The FT Wally Grand Prix Series has so far seen three exciting regattas where the race teams had to deal with adverse wind conditions, tactical challenges and a highly competitive environment. Three races into the inaugural FT WALLY GRAND PRIX SERIES and the Y3K team is leading the fleet. However, there are at least three other yachts still in contention for the overall title with two regattas to go.
The Wally Perfomance Sailing Yacht Y3K
The Y3K team is out in front due to a consistently high standard of sailing, although an outright win still eludes them. Y3K finished second in Palma Spain, second in Portofino and third in Porto Cervo, Italy. The team on board Magic Carpet 2, the racing yacht owned and helmed by Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, is behind by just five points and they could easily close this gap at the next regatta. The Indio and Open Season teams are also well placed to capitalise on any errors made by the front-runners.
In the performance division Inti is just one point ahead of Ryokan 2 with both teams performing well during their previous events this season.
Wally Class Manager, Paolo Massarini said, “The series so far has been very competitive and the teams are giving nothing away to each other on the water. Y3K will be hard to catch and it has a very experienced crew that includes Jasper Radich and Thomas Jungblut, who both have Americas Cup and World Match Racing backgrounds. However, the series attracts a lot of big names from the sailing world and most of the teams boast crews with similar pedigrees. The spirited nature of the competition means that all of the crews will come out fighting when the starter’s flare fires again in Porto Cervo, Sardinia in September. As well as tactics and the athletic ability of the crews, it may come down to which team can force errors in the opposition. Either way, it will be a thrilling end to the season in St Tropez.”
The FT WALLY GP SERIES moves to Porto Cervo (5 – 10 September) for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and then onto the season finale in St Tropez (27 September – 1 October) where the Voiles de St Tropez will take place.
The FT Wally Grand Prix Series is a unique five race series on the worlds’ largest fleet of Maxi racing yachts, featuring premier sailing talent from the America’s Cup and Olympics. The sailing yachts represent the largest fleet of performance boats over 80 feet, the Wally Class, that is internationally recognised in the world’s most important regattas for super yachts.
The series is sponsored by the Financial Times and Wally, builder of the world’s most stylish and innovative sail and powerboats.
