250249
E. barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com
Australia
Lisa Ratcliff
OCC – On Course Communications
PO Box 1513 | Mona Vale NSW 1660
T. + 61 418428511
F. + 61 280881260
E. lisa@occ.net.au
International Media Information
Key Partners (KPMS)
20, Av. Edouard-Dubois
CH - 2000 Neuchâtel | Switzerland
T. +41 327242829
F. +41 327242833
E. info@regattanews.com
W. www.regattanews.com

54 55
For the latest event information,
visit www.regattanews.com
Rolex yachting
calendar 2011
Today, Rolex is the Title Sponsor of some 20 major international events. Whether supporting the creation of new
challenges such as the Rolex Volcano Race, or continuing historic tradition with the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Rolex
enjoys a privileged relationship with the sea, the world of sailing and the call of the deep. This is the crown in sailing.
A sense of adventure and constant desire for precision, combined with determination, passion and camaraderie,
is what it takes to succeed in the world’s greatest yacht races. The Rolex yachting events demand all these qualities
and more, as enthusiasm and excellence are expected from organizers, participants and aficionados alike.
Rolex has always represented top performance and pioneering spirit and has brought these same qualities to
sailing competition over many years of involvement. As that involvement continues to grow, it is with pride that
the next few pages highlight the Rolex yachting calendar for 2011. A complete listing of all events, along with
the latest event information, can be found on www.regattanews.com.

56 57
Calendar of Rolex yachting events
2011
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
Sydney – Hobart, Australia | December 2010 – January 2011
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual 628-nautical mile offshore
race organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with the co-operation
of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. Owners and charterers of eligible boats
are invited to apply for entry.
CYCA – T. +61 282927800 – E. sailingoffice@cyca.com.au –
www.rolexsydneyhobart.com
Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Punta del Este, Uruguay | January 2011
The Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup 2011 is an annual weeklong regatta
for monohull yachts organised jointly by the Yacht Club Argentino, Yacht
Club Olivos, Yacht Club Punta del Este and Yacht Club Uruguayo. The event
includes a 165-nautical mile offshore race.
YCA – T. +54 1143140505 – E. yca@yca.org.ar – www.yca.org.ar
Rolex Miami OCR
Miami, Florida, USA | January 2011
Rolex Miami OCR is an annual weeklong regatta for Olympic class
boats organised by US Sailing. It forms part of the annual ISAF Sailing
World Cup.
US Sailing – E. rolexmiamiocr@ussailing.org – www.rmocr.ussailing.org/
Rolex Farr 40 World Championship
Sydney, Australia | February 2011
The Rolex Farr 40 Worlds is an annual four-day championship that
changes venue each year. The 2011 Worlds will be organised by the Farr 40
Class Association.
Farr40CA – T. +1 4102681001 – E. Farr40@staggyachts.com – www.farr40.org
International Rolex Regatta
St.Thomas, US Virgin Islands | March 2011
The International Rolex Regatta is an annual three-day regatta for One
Design and handicap monohull and multihull classes, and is organised
by the St. Thomas Yacht Club.
StTYC – T. +1 3407756320 – E. directors@rolexcupregatta.com –
www.rolexcupregatta.com.
Portofino Rolex Trophy
Portofino, Italy | May 2011
The Portofino Rolex Trophy is an annual three-day regatta organised by
the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Circolo Vela of Santa
Margherita Ligure and under the patronage of the cities of Portofino and
Santa Margherita Ligure.
YCI – T. +39 0102461206 – E. info@yci.it – www.yci.it
Rolex Volcano Race/Rolex Capri Sailing Week
Capri, Italy | May 2011
The Rolex Volcano Race will be an annual 400-nautical mile offshore race
organised by the International Maxi Association in conjunction with the Comitato
Vela nel Golfo di Gaeta and the Yacht Club Capri. The race will form part of the
Rolex Capri Sailing Week, an annual four-day regatta organised by the YCC.
IMA – T. +39 3474413194 – E. info@internationalmaxiassociation.com –
www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
YCC – T. +39 0818389455 – E. secretariat@yccapri.org – www.yccapri.org
Giraglia Rolex Cup
Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa, Italy | June 2011
The Giraglia Rolex Cup is an annual weeklong competition that comprises
three days of inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez and a 245-nautical
mile offshore race to Genoa via La Giraglia. It is organised by the Yacht Club
Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez under the supervision of
the Federazione Italiana Vela, the Fédération Française de Voile, with the
collaboration of the city of Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France.
YCI – T. +39 0102461206 – E. info@yci.it – www.yci.it –
www.giragliarolexcup.com
Block Island Race Week Presented by Rolex
Block Island, Rhode Island, USA | June 2011
Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex is a biennial weeklong regatta
organised by the Storm Trysail Yacht Club for monohull yachts greater than
24-feet competing in One Design, IRC and PHRF handicap classes.
STC – T. +1 9148348857 – E. stormtry@aol.com –
www.blockislandraceweek.com

58 59
Rolex Baltic Week
Flensburg, Germany | June – July 2011
Rolex Baltic Week is an annual weeklong regatta. In 2011 the event will be
organised by the Flensburger Segelclub in cooperation with the Kieler Yacht
Club. The regatta is open to the 6-Metre, 8-Metre and 12-Metre classes, and
includes the 2011 12-Metre World Championship.
FSC – T. +49 46313233 – E. race@fsc.de – www.fsc.de
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2011
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an annual weeklong regatta organised by
the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi
Association. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2011 includes the Mini Maxi Rolex
World Championship 2011.
YCCS – T. +39 0789902200 – E. secretariat@yccs.it – www.yccs.it
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week
Ilhabela, São Paulo, Brazil | July 2011
Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week is an annual weeklong regatta organised by the
Yacht Club Ilhabela for monohull yachts competing in One Design and ORCi
Handicap classes.
YCI – T. +55 1131513616 – E. sec@svilhabela.com.br – www.risw.com.br
Rolex Big Boat Series
San Francisco, CA, USA | September 2011
The Rolex Big Boat Series is an annual four-day regatta for monohull
yachts organised by the St. Francis Yacht Club. Participation is by invitation
only. Entrants are divided into two groupings: One Design Racing: J/120,
Sydney 38, Melges 32, Express 37, OD 35, J/105, Farr 40, Beneteau 36.7 and
Cal 40; and, IRC Handicap for yachts of 35-feet and above.
StFYC – T. +1 4155636363 – E. raceoffice@stfyc.com – www.stfyc.com
Rolex Fastnet Race
Cowes – Plymouth, UK | August 2011
The Rolex Fastnet Race is a biennial 608-nautical mile offshore race organised
by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Royal Western Yacht
Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron.
RORC – T. +44 2074932248 – E. info@rorc.org – www.rorc.org
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez, France | September – October 2011
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an annual weeklong regatta organised by
the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Competitors are divided into three
categories: Modern, Sprit of Tradition and Tradition. The Rolex Trophy is
awarded to the best performing yacht over 16-metres in the Tradition class.
SNST – T. +33 494973054 – E. snsttropez@aol.com –
www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr
Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship
Rochester, New York, USA | August – September 2011
The Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship is a biennial weeklong
regatta that is recognized as the pinnacle of competitive keelboat racing for
women. The Rochester Yacht Club will host the 2011 running of the regatta.
RYC – T. +1 5855461234 – E. rolexregattachair@rochesteryc.com –
www.rochesteryc.com
Rolex Middle Sea Race
Valletta, Malta | October 2011
The Rolex Middle Sea Race is an annual 606-nautical mile offshore race
organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, in association with the Royal
Ocean Racing Club and under the auspices of the Maltese and Italian
Sailing Federations.
RMYC – T. +356 21333109 – E. info@rmyc.org – www.rmyc.org –
www.rolexmiddlesearace.com
New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex
Newport, Rhode Island, USA | September 2011
The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup is a biennial weeklong regatta
organised by the New York Yacht Club. Entry is by invitation only to a limited
number of the world's preeminent yacht clubs. The regatta format is fleet
racing in Swan 42 Class yachts.
NYYC – T. +1 2123821000 – E. sailingoffice@nyyc.org – www.nyyc.org
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
Puerto Rico | November 2011
These annual awards recognize the top male and female sailor in the
world. The winners are selected by the 130 ISAF Member National
Authorities from an always-impressive field of nominees. The venue for
the Awards ceremony changes each year.
ISAF – T. + 44 2380635111 – E. worldsailorawards@isaf.co.uk
www.sailing.org/worldsailor

the s k i p p e r ’ s w a t c h
2012
Biennial events
Rolex China Sea Race
Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines | April 2012
The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is the ultimate reference chosen
by professionals who sail the world. It is the world’s first watch to offer
a programmable countdown featuring a mechanical memory. Indispensable
for any regatta start, it can be quickly and easily set and, if need be, reset
to mark official countdown times. Originally designed to meet the demands
of professional sailors, the Yacht-Master II is a new generation watch for all
passionate sailors and professionals alike. Visit ROLEX.COM. And explore more.
the yacht-master ii
The Rolex China Sea Race is a biennial 565-nautical mile race for monohull
and multihull yachts from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, through the South
China Sea to the finish in Subic Bay, the Philippines. It is organised by the
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, in co-operation with Manila Yacht Club and
the Subic Bay Yacht Club, and is run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean
Racing Club. The race was first held in 1962.
RHKYC – T. +852 28322817 – E. info@rhkyc.org.hk – www.rhkyc.org.hk
Rolex Swan Cup
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012
The Rolex Swan Cup is a biennial weeklong regatta organised by the Yacht
Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with Nautor’s Swan. The 2012 Rolex
Swan 45 World Championship will take place within the Rolex Swan Cup.
YCCS – T. +39 0789902200 – E. secretariat@yccs.it – www.yccs.it
For the complete
Rolex yachting calendar please visit
www.regattanews.com
IMPRESSUM
Publisher: Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland
Conception and coordination: Key Partners Marketing Services Sàrl, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Design and art direction: Key Partners Marketing Services Sàrl, Patrick Bachmann
Engraving and production: Courvoisier-Attinger, Biel, Switzerland
Photographs: Carlo Borlenghi/Daniel Forster/Kurt Arrigo
© Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland