In support of the its overall mission to encourage
and support all forms of maxi racing internationally,
three years ago the International Maxi Association
introduced the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore
Challenge.
At the time the trend appeared to be towards
participation in day racing and away from distance
events and so this series was started specifically to
entice more maxis to race offshore again. It appears
to be succeeding as there has been a significant
improvement in numbers entering the events the
IMA has included in this series and duly supported.
First to be included were the longest and most
classic events. The Rolex Middle Sea Race was the
clearest candidate to be chosen and became the first
race in the first series. Over the last decade, thanks
to the efforts of Rolex in conjunction with the Royal
Malta Yacht Club, this race has continued to grow
and attract the highest quality of entry. In 2018, the
race’s 50th anniversary year, it broke its own
previous record both for overall numbers and,
number of maxi yachts; a momentous event with
which to start the 2018-19 IMA Mediterranean Maxi
Offshore Challenge.
Into the 2019 season and, for a second time, the
Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge includes
another long-standing Mediterranean classic, this
one with a unique midnight start. The Regata dei
Tre Golfi departs from the Circolo del Remo e della
Vela Italia, in Naples, to finish in Capri. In fact, this
race is only one year younger than the Rolex
Giraglia having been first run in 1954, so 2019 will
be the race’s 65th edition.
For the third year the 151 Miglia - Trofeo Cetilar will
also be included. This is the youngest offshore race
in the IMA calendar, but in 2019 will be celebrating
its 10th anniversary. This race starts in Livorno, goes
up to Pisa, then across to the Giraglia rock before
heading south again to a turning mark, then back
north to the finish line off Punta Ala. With excellent
parties and hospitality at the start and finish, this
race has grown very fast.
The penultimate event in the IMA Mediterranean
Maxi Offshore Challenge is Rolex Giraglia. First run
in 1953, making this the 66th edition in 2019, this
event is a joint operation between the Yacht Club
Italiano and Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and is
also swelling in numbers, especially in its maxi
classes.
This year the race goes from Saint-Tropez to
Monaco rather than Genoa but, as usual, still around
the Giraglia rock. The 178 entries last year included
35 maxis – an impressive number.
Finally, the last race in the series, the Regata Palermo-
Montecarlo goes from the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in
Palermo via a gate monitored by the Yacht Club Costa
Smeralda off Porto Cervo, and on up through the Strait
of Bonifacio to Monaco for the finish at the Yacht Club
de Monaco. Last year HSH Prince Albert of Monaco
came to support the start. This race, as with all the
others in our series, is growing.
IMA members must compete in a minimum of three
races from the series, with their best three results
counting if they do more.
As well as IMA prizes at the individual events, the
winner is presented with a splendid vintage silver
cup which is the Challenge’s new perpetual trophy.
This will be awarded annually at the IMA Dinner in
September at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda during
the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.
Results
2015-2016 winner: RAMBLER 88, George David
2017-2018 winner: ATALANTA II, Carlo A. Puri Negri
2018-2019 winner: VERA, Miguel Galuccio
2017-2018 winner: ATALANTA II, Carlo A. Puri Negri
2018-2019 winner: VERA, Miguel Galuccio