The Crown in Sailing

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L R O L E X Y A 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.

Table of contents 4 Rolex and the IMA circuit 6 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

10 Rolex Middle Sea Race

Valletta, Malta

14 Rolex Volcano Race

Capri, Italy

18 Giraglia Rolex Cup

Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa, Italy

22 Rolex and ocean racing traditions 24 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Sydney – Hobart, Australia

28 Rolex Fastnet Race

Cowes – Plymouth, United Kingdom

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32 Rolex and championship yachting 34 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship

Sydney, Australia

36 Rolex Swan Cup

Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

38 Rolex and classic sailing 40 Portofino Rolex Trophy

Portofino, Italy

41 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez, France

42 ISAF and Rolex Testimonees 44 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 46 Spotlight on Paul Cayard

48 Media and Rolex yachting 50 www.regattanews.com 52 International media contacts

54 Rolex yachting calendar 2011

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Genoa St. Tropez

Porto Cervo Capri

Malta

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Rolex and the IMA circuit 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.

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.

For more information about the IMA circuit please contact: IMA Race Secretariat T. +39 3474413194 E. info@internationalmaxiassociation.com W. www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

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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

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.

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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.

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

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.

One of the biggest prizes in sailing

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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

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.

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

Volcanoes, mythology, straits and sea battles

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.

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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.

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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

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Capri welcomes the Rolex Volcano Race

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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.

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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.

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Giraglia Rolex Cup

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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

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 SaintTropez. 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.

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.

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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

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Sydney

Hobart

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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.

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.

Fastnet

Plymouth

Cowes

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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

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Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

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The Christmas institution 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.

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A true test of human endurance

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.

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Rolex Fastnet Race

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The Essentials > Rolex Fastnet Race: August 2011 > 608-nautical mile offshore race: Cowes – Fastnet Rock – Plymouth > 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

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

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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.

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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.

The Essentials > Rolex Farr 40 World Championship: Sydney, February 2011 > Organised by the Farr 40 Class Association > Open to all Farr 40 yachts > 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

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Success and failure are easily measured

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.

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Rolex Swan Cup 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

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Effortless elegance 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.

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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.

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Portofino Rolex Trophy Heritage highlights A fusion of history and 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.

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Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez One last round of warm weather racing

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

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

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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.

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ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards A night of honours 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.

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Past Winners

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)

1996 Jochen Schümann (GER) 1995

Russell Coutts (NZL)

1994 Peter Blake (NZL) &

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

Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR) Lee Lai Shan (HKG) Isabelle Autissier (FRA) Theresa Zabell (ESP)

ISAF T. +44 2380635111 E. worldsailorawards@isaf.co.uk W. www.sailing.org/worldsailor

Paul Cayard

Spotlight on an outstanding career

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.

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.

rolex. a crown for every achievement.

OYSTER PERPETUAL YACHT-MASTER II

Media and Rolex yachting 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.

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www.regattanews.com the media source for multi-lingual information, high-resolution images, audio/video news material and more 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

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regattanews

.com

Welcome to

everything needed to cover Rolex Yachting < 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”.

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

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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.

TV Broadcast News Page TV media may sign-up for notifications about broadcast quality video news releases available via the regattanews.com FTP server.

Registration Page > By filling out this form media may: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; choose to receive press releases by email â&#x20AC;&#x201C; request access to the copyright free high-resolution photos for print publication

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

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International Media Information Key Partners (KPMS) 20, Av. Edouard-Dubois CH - 2000 Neuch창tel | Switzerland T. +41 327242829 F. +41 327242833 E. info@regattanews.com W. www.regattanews.com

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For the latest event information, visit www.regattanews.com

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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 worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

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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

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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

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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

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 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

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

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

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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 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

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 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

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

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2012

Biennial events

Rolex China Sea Race Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines | April 2012 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

the

skipper’s

watch

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