Porto Cervo, 6th September 2002
Press Release Maxi 6
Porto Cervo. On the fourth day of racing
at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2002 (international sailing event
organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda) the sailors not
only were hit by the arrival of a very strong Mistral wind
of about 25 knots, but also by the horror of the accident
which occurred during the race. While the Wally Yacht “Askherout”,
belonging to the Swiss Gualtiero Mattia Medici, was heading
towards the Lavezzi island, and while he was rounding the
cliff, the yacht hit the keel on some rocks. At once the boat
started to take in water. As soon as the crew realised what
had happened, they headed out towards a sandbank so that the
yacht would not sink.
No one on board was seriously hurt except
for one team member who slightly dislocated his shoulder.
The first yachts to rescue “Askherout” were two
other boats participating in the race, “Viriella”
and “Tuamata”.
Less serious was the damage had by “Idea/SAI”,
which in the first part of the race, while the boat was heading
towards the Saline Gulf, broke the main halyard.
A real pity for the two boats: infact,
“Askherout” after having won the second and third
races, was only one point away from the lead, which belongs
to “Magic Carpet” and “Idea/SAI” moved
up to fourth place in the IMS division.
The fourth day of racing was awarded
to “Virtuelle” belonging to Carlo Perrone, for
the IMS division ( the first yacht to cross the finish line
in non corrected time was “Morning Glory”). Second
was “Alexia” and third “Sotto Voce”.
For the Wally division, after “Askherout” withdrew
from the races, the winner was “Magic Carpet”
(also first to cross in non corrected time), second place
to Alessandro Grande’s “Vae Victis” and
third place to “Tuamata”. “Tuamata”
crossed the finish line with a noticeable tardiness due to
the fact that they, along with “Viriella”, helped
to pick up the crew of “Askherout”. After these
results the final classifications show the leader still to
be “Alexia” followed by “Sotto Voce”
and “My Song” for the IMS division. For the Wally
division leaders are “Magic Carpet”, “Vae
Victis” and “Askherout”.
