When Maxis really were ‘Maxi’, wire sheets and guys and no power-assist… and when ‘trim on’ was often followed by ‘which one?’ Jim Kilroy’s Kialoa III was perhaps the best loved of all the California real estate tycoon’s string of Maxi yachts. Seen at the 1980 Clipper Cup in Hawaii, Kialoa III has since been restored as a cruiser-racer. And… the first yacht to finish the Hobart in under three days in 1975 (2d 15h) is currently for sale: US$425,000 (sic)
is just business as usual, whether to join the world’s most famous offshore races or to race in their favourite events in Newport, Antigua, St Barts and the Med. Checking entries I see Skorpios and Comanche already both lined up for the 2022 Caribbean 600 together with another 15 Maxis, and Bella Mente, Deep Blue and Vesper entered for the 2022 Les Voiles St Barth. The first but not the last time they will face each other in 2022. In the meantime, the IMA plans to gradually increase its service and level of support at Maxi events in the hope this will stimulate the Maxi owners to race more frequently. The IMA is a World Sailing class association but its services benefit not just its 50+ members; the best way to improve racing for those members is to support the open events they race at, so all racing at these events benefits from the IMA’s efforts to streamline rules and improve race man- agement, certification and equipment checks, not to mention those nice IMA parties... Here is the association’s current shopping list: To facilitate ‘easy entry’ for Maxi competitors the IMA aims with partners and host clubs to standardise documentation including the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. To avoid owners having to adapt their yachts between events for different rules, whether racing, rating or safety rules, the IMA will advise on the latest rule trends and requirements, as well as on how to integrate these rules in the NoRs and SIs. To advise on class and sub-class splits – IMA staff not only have good experience in this area but also in most cases the IMA technical staff know not just the yachts but also the owners and crews of the yachts racing at events... and their preferences. Vice versa, owners and crews know the IMA technical staff. Generally this helps to keep disputes factual and short. Not that we can always please all, but we can and
will take responsibility for choices made. The aim being to create fair and competitive racing within the constraints of the number and type of Maxi entries. To help owners and teams where we can the IMA secretariat is available all year round to deal with Maxi event-related questions from owners and teams and to streamline requests and answers with its many host clubs.
The IMA now works more closely than ever with its partners on issues like Maxi race management, from preferred staff to preferred race formats, course configurations and lengths, safety, wind limits etc. The IMA now advises on quality and choice of race committee and jury members as well as other important staff in areas like measurement and safety checks. Upon request the IMA will consider contracting and supplying staff in these areas. The main criteria are that key staff are of a high level and used to running Maxi events, that they work as a team and are able to communicate in the event’s official language(s). The IMA will today also consider helping source, perhaps sometimes supplying, essen- tial equipment such as regatta marks, nowadays including, and cer- tainly useful for venues with excessive depth, robot sailing buoys. Finally, we all like to see, and even better to receive, high-quality trophies. The new perpetual Maxi Challenge trophies are a good example of the IMA’s ‘trophy philosophy’, longterm and high-quality recognition of the individual winners as well as Maxi sailing in general.
Then of course we all like to party. As with all events and trophies it takes time to build traditions, the same goes for IMA parties! The association’s longest party tradition for sure is the annual IMA members’ dinner, taking place during the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. But we have also had wonderful ‘open’ parties in magnificent places like Capri, Palma Mallorca and Saint-Tropez.
Parties, great locations, beautiful boats and all the people I got to know over the decades of sailing, and now close to 10 years with the IMA. For sure they make it a job hard to retire from… Hope to see many of you in 2022. Best wishes, not just to keep sailing but if you can, sail a little more! Rob Weiland, TP52 and Maxi72 class manager
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SEAHORSE 41
Photo © Max Ranchi
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