Triumph and Tradition at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
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ach September, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda transforms into the stage for one of sailing’s most prestigious competitions – the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. More than a regatta, it is a celebration of innovation, human achievement and teamwork. The 2025 edition, held from 7–13 September, carried special significance: the 35th staging of the event, 40 years of partnership with Rolex, and a tribute to its visionary founder, the late His Highness Aga Khan IV. Nearly 50 yachts and their world-class crews converged on Porto Cervo to write a new chapter in this storied competition.
A Legacy of Excellence
Launched in 1980 by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), the Maxi Cup welcomed Rolex as Title Sponsor in 1985, forging a partnership that remains one of the longest-standing alliances in sport. This year, organizers honored the late Aga Khan IV, whose vision made Costa Smeralda both a jet-set haven and an international benchmark in yachting.
“From my earliest days at the club, I have always admired the way in which the YCCS and our partners Rolex and the IMA have striven to ensure that seamless organization, camaraderie and the pursuit of excellence remain at the core,” said Commodore Andrea Recordati.
The enduring synergy between Rolex, YCCS and the International Maxi Association has sustained the Cup as the pinnacle of the sport, where heritage and innovation converge.
High Stakes on Emerald Waters
Set against Sardinia’s Maddalena Archipelago, the regatta offers racing as demanding as it is beautiful.
This year’s conditions ranged from dead calms to fierce Mistral gales, testing both crews and organizers. Despite interruptions, the YCCS race committee delivered top-level sailing. On the final day, the celebrated Mistral returned, building from 10 to 18 knots, allowing decisive back-to-back races. For the first time, the Cup also featured two World Championships – for the Maxi 1 and Maxi Grand Prix classes – elevating both the prestige and the intensity of competition.
Champions Crowned in Costa Smeralda
In the Maxi 1 World Championship, victory went to the sleek Wallycento Galateia, co-owned by David M. Leuschen and Chris Flowers. Tactician Murray Jones guided her to two race wins, enough to edge last year’s champion Leopard 3 on countback after both finished tied on points. Recordati’s own Bullitt followed closely in third, underscoring the depth of competition.
“It was super, super close… we didn’t know we had won until the results came out,” admitted Jones.
The Maxi Grand Prix World Championship went to Giovanni Stronati’s 71-foot Django 7X, a new launch steered by Italian star Vasco Vascotto. Django 7X never finished off the podium, sealing the title by just two points ahead of Peter Harrison’s Jolt, with Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente third on tiebreak.
“It happened because we are a team… in the end it came down to millimetres,” Vascotto reflected after their photo-finish win over Jolt.
Beyond the World Championships, excellence shone across the classes. Oscar 3, Aldo Parisotto’s 65-foot Mylius with tactician Paolo Cian, repeated victory in Maxi 3. In Maxi 4, Riccardo De Michele’s classic 78-foot H2O dominated with four straight wins, claiming her seventh Cup title. Among the giants, the Swan 115 Moat, owned by Juan Ball with tactician Gonzalo Araujo, swept the Super Maxi category, earning the Paolo Massarini ORC Challenge Trophy. Each division added to the regatta’s tapestry of champions, from sleek carbon racers to enduring classics.
Beyond the Trophies
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is as much cultural gathering as sporting event. Each evening Porto Cervo’s quays brimmed with owners, sailors, aristocrats and aficionados – a true who’s who of international yachting society. The final prize-giving in Piazza Azzurra epitomized the blend of tradition and exclusivity: under Sardinian twilight, winners received trophies and the symbolic Rolex timepieces. A new perpetual trophy was also unveiled in memory of His Highness Aga Khan IV, ensuring his legacy remains woven into the Cup’s future.
The regatta’s prestige lies not only in victory but also in values. Special prizes, such as the sportsmanship award, highlight fairness and camaraderie – reminders that beyond technology and rivalry, this event thrives on shared respect and community.
Continuing the Legacy
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup endures as the nexus of luxury, competition, and community. It is a sporting spectacle but also a cultural symbol, where tradition and innovation converge on the water. Rolex Testimonee Paul Cayard, who raced here in the inaugural Rolex edition, reflected:
“The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is like a book. Each edition represents a new chapter… and it is for those competing now to continue writing the story, living up to the legacy.”
The 2025 edition has written one such chapter: of close-fought finishes, timeless rituals, and shared celebration. As the Cup enters its fifth decade, it remains destined to succeed for many years to come – a benchmark of elegance and excellence that defines the rarefied world of high-society sport.
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