NEWS RELEASE

AUSTRALIAN SUPER YACHTS BATTLE FOR THE WORLD CHAMPION TITLE IN EUROPE
The Rolex Maxi World Championships, which starts this week in Sardinia, will see two Australian super maxi yachts battle for the title of the world’s fastest maxi yacht with defending champion, Alfa Romeo, up against the new canting keel Wild Oats in a fight that has been called the old technology versus the next generation.

Although Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo has 70 line honours wins to her name, including the 2002 Rolex Sydney to Hobart, she is up against the latest technology in Robert Oatley’s Wild Oats, The Canting Keel.

“To be honest, unless something exceptional happens, I don’t expect to win this event,” says Neville Crichton. “The canting keel is that much of an advantage; it is like comparing turbo and non-turbocharged racing cars. We will have to work very hard to keep up.”

The canting keel swings from side to side under the yacht, adding leverage to its weight to keep the yacht upright and, therefore, operating at its most efficient. Originally this was done by the sailors sitting on one side of the yacht, then by the water ballast system that Alfa Romeo uses and which swaps water from side to side of the yacht. The canting keel means that the yacht can have lighter keel that is also more effective. But it relies on advanced technology to ensure that it safely swaps from side to side in 20 seconds as the yacht tacks.

Alfa Romeo and Wild Oats will be amongst 35 Maxi yachts from 13 nations that will head to the starting line to compete for the Maxi World Championship title in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in partnership with Rolex.

As well as the Australian yachts, there will be Genuine Risk, a 90-foot Dubois-designed racing "sled" owned by Randall Pittman of the US and Roy Disney's MaxZ86 Pyewacket. The Wally class, with 10 boats, will have new competition from Argentinean Alberto Roemmers racing his recently launched 98-foot Alexia.
"We have a spectacular week planned for the racers both on and off the water," said Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Commodore Gianfranco Alberini. "The racing should be extraordinary because of the advanced technology involved, the intense level of competition, and passion of the competitors. Rolex and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda have also created an outstanding social schedule befitting the celebration of our 20-year relationship."
Racing will take place throughout the week, ending with the awards ceremony on Saturday, September 11. The Maxi yachts, which have been defined as yachts larger than 65 feet, have been divided into three divisions: Racing Oriented, Wally, and Cruising Oriented. The regatta will include windward- leeward courses and coastal races which take full advantage of the funnel of strong winds that typically stream through the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago. Five racing days have been scheduled with a lay day on Thursday. First gun is planned for 12:00 each racing day.
"The variety of boats and racing conditions should provide a spectacular site," continued Alberini. "The cruising class showcases the largest and most traditional yachts in the regatta including American George Lindemann's 180-foot Adela and Ferruccio Fiorucci's beautiful 135-foot Alejandra as well as British yachts Velsheda and Eleonora. The Wally division is equally impressive with 10 Wally boats competing. Wally Yacht founder Luca Bassani Antivari will sail his 89-foot Wally Tiketitan against Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera's 105-foot Kauris III and L'Oreal CEO Lindsay Owen-Jones's 94-foot Magic Carpet Squared."
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, located in Porto Cervo in Sardinia, Italy, was founded in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan, together with Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti, and Luigi Vietti, as a non-profit club for those passionate about the sea and marine sports. Today, the YCCS plays host to the most prestigious events in international sailing.
In addition to its superb yachting facilities, the YCCS features a first-class clubhouse that was completely renovated during the past two years. The "Foresteria" includes 24 new guest suites, a fitness center, a new terrace bar and several high-end retail shops. In 2002, the YCCS and the New York Yacht Club signed a reciprocal agreement extending mutual privileges to their members. The YCCS is the only club in the Mediterranean and one of only four Yacht Clubs worldwide to be offered this privilege. YCCS also has reciprocal agreements with Yacht Club di Monaco and the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Alfa Romeo 2004 Programme

Trofeo Zegna Portofino 14 - 16 May

Giraglia Rolex Cup St Tropez 13 - 19 June

Copa del Ray Majorca 1-8 August

Rolex Maxi Yacht Worlds Porto Cervo 4 - 14 September

Rolex Middle Sea Race Malta 20 - 30 October

Alfa Romeo Technical Description

Club: Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron

Sail Number: NZL 80

Designers: Reichel/Pugh - USA

Builders: McConaghy Boats, Sydney, Australia

Construction: Hull - Carbon Fibre Composite, Keel - Steel,

Rudder and Mast - Carbon Fibre, Sails - 3DL Carbon/Mylar

Mast: Southern Spars, Auckland, New Zealand

Sails: North Sails , Sydney, Australia

LOA: 27.43 m (90 ft)

Beam: 5.6 m (18.3 ft)

Draft: 4.0 m (13.1 ft)

For further information

Neville Crichton Edward Rowe

Tel: +61 (02) 9558 7111 Tel: +61 (02) 9558 7111

Fax: +61 (02) 9558 7722 Fax: +61 (02) 9558 7722

Mob: +61 (0)409 166 166 Mobile: +61 407 913 244

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