The 2021 edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup marks 21 years of participation by Reichel/Pugh boats, and in that time our designs have amassed 39 Class wins. Competing divisions have ranged from the Maxi 72 class to the Supermaxi division for yachts over 30.5 meters. This year, Reichel/Pugh designs won two of five classes amongst the 44-boat fleet, and with Reichel/Pugh having drawn three of the top four in the Maxi Class.
The 2021 edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup marks 21 years of participation by Reichel/Pugh boats, and in that time our designs have amassed 39 Class wins. Competing divisions have ranged from the Maxi 72 class to the Supermaxi division for yachts over 30.5 meters. This year, Reichel/Pugh designs won two of five classes amongst the 44-boat fleet, and with Reichel/Pugh having drawn three of the top four in the Maxi Class.
Reichel/Pugh Designs Top the 2021 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
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Reichel/Pugh Wallycento Magic Carpet3 – Maxi Class Winner, previously won 2014 Wally Class (built by Wally Yachts)
- Reichel/Pugh 80' Capricorno – Mini Maxi Class 2 Winner (built by McConaghy)
- Reichel/Pugh Wallycento Galateia – 3rd in Maxi Class, winner of 2017 WallyCento Class (built by Green Marine)
- Reichel/Pugh 82' Highland Fling XI – 4th in Maxi Class, winner of 2017 Maxi Class (built by Goetz)
Reichel/Pugh-designed Wallycento Magic Carpet3, owned by Sir Lindsay Owen Jones with Jochen Schuemann on tactics, won the Maxi Class. Third place in the Maxi Class went to the other Reichel/Pugh Wallycento taking part, Galateia, owned by David Leuschen, with tactician Murray Jones. One of the longest supporters of both the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the International Maxi Association Owen Jones remarked, "I am very happy…None of us had the faintest idea how it would work out against all this incredible fleet including Comanche and Rambler, but Magic Carpet3 is an awesome all-round design”. Three of the four races were won overall with Highland Fling race 1 and 2 and Galateia winning race 4.
Winning History of Magic Carpet3
- 2017 - Wally Class Season Championship - 2nd Place
- 2017 - Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta - 1st Place Wally Class
- 2016 - Rolex Giraglia Race - Line Honours
- 2015 - Rolex Giraglia Race - Overall Winner
- 2015 - Les Voiles de St Tropez - Overall Winner Wally Class
- 2015 - Palmavela Regatta - Overall Winner Wally Class
- 2015 - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - Overall Winner Wally Class
- 2014 - Rolex Giraglia Race - Line Honours
- 2014 - Wally Championship - Overall Winner (winning three of five regattas)
A particular mention of merit went to Lord Irvine Laidlaw's Reichel/Pugh custom 82’ Highland Fling XI, with Bouwe Bekking calling tactics, as they were forced off a near Maxi Class overall win by a failed forestay attachment. The 82’ Highland Fling has previously won her class at the Maxi Rolex three times in 2011, 2014 and 2017.
Finally, Alessandro Del Bono's Reichel/Pugh 78’ Maxi Capricorno (originally built in 1995 as Morning Glory II) swept the Mini Maxi 2 Class with top three finishes, guided by tactician Flavio Favini. Launched as Morning Glory, Capricorno has a deep history previously winning the 1997 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Fastnet Race, 2,225nm Cape Town-Rio Race (Broke Course Record), the Sydney-Hobart Race (Shattered 21-year-old Course Record) and 2,700nm Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (Broke Course Record).
Capricorno’s Winning History
- 2006 - 2,700nm Atlantic Rally for Cruisers set course record
- 1997 - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – Winner
- 1997 - Fastnet Race - First Overall
- 1996 - 2,225nm Cape Town-Rio Race - Broke Course Record, Line honors, 1st Place
- 1996 - Sydney-Hobart - Line honors - Shattering 21-year-old record
Alessandro Del Bono reflected, “We are obviously pleased, in spite of being 26 years old, the boat has proved that it's still very fast. This victory is a great reward for both the crew, most of whom have been with us for 25 years, and for my father and my son, we have three generations of the family on board.”
At the prize-giving, the IMA's Secretary General Andrew McIrvine presented Sir Lindsay Owen Jones with the Trophy for 'Highest Placed IMA member' while the Paolo Massarini Trophy (named after the manager of several notable classes, such as the Wallys, who died last year) was presented to Capricorno's Alessandro del Bono by Paolo's wife Alessandra.
MAXI RESULTS
ALL RESULTS
REGATTA DETAILS
Reichel/Pugh has now had 39 Maxi Rolex Cup Division winners since 1997:
2021 – 100’ Magic Carpet3 – Maxi Class
2021 – Capricorno – Mini Maxi Class 2
2019 – 82' Highland Fling XI – Maxi Class
2017 – 100’ Galateia – Wally Class
2017 – 82’ Highland Fling XI – Maxi Class
2016 – 85’ My Song – Maxi RC Division
2015 – 94’ Windfall – Maxi RC Division – M. Cotter
2014 – 100’ Magic Carpet3 – WallyCento – Wally Class – Sir L.O. Jones
2014 – 78’ Lupa of London – Mini Maxi Racer/Cruiser Division – J. Pilkington
2014 – 82’ Highland Fling XI – Maxi Racing & Maxi Racing/Cruising Division – Lord I. Laidlaw
2013 – 112’ Nilaya – SuperMaxi ORCi Division – F. Balcaen
2013 – 78’ Lupa of London – Mini Maxi Cruising Division – J. Pilkington
2012 – 100’ Esimit Europa 2 – Racing Division – I.Simcic
2012 – 112’ Nilaya – SuperMaxi Division – F. Balcaen
2011 – 112’ Nilaya – SuperMaxi Division – F. Balcaen
2011 – 78’ AllSmoke – Mini Maxi Racing/Cruising Division – G. Herz
2010 – 100’ Esimit Europa 2 – Racing/Racing Cruising Division – I.Simcic
2010 – 220’ Hetairos – Supermaxi Division – O. Happel
2009 – 72’ Mini Maxi Bella Mente – Mini Maxi Overall Season Champion – H. Fauth
2009 – 72’ Alfa Romeo 3 – Mini Maxi Racing Division – N.Crichton
2009 – 78’ Whisper – 1st Place Mini-Maxi Cruising Class – M. Cotter
2009 – 147’ Visione – Cruising Division – H. Plattner
2008 – 72’ Alfa Romeo 3 – Mini Maxi Racing Division – N.Crichton
2008 – 220’ Hetairos – Cruising Division – O. Happel
2008 – 90’ Rambler – Racing Division – G. David
2007 – J Class Ranger – Cruising Division – J. Williams
2007 – 86’ Morning Glory – Racing Division – H. Plattner
2007 – 78’ AllSmoke – Mini Maxi Division – G. Herz
2006 – 100’ Alfa Romeo – Racing Division – N.Crichton
2006 – 220’ Hetairos – Spirit of Tradition Division – O. Happel
2005 – 77’ Black Dragon – Racing Division – O. Happel
2004 – 86’ Pyewacket – Racing Division – R. Disney
2004 – 78’ Idea – IMS Division – R. Raiola
2003 – 78’ Idea SAI – IMS Division – R. Raiola
2003 – 85’ Alfa Romeo – IRC Division – N. Crichton
2002 – 79’ Alexia – Racing Division – A. Roemmers
2001 – 79’ Alexia – Racing Division – A. Roemmers
2000 – 79’ Alexia – Racing Division – A. Roemmers
1997 – 80’ Morning Glory – H. Plattner
Sources: YCCS, James Boyd / International Maxi Association