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Page 1: The Crown in Sailing 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L R O L E X YA C H T I N G P O R T F O L I O 2 0 1 2

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Driven by a passion for excellence and an appreciation for yachting, Rolex is proud to be a major force at play behind the sport’s finest

events, competitors and organisations.

Its primary associations are with the classic offshore races, select championships and the Maxi class of yachts, where the world’s top sailors

race aboard today’s most competitive craft.

Off the water, Rolex participates in the development of yachting through its support of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the sport’s governing body,

and the annual ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, which recognise male and female sailors who have distinguished themselves over the course of a year.

Rolex has also cultivated close relationships with the most prestigious yacht clubs around the world, and, as part of its Testimonee programme, counts among its ranks a number of exemplary

sailors admired by all for their contagious enthusiasm and dedication to the sport.

As the crown in sailing for over fifty years, Rolex is committed to furthering the strong ties that bind these two prestigious worlds in their shared pursuit of greatness.

The Crown in Sailing

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IntroductionThe Crown in Sailing showcases the dynamic calendar of global sailing events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio. Events which are rich in history and always innovative.

Intended as a taster of the portfolio, The Crown in Sailing is rich in imagery and lists "The Essentials" for the major events. A complete calendar is set out at the end of the publication, and the information that precedes it will enable owners, crews and media to grasp the character of each competition. Included are contact details for the organising authorities, who can provide additional information regarding the rules dictating eligible yachts and the format of the regattas and races.

Throughout the year, the multilingual regattanews.com PR platform provides up-to-the-minute news, video, audio and photography. These multimedia elements develop, capture and deliver the spirit, passion and prestige of the Rolex Yachting Portfolio and form the ultimate reference tool.

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Contents4 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

8 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Sydney – Hobart, Australia

12 Rolex Fastnet Race Cowes – Plymouth, UK

16 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Chicago, Illinois, USA

20 Rolex Swan Cup Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

24 Rolex Middle Sea Race Valletta, Malta

28 Giraglia Rolex Cup Saint-Tropez, France – Genoa or San Remo, Italy

30 Rolex Volcano Race Gaeta – Capri, Italy

32 Rolex China Sea Race Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines

34 Portofino Rolex Trophy Portofino, Italy

35 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France

36 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland

38 Rolex Testimonees

41 Yacht Club profiles New York Yacht Club Royal Yacht Squadron Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Royal Ocean Racing Club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Yacht Club Italiano Royal Malta Yacht Club Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club St. Francis Yacht Club Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez

52 Media & Rolex Yachting 53 regattanews.com Virtual Media Centre

54 International Media Contacts

56 Calendar of Rolex Yachting Events

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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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• September 2012

• Location: Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

• Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with the International Maxi Association

• Open to IMA yachts of all categories & IRC rated yachts with an LOA >18.29 metres

• Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship

• Probable classes include Mini Maxi, Maxi, Wally and Supermaxi

• A week of inshore and coastal races

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda+39 0789 [email protected]

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2011 - logo 14.09.2010Ech: noA&F/Evenements/2011/Voile/MaxiYachtCup11/Logo/MaxiYacht11_sans logo_sans txt.eps

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Refinement. Class. Elegance. Prestige. Drama. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is unique in its total embodiment of both intense competition and luxurious lifestyle. Top yachts from all corners of the globe will arrive in the clear turquoise waters off Sardinia to showcase cutting-edge technology and compete on courses that marry idyllic sailing conditions with picture-perfect scenery.

Cutting-edge elegance

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As the pinnacle event of the Mediterranean sailing season, the allure of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is clear. For one week in September, along the Sardinian "Emerald" coast, the world’s most graceful and powerful yachts cut through the Mediterranean with agility, grace and ease. These technologically advanced and stylish craft deserve star-studded attention, and it is no surprise that the cream of world sailing talent is regularly in attendance.

Against a backdrop of raw, wind-blown granite and secluded beaches, imperious Maxi yachts go head to head in pursuit of one of the biggest prizes in sailing. The week is eye-catching in every sense. The changing conditions and intense competition test the crews’ nerve, skill and speed to the utmost. The first-rate contest on the water is always complimented by an equally impressive onshore social calendar, where the host club’s spectacular home exemplifies the class of the event.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup stems from the Maxi World Championship, which was masterminded by the YCCS and first held in Sardinia in 1980. Rolex’s association with the event dates back to 1985.

Eye-catching

in every sense

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• December 2011 – January 2012

• Location: Sydney Harbour – Derwent River, Hobart, Australia

• Course: 628-nautical mile offshore race

• Organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

• Open to monohull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length

• Yachting Australia Special Regulations: Category 1

• Classes include IRC, PHS and ORCi Handicap, plus a Cruising division

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia+61 2 8292 7800sailingoffice@cyca.com.auwww.cyca.com.auwww.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

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The race is famous for its often brutal test of human endeavour. Why would anyone sail south from Sydney in summer when better weather and beaches lie to the north? December is prime holiday season in Sydney, the waterways and beaches crowded, bathed in searing sun. It is the height of summer in Hobart too, but at 42 degrees south, it can be cold, windy and wet at any time of the year.

One of the toughest tests of seamanship in the sport of sailing, the 628-nautical mile course almost always encounters heavy weather conditions somewhere along the way. The fleet skirts the eastern edge of Bass Strait between the mainland and Tasmania; “The Paddock” might be dead calm or spectacularly rough. The seabed rises rapidly at this point from thousands of metres to mere tens of metres, and at this latitude the winds circle the globe relatively unobstructed often driving steep seas before them. When all these elements combine dramatically, a “Bass Strait Bomb” can explode, as in 1998 when tragedy struck.

From the professional sailor to the adventurous Corinthian, from local crews to international teams prepared to travel halfway around the world at Christmas, enthusiasts of all kinds are lured by the challenge and enchanted by the folklore and legend surrounding one of the key races in the annual offshore racing calendar.

With 65 years of tradition, nine degrees of latitude and an estimated 45,000 participants since it began in 1945, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is more than just a yacht race; it is an icon among sporting challenges. It is the single-most watched and recognised sailing event the world over.

examine the limits of endurance

Why sail south

from Sydney in summer?

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RolexFastnet Race

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• August 2013

• Location: Cowes, United Kingdom – Fastnet Rock, Republic of Ireland – Plymouth, United Kingdom

• Course: 608-nautical mile offshore race

• Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Western Yacht Club

• Open to monohull and multihull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length

• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 2 with RORC prescriptions

• Classes include IRC Handicap for monohull and MOCRA for multihulls

Royal Ocean Racing Club+44 20 7493 [email protected] – www.fastnet.rorc.org

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With a course that starts from the birthplace of competitive yachting, passes the "teardrop of Ireland", and finishes at the departure point of the Mayflower, the Rolex Fastnet Race touches the nautical history of the British Isles, and arguably the world, like few other sailing events. An institution since 1925, every racing yachtsman worth his salt cherishes this 608-nautical mile race on his sailing résumé.

A complete trial

of commitment and aptitude

a compelling rite of passage

The course is demanding both mentally and physically. Starting from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, it heads out of The Solent through the Needles Channel, passing the headlands of the English south coast, with their complex tidal gates, before crossing the open waters of the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock, off the southern tip of Ireland, and finishing with a leg to Plymouth via the Scillies: a complete trial of each crew’s commitment and aptitude.

August’s frequent westerly winds are driven by a series of depressions that ride east across the Atlantic. The Rolex Fastnet almost always offers up at least one bout of serious weather, the severity and timing of which, combined with the preparedness of each crew, will usually determine the eventual outcome of the race.

With all yachts handicapped fairly, the Rolex Fastnet does not immediately favour larger or smaller yachts. A crew’s ability to

get the best from their boat is as important as its length. The nature of offshore racing is such that wind conditions will differ over the course throughout the duration of the competition and may prove more helpful to a particular size of yacht – a hazard accepted with equanimity by all participants. Since Rolex first became involved in 2001, the title of overall winner has been claimed by two 70-footers, two 50-footers and a 30-footer.

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Rolex Farr 40 World Championship

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• Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA

• Organised by the Farr 40 Class Association

• Open to all Farr 40 yachts

• Up to ten windward/leeward races over four days

Farr 40 One Design Class Association+1 410 268 [email protected]

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The Farr 40 is a high-performance one design that is fast, user-friendly and benefits from a strong class association. A great deal of thought and experience went into the devel-opment of the 40-foot yacht, built to a strict set of measurements and regulations; its continuing longevity proves the worth of that effort.

The Class attracts highly competitive amateur owners and consummate professionals who savour the tactical challenge

of close-quarter on-the-water combat between evenly-matched boats. The Rolex Farr 40 Worlds throws corporate titans and accomplished sailors into an intense contest, successfully challenging the perception that the two sides of the sport are unable to mix harmoniously.

The event is held in a different venue each year and attracts an international array of keen commercial minds willing to stand at the helm of a 40-foot racing yacht and test their skill against their peers. Racecourse losses and gains are immediately apparent; success and failure easily measured by whether one returns home empty-handed or not. Advised, encouraged and cajoled by a professional tactician, the amateur owner has to listen to a more-experienced teammate in order to triumph.

The races are short, fast and furious. Ten races in four days is a bruising schedule, but it is much more exciting than your average boardroom meeting. Rolex first supported the event in 2001.

Turning the tables on convention

Success and failure

easily measured

The Farr 40 strode into the yacht-racing arena in 1997, an active period in the search for the ultimate grand-prix type yacht. Its timeless, modern design has risen above the norm, outlived expectation, and significantly outlasted its competition. The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship is the pinnacle of the Class’ worldwide racing season.

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Rolex Swan Cup

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• September 2012

• Location: Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

• Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in conjunction with Nautor’s Swan

• Open to all Swan yachts

• Incorporates the Swan 45 World Championship

• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 3 with amendments

• Classes include Maxi, Grand Prix, Classic, Swan 45 One Design and Club Swan 42

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda+39 0789 [email protected]

Nautor’s Swan+39 055 [email protected]

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Nautor’s Swan first came to prominence in the late 1960s, with the launch of the first series produced fibre-class yacht. Every two years, since 1984, the Swan fleet has gathered at its spiritual home at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia where owners, crews and guests meet for a week of frenetic activity on and off the water.

a lasting legacy

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Swans have been the vanguard of haute couture production yacht design for over 40 years. While the world has changed dramatically since the first of its kind emerged from a shipyard in Finland, 250-miles south of the Arctic Circle, two things remain the same: the commitment of the Finnish workforce, proud to be the driving force behind the legend, and the spirit of the yachts’ owners

and crew, honoured to be part of the ongoing legacy.

Over the years, Nautor’s Swan has harnessed the talents of some of the world’s top designers – Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers – together with Finnish boat-building skills, to create a distinctive brand of yacht, recognised the world over for both its aesthetic and sea- going qualities.

The bird from which the marque takes its name displays classic elegance in flight. Closer to the water, the model of deportment remains visible above the surface. Similarly, a Swan yacht takes everything in its stride, whether on the racecourse or at anchor. Life for them is effortless.

Very few types of yacht secure sufficient status and popularity to maintain a dominant position at the forefront of the ever-evolving sailing world. Nautor’s Swan has done just that, and the Rolex Swan Cup is an exhibition series that demonstrates exactly what it takes to create a lasting legacy. Rolex first supported the event in 1984.

The vanguard of haute couture

production yacht design

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Rolex Middle Sea Race

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• October 2012

• Location: Valletta, Malta – Aeolian Islands (Stromboli) – Egadi Islands – Pantelleria – Lampedusa – Valletta, Malta

• Course: 606-nautical mile offshore race

• Organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club in conjunction with the Royal Ocean Racing Club

• Open to monohull and multihull yachts between 30 and 100 feet in length

• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 2

• Classes include IRC and ORC/ORC Club Handicap for monohull and MOCRA for multihull

• One inshore warm-up race off Malta

Royal Malta Yacht Club+356 2133 [email protected]

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If ever there was a racecourse that linked the past with the present, myth with historical fact, natural beauty with man-made wonders, it is the Rolex Middle Sea Race. This 606-nautical mile adventure begins and ends in Malta, a monumental and captivating island, lying halfway between Africa and Europe, Gibraltar and Jerusalem, rightly known as "The Crossroads of Europe".

a mesmerising mosaic

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The Rolex Middle Sea Race is a course that challenges and enthuses a vast array of sailors from the Corinthian adventurer to the hardened professional. This adventure of the seas is not only one of the hardest races to win; it is one of the most trying simply to finish.

The course is a mosaic of the Mediterranean, encompassing imperious landscapes, and historical seas used by every great trading nation, across a unique loop that returns to an archipelago with ruins dating back 7,000 years. The many corners introduce fresh and often unwelcome surprises, a constant challenge for the competitors. Progress is hard to measure given the pitfalls and difficulties provided at every turning point. Participants may not rest on their laurels when trying to master this challenge. The slightest mistake can be harshly punished.

Like all great ocean races, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has its own iconic symbol – the island of Stromboli, home to one of three active volcanoes in Italy. Forming

part of the UNESCO-protected Aeolian Islands, this "geological lighthouse" has been in almost constant eruption for some 20,000 years. Crews are regularly transfixed by the spectacular night-time eruptions. Stromboli’s temperamental nature is a rather poignant microcosm of the race. Rolex first supported the event in 2002.

The slightest mistake

can be harshly punished

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Giraglia Rolex Cup

The mesmerising combination of the oldest offshore sailing event in the Mediterranean and the captivating beauty of the French and Italian Riviera has ensured that the Giraglia Rolex Cup has left an indelible mark on yachting and the imagination of sailors throughout the world. From humble beginnings in 1953, "the Giraglia" has evolved into a mammoth competition. 2012 marks the 60th edition.

243-nautical miles, two countries, one race

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From humble beginnings,

to a mammoth competition

The Giraglia Rolex Cup runs for a full week every June, comprising three days of inshore racing before the start of the famed offshore

classic – a 243-nautical mile battle for supremacy on a compelling course. The offshore race departs from the quaint harbour of Saint-Tropez, passes the Giraglia Rock, one of sailing’s most distinguishable turning points, and ends with the more unpredictable segment of the adventure – the leg into the Ligurian coast.

The Rock, the course’s iconic landmark, is treated with affection and trepidation in equal measure. Like the sea around it, it is an exposed and often desolate place. Due to its navigational importance, many attempts were made to illuminate it and make it safe for unsuspecting navigators. Today, the rock’s powerful, automated lighthouse stands as a testament to the men involved. Once a year, this beacon of the sea has the pleasure of observing elite sailing talent passing by to pay homage. Rolex first supported the Giraglia Rolex Cup in 1997.

• June 2012

• Location: Saint-Tropez, France – La Fourmigue – La Giraglia – Genoa or San Remo, Italy

• Course: 243-nautical mile offshore race

• Organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in conjunction with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France

• Open to all monohull yachts over 30 feet in length

• Probable classes include IRC and ORC/ORC Club Handicap

• Three days inshore racing in the Bay of Saint-Tropez

Yacht Club Italiano+39 010 [email protected]

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Rolex Volcano Race Part of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week

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• May 2012

• Location: Leg 1: Gaeta – Capri, Italy Leg 2: Capri – Aeolian Islands – Capri, Italy

• Course: 400-nautical mile offshore race with stopover

• Organised by the International Maxi Association in conjunction with the Yacht Club Capri and the Yacht Club Gaeta EVS

• Open to IMA yachts of all categories & IRC rated yachts with an LOA >18.29 metres

International Maxi Association+39 347 4413194 info@internationalmaxiassociation.comwww.internationalmaxiassociation.com

Volcanic passions

The course is fascinating. Set against the region’s imposing volcanoes, the backdrop menaces and mesmerises, offering a poignant reminder of nature’s might. The Aeolian Islands, named after the Greek demigod Aeolus, the "Keeper of the Winds" in The Odyssey, are listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sailors from all over the world have long been drawn to the captivating island of Capri. An historic Italian outpost, it rises nearly 600 metres from cobalt blue waters and exhibits its own micro-climate, creating a unique sailing environment with spectacular views.

More than just a race, the Rolex Volcano Race is designed to take the Maxi crews on a journey, a quest to keep the lead in a setting that has been shared and loved for centuries, not only by sailors, but emperors, politicians, thespians and glitterati.

In 2011, a new offshore sailing event was created: the Rolex Volcano Race. This 400-nautical mile offshore race for monohull Maxi yachts forms part of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week. The two-legged race starts in Gaeta, just north of Naples, and following an overnight stopover in Capri, takes the fleet around two magnificent archipelagos in the central and southern Tyrrhenian Sea – the Pontine Islands and the Aeolian Islands, including the active volcano of Stromboli – before returning to Capri.

A unique sailing environment

with spectacular views

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• April 2012

• Location: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines

• Course: 565-nautical mile offshore race

• Organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in conjunction with the Manila Yacht Club and the Subic Bay Yacht Club

• Open to monohull and multihull yachts over 10 metres in length (LOA)

• ISAF Offshore Special Regulations: Category 1

• Classes include IRC Handicap and Cruising for monohull yachts, and a Multihull division

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club+852 2832 2817 [email protected]

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Rolex China Sea RaceSailing an ever-changing landscape

The Rolex China Sea Race, a biennial calendar highlight on the Asian sailing circuit, capitalises on Hong Kong’s distinctive energy. The race start is in Victoria Harbour, Causeway Bay, surrounded by the city’s impressive high-rise panorama. From there, the course heads 565-nautical miles offshore to Subic Bay, in the Philippines, through the South China Sea.

First run in 1962, the Rolex China Sea Race today is considered by many to be the ultimate Asian blue-water sailing event. The race is tactically challenging throughout and navigators and crews do their best to determine the optimum route. The lumpy seas and stiff breeze often encountered the first night out of Hong Kong are not for the faint- hearted. Approaching the Philippines, the unpredictable coastal wind typically tries to ensnare competitors with inconvenient "holes" on their way into the finish. From the ultra-big city to a quiet beach town, this is a race where overall victory may be won or lost at any point on the course.

Hong Kong: this international capital of cultural fusion is big, busy and alive. Skyscraper after skyscraper line the horizon, an ever-changing landscape that reflects the pace of life in this modern metropolis. And while sailing may be considered a developing sport in the Far East, maritime influences have long infiltrated life in Hong Kong.

The ultimate Asian

blue-water sailing event

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Vintage excellence

Considered to be one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports, Portofino is a small fishing village that is known, along with its charming colours and cobblestone piazzetta, as a place of elegance, fine Italian dining and majestic sea views. Once a year, this picturesque port hosts the Portofino Rolex Trophy, a series of races dedicated to the barca d’epoca (classic yachts), which have played an essential role in the history of sailing.

This regatta unites a number of the world’s classic yachts in one of Italy’s most iconic locations for some vintage racing. The action primarily takes place in the Marconi Gulf, part of the Ligurian coastline, famous as a popular yachting destination and protected natural park. The event also hosts a series of onshore activities, including

an exhibition of historic wooden Olympic classes in the main square of Portofino and, the highlight of the social calendar, the Rolex Dinner Party held at La Cervara, an historic Benedictine abbey situated in the hills between Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure.

This is an event where yacht racing and history fuse within a convivial setting, forming the perfect weekend escape with a reminder of decades past. Rolex has supported the event since its founding in 2009.

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• May 2012• Location: Portofino, Italy• Organised by the Yacht Club Italiano

in collaboration with the Circolo Velico of Santa Margherita Ligure

• Open to wooden yachts from the following classes: J Class, 12-Metre, 8-Metre, 6-Metre, 5.50-Metre

• Three days of inshore racing

Yacht Club Italiano+39 [email protected] – www.yci.it

Portofino Rolex Trophy

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One last round of warm-weather racing

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is an event of mixed emotions, as the magnificence of the past comes face to face with the cutting-edge of the present. The town of Saint-Tropez has a strong connection to the sea, perpetuated by the artists and yachtsmen that fill the Vieux Port. In late autumn, this chic harbour goes back in time with Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, an annual regatta that welcomes over 300 vessels for one last round of warm-weather sailing.

Both modern and classic boats are welcome. As summer slowly ends, the fleet takes to the Mediterranean waters, displaying a spectacular contrast of varnished wood and carbon-fibre. During this classic, traditional refinement and modern functionality feature on the bay of Saint-Tropez, united by a common passion: the sea and sailing.

This regatta is an opportunity to travel through sailing history. Enthusiast or not, one cannot help but admire the lovingly-maintained classic vessels and those who work to keep them racing in the modern world. When the fleet sets sail the bay is awash with a display of vintage and modern-day craft, both part of the story that is brought to life in Saint-Tropez. Rolex has supported the event since 2006.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

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• September – October 2012• Location: Saint-Tropez, France• Organised by the Société Nautique

de Saint-Tropez• Classes include: Modern, Spirit of Tradition

and Tradition• Six days of inshore racing

Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez+33 4 94 97 30 [email protected]

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Every November, ISAF holds its Annual Conference, during which time the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards also take place. The Awards are recognised as the highest honour a sailor may achieve in recognition of outstanding achievement in the world of sailing. Launched in 1994, they are presented following a worldwide selection process that begins with an open invitation for nominations, followed by a vote among the MNAs. Two awards, one for a female sailor/crew and one for a male sailor/crew, are presented to the individuals who have distinguished themselves over the course of a year.

The recipients of the Awards are drawn from the diverse disciplines of the sport: Olympic dinghy and keel-boats, single-handed ocean racing, transatlantic record breaking, match-racing, America’s Cup and windsurfing are all represented. Rolex has sponsored the Awards since 2001 and, in addition to the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Trophy, each winner is presented with a prestigious Rolex timepiece.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing and celebrated its centenary year in 2007. Made up of over 130 Member National Authorities (MNAs), ISAF is collectively responsible for the decision-making that governs the sailing world. There are currently more than 95 ISAF International, Recognised and Classic Yacht Classes, ranging from small dinghy classes up to 60 foot ocean racers.

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards

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• November 2012

• Dun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland

• Open invitation for nominations

• Shortlist of nominations voted on by the 137 member nations of ISAF

• The criterion for nomination: "outstanding achievement" in the period of 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012

International Sailing Federation+44 2380 [email protected]/worldsailor

Recognition of

outstanding achievement

Past Winners Male Female

2010 Tom Slingsby (AUS) Blanca Manchón (ESP)

2009 Torben Grael (BRA) Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)

2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Alessandra Sensini (ITA)

2007 Ed Baird (USA) Claire Leroy (FRA)

2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL) Paige Railey (USA)

2005 Fernando Echavarri & Antón Paz (ESP) Ellen MacArthur (GBR)

2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA) Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)

2003 Russell Coutts (SUI) Siren Sundby (NOR)

2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)

2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA) Ellen MacArthur (GBR)

2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA) Shirley Robertson (GBR)

1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) Margriet Matthijsse (NED)

1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR) Carolijn Brouwer (NED)

1997 Pete Goss (GBR) Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)

1996 Jochen Schümann (GER) Lee Lai Shan (HKG)

1995 Russell Coutts (NZL) Isabelle Autissier (FRA)

1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Theresa Zabell (ESP) Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR)

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Rolex SailingTestimonees

The name Rolex is synonymous with performance and pioneering spirit. Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, had the brilliant idea to equip Mercedes Gleitze with a Rolex Oyster when she swam the English Channel in 1927. Her Rolex survived the ten-hour swim in perfect working condition and Ms. Gleitze became the brand’s first Testimonee – a witness to the watch’s uncompromised performance.

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From then on, the advances of the Oyster would be inextricably linked to sportsmen and women excelling in disciplines that were new at the time, like aviation, automobile racing or mountaineering. In 1933 Stewart Blacker flew over Everest; in 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell broke the land speed record in his bolide Bluebird; in 1947, pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier; and in 1953, in an expedition led by Brigadier John Hunt, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay became the first to conquer Everest.

Today Rolex counts a number of exemplary sailors as part of its Testimonee programme, supporting individuals who practise the sport in a spirit and manner admired by all.

They include:• Denmark’s Paul Elvström, the legendary regatta winner with four Olympic gold medals and nineteen medals in world championships. Elvström is today considered an icon;• American Paul Cayard who has participated six times in the America’s Cup, twice in the Olympic Games and has won seven world titles in sailing. He has also participated in two Round the World Races, winning in 1998;• Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, a four-time Olympic medallist with two golds and two silvers accumulated over four consecutive games since 1996, who is also a two-time winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor Award;• American sailor Gary Jobson, Ted Turner’s tactician when Courageous won the America’s Cup in 1977, who is now a highly respected sports journalist. He was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in 2003.

An image of

excellence

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the submariner

EvEry rolEx is madE for grEatnEss. thE submarinEr, introducEd

in 1953, was thE first watch to bE watEr rEsistant up to 100

mEtrEs. it was latEr strEngthEnEd by its patEntEd triplE-sEal

triplock winding crown, making it capablE of withstanding dEpths

of up to 300 mEtrEs.

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A crucial part of Rolex’s involvement in sailing is its privileged alliance with the best-known yacht clubs around the world. This close collaboration, forged through shared values and mutual respect, has encouraged the development, organisation and promotion of today’s leading offshore races and regattas worldwide.

Yacht Club profiles

the submariner

EvEry rolEx is madE for grEatnEss. thE submarinEr, introducEd

in 1953, was thE first watch to bE watEr rEsistant up to 100

mEtrEs. it was latEr strEngthEnEd by its patEntEd triplE-sEal

triplock winding crown, making it capablE of withstanding dEpths

of up to 300 mEtrEs.

CrownSailing2012_ENG_0711.indd 1 01.07.11 16:54

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new York Yacht Club

The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) was founded in 1844 when nine New York yachtsmen met aboard John Cox Stevens’s yacht. Three days later the group cruised to Newport, Rhode Island, and the Annual Cruise has been a fixture ever since. A year later what would become the NYYC Annual Regatta was first sailed. The NYYC has grown significantly from its early days, to a membership of some 3,200.

The first clubhouse opened in 1845 in Hoboken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River. In 1898, J. Pierpont Morgan donated land on West 44th Street to enable construction of new premises. The building, designed in the beaux-arts style by Whitney Warren, opened in 1901 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

The NYYC has played a significant part in the history of world yacht racing, both inshore with its Annual Regatta, its Race Week and the recently-initiated Invitational

Cup, all currently supported by Rolex, as well as with its offshore programme. The club hosted the first transatlantic race in 1866, started the most famous edition in 1905, and co-hosted the most recent version in 2011.

From 1851 until 1983, the NYYC held the longest winning streak in sport as holder of the America’s Cup, but it was not until 1987 that the NYYC acquired its second clubhouse, Harbour Court, on-the-water in Newport. It is a magnificent edifice that has cemented the NYYC’s prominence in the global constellation of yacht clubs.

New York Yacht ClubNew York, NY, USA+1 212 [email protected]

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Royal Yacht Squadron

The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) was founded in St James’s, London, in 1815. For a gentleman to become a member, the requirement was "ownership of a vessel not under 10 tons". Today this is interpreted as a gentleman "actively interested in yachting".

The RYS clubhouse at The Castle in Cowes is a familiar sight for any approaching yachtsman. It has been the club’s headquarters since 1858, shortly after The Castle was decommissioned as a military establishment.

An association with British royalty began with George IV, and, in 1833, the Club became the Royal Yacht Squadron under William IV’s command. The association is continued today by HM The Queen as patron and HRH Prince Philip, the Squadron's Admiral, a former Commodore and a keen yachtsman.

The RYS’s history is a long one: in 1826, regular racing commenced, the 1830s saw the first ocean race,

and, in the 1840s, the first American member was admitted. In 1851, a race around the Isle of Wight for a 100 sovereign (£100) cup was opened to foreign yachts, won by America and has since become one of the most sought after prizes in sport.

Today, The Castle and the red and the white striped roof of its Platform, are known throughout the world, and the club's start line has seen the beginning and end of many of the world's greatest yacht races, including the Rolex Fastnet.

Royal Yacht SquadronCowes, Isle of Wight, UK+44 1983 [email protected]

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Cruising Yacht Club of australia

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is regarded as one of Australia’s premier yacht clubs. Located in Rushcutters Bay on Sydney Harbour since 1951, the CYCA was established in 1944 following a meeting at a photography studio belonging to one of the founder’s fathers.

Originally an association of cruising enthusiasts, the CYCA initially had no clubhouse, but members still met regularly to discuss nautical matters and organise short cruises and races along the New South Wales Coast. Over the subsequent 67 years, the CYCA developed into Australia’s leading exponent of ocean racing and now has 2,700 members.

The CYCA established its position of authority early on when, in 1945, a group of members were discussing the possibility of a cruise to Hobart over Christmas. When

asked to join, British Royal Navy Officer John Illingworth, a highly regarded offshore yachtsman, supposedly replied: "I will, if you make a race of it." This response helped found the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Australia’s most famous offshore race, quickly captivating the public’s imagination and setting the CYCA on its current course.

While the CYCA is most widely known for its annual race south, members also enjoy being part of an active club with state-of-the-art facilities, an extensive year-round sailing programme, a remarkable Youth Sailing Academy and an international reputation.

Cruising Yacht Club of AustraliaSydney, New South Wales, Australia+61 [email protected]

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Royal Ocean Racing Club

The Ocean Racing Club was formed immediately following the completion of the first Fastnet Race in 1925. Its brief was "to encourage long distance yacht racing and the design, building and navigation in which speed and seaworthiness are combined", something that it has done with alacrity ever since.

The now biennial Rolex Fastnet Race has become an institution and treasured fixture in the sporting calendar. From the seven yachts that completed the first edition, to the 300 boats and over 2,500 competitors that regularly take part in this exhilarating and challenging 608-nautical mile race from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock, the race is a genuine master class in sporting endeavour.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) – King George V, an active yachtsman, granted the "Royal" application in 1931 – has been a pioneer in the sport, not only organising and promoting offshore

racing activities, but also in developing standards of excellence, particularly in regard to safety issues. The RORC’s span of activities has a global scope – it is at the forefront of race management and in the development and administration of rating rules for racing yachts around the world.

The RORC’s principal clubhouse is in St James’s Place, London, which it moved into in 1942, after its previous premises had been destroyed during the Second World War. With over 85 years of proud history, the RORC is a truly international yacht club comprising approximately 3,300 members from 54 different countries.

Royal Ocean Racing ClubLondon, UK+44 (0)20 7493 [email protected]

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Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

Originally founded in 1967 by three sailing enthusiasts and H.H. the Aga Khan, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is one of the most beautiful yacht clubs in the world. Nautical influence is felt throughout the clubhouse, following an extensive renovation in 2003 led by New York architect Peter Marino. Long, teak interior floorboards remind one of looking down the deck of a yacht. The view from the main bar’s balcony gives a feeling of floating out to sea. The YCCS clubhouse stands like a command ship guarding the harbour in which it lies.

Nestled on Sardinia’s northeastern "Emerald Coast", across the water from the small village of Porto Cervo, the YCCS has fewer than 500 members and visitors regularly include kings, queens, sports stars and celebrities. The club will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2012, and, although relatively young in comparison to many other

sporting organisations, is one of the primary promoters of competitive offshore sailing in Italy and the Mediterranean.

The YCCS is a compelling place to spend time. Porto Cervo’s marinas are built to accommodate grand vessels and berth some of the world’s most luxurious yachts during regattas such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup or the Rolex Swan Cup. To complete the picture, the surrounding sea and La Maddalena archipelago, peppered with rocky outcrops, islets and islands are regarded amongst the yachting fraternity as some of the most entertaining and challenging waters in the world.

Yacht Club Cost SmeraldaPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy+39 0789 [email protected]

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Yacht Club italiano

Founded in 1879, the Yacht Club Italiano (YCI) is a veritable institution in Mediterranean sailing. Its prestigious reputation is the result of its eminent role in organising national and international regattas, promoting the education of young sailors and founding the Federazione Italiana Vela (Italian Sailing Federation).

The incredible efforts of the late Beppe Croce helped the club and Italy ascend to the permanent committee of the IYRU (now known as ISAF – sailing’s international sports federation – of which the same Croce was President for 17 years). Members of the YCI have enjoyed success on the world stage, with the club having competed at the Olympic Games, the America’s Cup and the like. Today the yacht club has 1,200 members and there are nearly 300 yachts that fly its colours.

The YCI is largely responsible for the inception and running of what

is now the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The event came to life when Beppe Croce, René Levainville, Fernand Rouff and Miguel Sans Mora, members of the Yacht Club Italiano and the Yacht Club de France, met in a Paris bistro in January 1953. The joint aim of this rendezvous was to create an occasion that would dually aid the reparation of French and Italian relations after the Second World War, and raise the level of sailing competition in the Mediterranean. Five months later, "the Giraglia" was born.

Yacht Club ItalianoGenoa, Italy+39 010 [email protected]

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Royal Malta Yacht ClubThe Royal Malta Yacht Club

(RMYC) is one of Europe’s oldest yacht clubs and a founding member of the Malta Sailing Federation. Rumours suggest the origins of club date back to 1835. Records show that the British Admiralty formally acknowledged an iteration in 1873 and in 1921 the Malta Yacht Club name appeared for the first time. Fourteen years later, this club was permanently granted the "Royal" affix.

The story of Malta is reflected in the RMYC’s varied premises. In 2009, it acquired a permanent base in Ta’Xbiex, with views over Marsamxett Harbour, Fort Manoel and Valletta. The membership of 550 is currently developing a world-class facility worthy of this historic organisation.

It is only fitting that the Rolex Middle Sea Race, one of the most acclaimed offshore races in the sailing calendar, is organised by the RMYC. The two are intrinsically linked, as the founders of the event were all members of the club. Two Englishmen residing in Malta –

Jimmy White and Alan Green – and two Maltese – brothers Paul and John Ripard – sought to turn their passion for the sea into a more concrete, competitive challenge.

The four intrepid sailors mapped a challenging offshore course similar in length to the famed Rolex Fastnet and, although the race is now run anti-clockwise, the resulting course was the same shape as the one used today.

It is no coincidence that the Rolex Middle Sea Race was formed by a mix of British and Maltese sailors. The desire to promote harmonious integration between the island’s two communities has always been an intrinsic part of the RMYC.

Royal Malta Yacht ClubTa’ Xbiex Seafront, Malta+356 2133 [email protected]

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Royal hong Kong Yacht ClubThe first recorded yacht racing

in Hong Kong was organised by the Victoria Regatta Club which held its first meeting in October 1849. The club hosted regattas and other races sporadically until 1890. A few years later, the Hong Kong Corinthian Sailing Club was formed by yachtsmen searching for better management of local racing and in 1894, this new club was granted a warrant and blue ensign by the British Admiralty, becoming the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC).

Now established as one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Hong Kong, the RHKYC has evolved into a multi-faceted and cosmopolitan organisation and its membership enjoys a comprehensive range of facilities, both afloat and ashore. Kellett Island, in Causeway Bay, is the club's principal base and the premises have been the site of huge changes over the years. Once a simple clubhouse with moorings, the site now boasts lavish facilities

and the Clubhouse exudes elegance and comfort throughout.

This, together with its impressive sailing and rowing calendar, fits the club's vision of being a "premier international yachting and rowing club". The RHKYC’s sailing season runs from September to May and includes weekly racing at one or more of its clubhouses, as well as several larger local and offshore races and regattas.

Rolex began its association with the RHKYC and its flagship event, the Rolex China Sea Race, in 2007. This classic Asian blue-water race celebrates its 26th edition in 2012.

Royal Hong Kong Yacht ClubKellett Island, Causeway Bay Hong Kong+852 2832 2817 [email protected]

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St. Francis Yacht ClubWith over 40 sailing events on its

annual calendar, and home to the West Coast's premier regatta, the Rolex Big Boat Series, the St. Francis Yacht Club is widely regarded as having one of the best racing programmes and race management in North America. Furthermore, few yacht clubs around the world can boast a location as majestic, given the club's picture-postcard view of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The club was founded in 1927 and the original St. Francis clubhouse was completed just ahead of the Depression. Today, hardly anything remains of the original building, fire and earthquake saw to that, but the existing structure befits this prestigious organisation.

The club inaugurated its Perpetual Trophy Regatta in 1963, and this annual September gathering has

grown into its signature event – the Big Boat Series. This grand-prix racing regatta, now in its 47th year, attracts top competitors and boats from across the US and abroad. In 2005, Rolex became title sponsor of this prestigious event, which comprises extremely competitive one-design and handicap racing.

Members of the club come from all walks of life and include top professionals, club racers and family cruisers. One of St. Francis Yacht Club's most famous sons is sailing icon, and Rolex Testimonee, Paul Cayard.

St. Francis Yacht ClubSan Francisco, CA, USA+1 415 [email protected]

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Société nautique de Saint-TropezThe Société Nautique de Saint-

Tropez is one of the most active clubs in the Mediterranean, involved in the organisation of more than 15 sailing events throughout the year, most notably Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

The history of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez dates back to April 1866, when the participation of the "Regatta Society" was mentioned in the social programme for the inauguration of the statue of Bailli de Suffren, a famous Tropezian patriot whose monument stands in the port. The President, Martin de Roquebrune, lodged the articles of association for the club in 1894 at the Saint-Tropez town hall and, in 1899, the newspaper Le Yacht officially announced the creation of the Société Nautique et Sportive de Saint-Tropez. Today the main activities of the club, which has over 500 members, involve a

range of nautical sporting pursuits, from regattas to fishing.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is the last major rendezvous of the Mediterranean sailing season, and was first run thirty years ago as La Nioulargue. This regatta gathers together extraordinary modern sailing boats alongside beautiful traditional yachts. A host of racers and sailing enthusiasts come from all the corners of the globe to do battle in the bay of Saint-Tropez.

Société Nautique de Saint-TropezSaint-Tropez, France+33 4 94 97 30 [email protected]

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Media andRolex yachting

Sailing offers a host of perspectives and attracts people from all walks of life for a multitude of reasons: competition, camaraderie, adventure, business, technology, nature and lifestyle are but a few of the driving forces.

The events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio inspire and encourage a vision beyond the yachts and those who sail them. Images and anecdotes from the events provide the perfect opportunity for engaging audiences interested not only in the sport but also in the ambiance that accompanies Rolex sailing.

Media Services• qualified,multilingualmediateamoperatingyear-round

• regattanews.comVirtualMediaCentre(see facing page)

• copyright-freeinformation,images,video,featuresandaudiointerviews

• professionallystaffedandequippedmediacentres

• guidanceonimageselection,storyanglesandinterviewopportunities

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regattanews.comVirtual Media Centre

regattanews.com is the comprehensive media source for the events that form the Rolex Yachting Portfolio. Incorporating media-driven features, regattanews.com is the reference point.

The regattanews.com Virtual Media Centre includes:

• Imagegalleriescontainingtop-qualityphotography.Subscribedand approved media may download these high-resolution images copyright-free for editorial use

• Videohighlightsplusfeature-basedcontent

• Pressreleases,deliveredinnumerouslanguages

• Exclusivescene-settingsidestories

• Pre-andpost-raceaudiointerviewswithcompetitors

• Broadcast-qualityvideonewsreleases

• Directaccesstotheregattanews.comsocialmediaplatforms–

and

• regattanews.comiPhoneandiPadapplicationsofferingaccesstoall online content

• regattanews.comRSSfeed

• Akeywordandtagsearchfacility

• Thecompleteeventcalendar,enablingrapidaccesstothedesiredcompetition

• Registrationpagewheremediamaysubscribetoregattanews.comandcustomise the service according to their unique needs

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UK & iRelandGiles PearmanKey Partners (KPMS)20, Av. Edouard-DuboisCH - 2000 NeuchâtelSwitzerlandM. +41 79 348 00 23F. +41 32 724 28 33E. [email protected]

SPainJavier SobrinoKey Partners (KPMS)C/ María Auxiliadora, 436202 VigoT. +34 986 441 001M. +34 6 298 936 37F. +34 986 225 981E. [email protected]

iTalYantonella asnaghi & associati Via Giacomo Leopardi 1420123 MilanoT. +39 02 480 08 294F. +39 02 439 16 618E. [email protected]

FRanCeThomas CampionAgence Olivia Payerne 1, boulevard Jean-Jaurès 92100 Boulogne BillancourtT. +33 1 460 408 62M. +33 6 135 25 795F. +33 1 460 414 60E. [email protected]. [email protected]

GeRManYAndreas KlingFöhrdener Strasse 625563 WristT. +49 4822 360 900M. +49 172 257 8817F. +49 4822 360 901E. [email protected]

USaSusan Maffei PlowdenKey Partners (KPMS)45 Calvert PlaceJamestown | RI 02835M. +1 401 855 0234E. [email protected]

Barby MacGowan (US Events) Media Pro International41 Memorial Blvd.Newport | RI 02840T. +1 401 849 0220M. +1 401 225 0249F. +1 401 847 4535E. [email protected]

aUSTRaliaLisa RatcliffOCC – On Course CommunicationsPO Box 1385Mona Vale NSW 1660 T. + 61 418 428 511 E. [email protected]

international media contacts

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inTeRnaTiOnal Media inFORMaTiOn

Key Partners (KPMS)20, Av. Edouard-DuboisCH - 2000 NeuchâtelSwitzerlandT. +41 32 724 28 29F. +41 32 724 28 33E. [email protected]. www.regattanews.com

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2012

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht RaceSydney – Hobart, Australia | December 2011 – January 2012

An annual 628-nautical mile offshore race for monohull yachts from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, Tasmania.CruisingYachtClubofAustralia–T.+61282927800– [email protected] – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex CupBuenos Aires, Argentina – Punta del Este, Uruguay | January 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for monohull yachts. The event includes a 165-nautical mile offshore race.YachtClubArgentino–T.+541143140505–[email protected]– www.yca.org.ar

Rolex Miami OCRMiami, FL, USA | January 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for Olympic class boats that forms part of the annual ISAF Sailing World Cup.US Sailing – +1 401 683 0800 – [email protected] – rmocr.ussailing.org

International Rolex RegattaSt. Thomas, US Virgin Islands | March 2012

An annual three-day regatta for One Design and handicap monohull and multihull classes.St.ThomasYachtClub–T.+13407756320–[email protected]–www.rolexcupregatta.com

Calendar of Rolex yachting events

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Rolex China Sea RaceVictoria Harbour, Hong Kong – Subic Bay, Philippines | April 2012

A biennial 565-nautical mile race for monohull and multihull yachts from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, through the South China Sea to the finish in Subic Bay. RoyalHongKongYachtClub–T.+85228322817–[email protected]– www.rhkyc.org.hk

Portofino Rolex TrophyPortofino, Italy | May 2012

An annual three-day regatta for wooden examples of the classic Metre classes. YachtClubItaliano–T.+390102461206–[email protected]–www.yci.it

Rolex Volcano Race Gaeta – Capri, Italy | May 2012

The Rolex Volcano Race is an annual 400-nautical mile offshore race for Maxi yachts. The first leg is from Gaeta to Capri. The second leg is from Capri around the Aeolian Islands and back to Capri.IMA–T.+393474413194–[email protected]– www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

Giraglia Rolex CupSaint-Tropez, France – Genoa or San Remo, Italy | June 2012

An annual weeklong competition that comprises three days of inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez and a 243-nautical mile offshore race to the Ligurian coast via La Fourmigue and La Giraglia.YachtClubItaliano–T.+390102461206–[email protected]–www.yci.it

Rolex Baltic WeekKiel, Germany | June –July 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for classic yachts. In 2012 the event will be organised by the Kieler Yacht Club.KielerYachtClub–T.+4943185021–[email protected]–www.kyc.de

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Rolex Ilhabela Sailing WeekIlhabela, São Paulo, Brazil | July 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for monohull yachts competing in One Design and ORCi handicap classes.YachtClubIhlabela–T.+551138845313–[email protected]– www.risw.com.br

New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by RolexNewport, RI, USA | July 2012

A biennial race week with One Design, Classic, and PHRF handicap classes during the first half, and IRC handicap racing during the second half.NewYorkYachtClub–T.+12123821000–[email protected]– www.nyyc.org

Maxi Yacht Rolex CupPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for Maxi yachts over 60 feet/18.29 metres and which includes the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship 2012.YachtClubCostaSmeralda–T.+390789902200–[email protected]–www.yccs.it

Rolex Big Boat SeriesSan Francisco, CA, USA | September 2012

An annual four-day regatta for monohull yachts of 35 feet and above. Participation is by invitation and entrants are divided into One Design and IRC Handicap classes.St.FrancisYachtClub–T.+14155636363–[email protected]– www.stfyc.com

Rolex Farr 40 World ChampionshipChicago, IL, USA | September 2012

An annual four-day championship for the Farr 40 One Design class. The venue changes each year.Farr40ClassAssociation–T.+14102681001–[email protected]– www.farr40.org

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Rolex Swan CupPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy | September 2012

A biennial weeklong regatta for yachts built by Nautor’s Swan. The 2012 Swan 45 World Championship will take place within the event.YachtClubCostaSmeralda–T.+390789902200–[email protected]–www.yccs.it

Les Voiles de Saint-TropezSaint-Tropez, France | September – October 2012

An annual weeklong regatta for Modern, Sprit of Tradition and Tradition yachts. The Rolex Trophy is awarded to the best performing yacht over 16 metres in the Tradition class.Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez – T. +33 4 94 97 30 54 – [email protected] – www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr

Rolex Middle Sea RaceValletta, Malta | October 2012

An annual 606-nautical mile offshore race for monohulls and multihulls from Malta, anti-clockwise around Sicily, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, finishing in Malta.RoyalMaltaYachtClub–T.+35621333109–[email protected]– www.rolexmiddlesearace.com

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year AwardsDun Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland | November 2012

These annual awards recognise the top male and female sailor in the world. The winners are selected by the 137 ISAF Member National Authorities from a field of nominees. The venue for the Awards ceremony changes each year.International Sailing Federation – T. + 44 2380 635111 – [email protected] – www.sailing.org/worldsailor

For the complete Rolex yachting

calendar please visit www.regattanews.com

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2013 Biennial events

Block Island Race Week presented by RolexBlock Island, RI, USA | June 2013

A biennial weeklong regatta for monohull yachts of greater than 24 feet competing in One Design, and IRC and PHRF handicap classes.StormTrysailClub–T.+19148348857–[email protected]– www.blockislandraceweek.com

Rolex Fastnet RaceCowes – Plymouth, UK | August 2013

A biennial 608-nautical mile offshore race for monohull and multihull yachts from Cowes across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock and back to the finish in Plymouth.RoyalOceanRacingClub–T.+442074932248–[email protected]– www.rorc.org

New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by RolexNewport, RI, USA | September 2013

A biennial four-day regatta, where entry is by invitation only to a number of the world's pre-eminent yacht clubs. The regatta format is fleet racing in Swan 42 Class yachts.NewYorkYachtClub–T.+12123821000–[email protected]– www.nyyc.org

iMPReSSUMPublisher: Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland

Conception and coordination: KeyPartnersMarketingServicesSàrl,Neuchâtel,Switzerland

Design and art direction: KeyPartnersMarketingServicesSàrl,PatrickBachmann

Engraving and production: Courvoisier-Attinger,Biel,Switzerland

Photographs: CarloBorlenghi/DanielForster/KurtArrigo

© Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland

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the yacht-master ii

E v Er y r ol E x i s m a d E for g r E atnE s s . thE yacht- m a s tEr i i

has bEEn dEsignEd to mEEt thE nEEds of profEssional sailors.

it is thE world’s first complication built with a patEntEd

programmablE countdown and mEchanical mEmory, Ensuring

pErfEct synchronisation with thE start timE of any rEgatta.

CrownSailing2012_ENG_0711.indd 2 01.07.11 16:55

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