MAXI POWER

MAXI RACING IS BOOMING AND IS MORE REGULAR THAN EVER, REPORTS JAMES BOYD

- JAMES BOYD

The International Maxi Association's (IMA) net continues to be cast wider. What was once limited to organising its annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has, in the last decade, grown exponentially with the inclusion of multiple events through the Caribbean and Mediterranean seasons that form the IMA's Maxi Inshore and Offshore Challenges.

This year alone sees the IMA increasing its Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge to seven events including the latest among the world's 'classic 600-mile offshore races', the Aegean 600; it is organizing the first-ever IMA Maxi European Championship; and, after a two-year postponement, managed to run the first edition of its new Caribbean Maxi Challenge, which saw more than 30 maxis competing.

While the 100ft Comanche won the RORC Caribbean 600, sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine led to the (at the time) Russian-owned maxi withdrawing from further events. She has since been sold back into Australian ownership.

Back in Europe we await the imminent launch of the ClubSwan 80 My Song. This is Pier Luigi Loro Piana's replacement to his magnificent Baltic 130 destroyed in a shipping accident in May 2019. With a canting keel and a steerable canard positioned just forward of the keel, it is brimming with high-speed racing potential.

Joyously Wally is back in the sailing boat game again after Luca Bassani's company was acquired by Ferretti Yachts. Designed by Judel/Vrolijk, the latest y3K will be the fourth Wally for German shipping magnate ClausPeter Offen.