Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one of sailing’s most prestigious regattas, bringing together the world’s finest Maxi yachts for a week of elite competition in the heart of the Mediterranean.
An event for racing giants
The partnership that unites Rolex and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was initiated in 1985 and is one of the oldest on the yachting calendar.
The regatta is a defining event in international yacht racing, renowned for its blend of size, sophistication and sporting integrity. It attracts an exceptional fleet of Maxi yachts – typically 60 feet (18.30 metres) and longer – crewed by some of the sport’s most accomplished sailors.
Where scale, skill and precision converge
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has been the flagship annual event for this category of yacht since 1980. Organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International Maxi Association, it draws the largest fleet of these boats each season. In the emerald waters off Porto Cervo in northern Sardinia, the world’s leading skippers and crews compete for nearly a week in races ranging in distance from 15 to 35 nautical miles (28 to 65 kilometres).
Jewels of naval architecture and among the most powerful yachts ever built, these Maxis are immense, but the gaps at the finish line remain small. As with any regatta, precision is key to victory.
Over more than four decades, the event has evolved alongside advances in yacht design, materials and performance. It typically features a mix of windward-leeward and coastal races, designed to test both raw speed and tactical nous. Classes are structured to ensure competitive balance across a diverse fleet, from cutting-edge racing machines to refined performance cruisers. Continuous investment in race management and safety has ensured the event remains at the forefront of modern yacht racing while preserving its distinctive character.