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'A Brush With Sail' -
e-Magazine Article

SEP 2008

...In the Cruising Division, John Williams and the J Class Ranger (CAY. IS) cruised seemingly effortlessly to their second consecutive Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup victory. Four races, four bullets tell their own story. The reality on the race course was quite different with competition coming from the other J Class Velsheda (GBR), the massive 44-metre Salperton (GBR), Hamilton II (GBR) and Hetairos (CAY IS).

Management of the boat and team was once again crucial to success, as America's Cup and round the world race winner, Erle Williams confirms. ‘They are very powerful boats, they're very challenging and upwind, especially with 39 crew, there's a lot of people to coordinate around the boat to make sure no one gets hurt, and to sail the boat well is quite a challenge.’ Like the other owners crowned this week, John Williams puts their success down to people and the management of the boat. ‘We have a crew that's mostly stayed intact for five years, and I think we just sailed the boat exceptionally well. Erle did a great job on the starts and once you have a good start, sometimes you can control the race, but frankly we just had a good crew effort, a wonderful crew effort.’

Like the other owners, Williams truly enjoys sailing on the Costa Smeralda, ‘It's wonderful! Without a doubt it's the best regatta we compete in and we did a number of regattas this year and it is the number one regatta. You have great boats, great conditions, great sails up among the rocks. It's a wonderful place to sail boats.’

So there it is, the ingredients for success at one of the most spectacular regattas around. Pick a great boat and pick a great team. Manage them well. And hope Mother Nature lets you perform. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in conjunction with the International Maxi Association, (IMA). From the most luxurious, through to the most traditional, to the most advanced mono-hulls afloat today, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is nothing if not an astonishing line up of sailing power.