Dieter Schön's "Momo" remains the measure of all things in the Maxi 72 class. At the "Mini-Maxis" world championship held as part of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup off Porto Cervo, the "Momo" crew with tactician Markus Wieser and the multiple dominated America's Cup winner Murray Jones as navigator of their competition. In the end, after seven races, it was only one point that separated "Momo" from George Sakelleri's "Proteus", but the victory was the result of a well thought-out and carefully executed plan.
World Champion! Dieter Schön's crew cheers at the award ceremony
"We could of course have sailed to attack on the last day, but that seemed too risky to us. So in the penultimate race we accepted a lower rank by blocking 'Cannonball' for long stretches of the race and then only having to concentrate on one opponent in the final race, "said Wieser. Dieter Schön's crew, peppered with stars and experts from the America's Cup and other professional series, has been working together successfully for years and was honored as the "best German ocean yacht 2015" at the Hamburg City Hall at the beginning of 2016 at the German Offshore Award. Now the successful team sailed to gold again in a small but very fine fleet of the World Championship.
George David's "Rambler 88" crew had to be satisfied with third place in the maxi class
The Vrolijk design "Jethou" by Sir Peter Ogden won the Mini Maxi R class
"Momo" in the picture book area in front of Porto Cervo
At the same time, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup competed for points and trophies in other classes: Salvatore Trifiros won "Ribelle" in the SMaxi division. In the Maxis, Irvine Laidlaw's "Highland Fling 11 R" had the front tip. In the Mini Maxi R class, Sir Peter Ogden's "Jethou" prevailed. In the Mini Maxi RC1 group, Roberto Lacortes "Supernikka" secured victory, in Mini Maxi RC2 Ricardo de Micheles "H2O" was best of the class. At the Wallys, none was as fast as "Galateia". The beautiful show of the elegant yachts had once again lured many photographers to the dream area off Sardinia. Carlo Borlenghi's pictures show what a sailing festival it was once again.
A picture like a dream - captured by star photographer Carlo Borlenghi