Organised by the International Maxi Association in partnership with Yacht Club Gaeta as well as Yacht Club Capri, the first crews competing in Leg Two of the 2012 Rolex Volcano Race came back to the fabulous Marina Grande Capri. By early yesterday morning, virtually all of the fleet had been accounted for comprising the sailing yacht Bronenosec who won a top 10 position, gaining 6th place overall and 3rd out of the mini-maxi’s.
Bronenosec yacht competing in the Rolex Volcano Race 2012 Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Racing on a shortened course, former America’s Cup sailor Tommaso Chieffi explained that it was a race for the big boats from the onset: “The race started in huge waves and no breeze so the big boats were first to catch the breeze and the mini-maxi’s including ourselves were slow out of the starting blocks. From then on there was no catching the big boats as they were quicker down to Stromboli. I am pleased, however, with the team’s performance as there was no breakdown of manoeuvres and we beat our sister-ship @robas, the Swan 601.”
Igor Frolov, Executive Director at Saint-Petersburg Yacht Club, added: “This is Bronenosec’s first offshore race and we have learnt considerably from the experience. It is a great group of sailors that Tommaso Chieffi has put together. The crew performed well together and we are looking forward to our next event. Bronenosec will put into practice all that we have learnt. One always needs to improve and we have the Giraglia Rolex Cup coming up which will be very competitive. You can never spend enough time on the water, learning the boat. There is always fine-tuning to be done. This regatta has been fantastic, especially having Tommaso on board who is a superb sailor. He has helped us with little things that have raised our game.”
Challenging weather conditions - Rolex Volcano Race 2012 Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
The next event on Bronenosec yacht’s campaign is one of the most renowned distance races in the Mediterranean; the Giraglia Rolex Cup is an offshore classic, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. From the start off the historic port of Saint-Tropez the fleet heads through the idyllic Iles d’Hyères and across the sea to round the Giraglia, a rocky islet off northern Corsica, before racing to the finish off San Remo, a total distance of 241-nautical miles.
