Maxi

Maxi

11 Seasons

The term maxi originated with the International Offshore Rule (IOR) rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a single-number rating to each boat. This number was approximately equal to the sailing waterline length in feet, plus or minus speed enhancing or reducing factors in the design. A yacht with a rating of 40 feet (12 m) was generally about 47 to 52 feet (14 to 16 m) in length overall. The IOR had upper and lower rating limits of 16 feet (4.9 m) and 70 feet (21 m), so a yacht designed and built to exceed the maximum limit of 70 feet (21 m) rating was known as a maxi.

For the 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia increased the IRC rating upper limit for length of hull from 98 ft to 100 ft, and most 98 ft yachts have been lengthened to this size. In order to achieve higher speeds, Maxi yachts were early adopters of modern materials and technologies such as carbonfiber, thermoformed sails, rotating wingmasts, water ballasts and canting keels. Previous smaller Maxi yachts are still raced with corrected time class victories in mind whilst the 72 ft “mini-maxi” yachts now have a class of their own.

Maxi
  • 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - Commodores Cup

    Episode 1

    37th St Maarten Heineken Regatta - held in March hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club with the motto "Serious Fun!" Plenty of world class racing and partying - what else do you need when sailing in the Caribbean? Today is the 2017 Gill Commodores Cup so just sit back and enjoy the racing.

    Vi...

  • 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - Day 1 Around the Island

    Episode 2

    37th St Maarten Heineken Regatta - held in March hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club with the motto "Serious Fun!" Plenty of world class racing and partying - what else do you need when sailing in the Caribbean? Day One and it was the Round The Island race.

    Video Producer: On Air Media & En...

  • 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - Day 2

    Episode 3

    37th St Maarten Heineken Regatta - held in March hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club with the motto "Serious Fun!" Plenty of world class racing and partying - what else do you need when sailing in the Caribbean? Day Two and champagne sailing conditions for the big boats.

    Video Producer: On ...

  • 2017 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta - Day 3

    Episode 4

    37th St Maarten Heineken Regatta - held in March hosted by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club with the motto "Serious Fun!" Plenty of world class racing and partying - what else do you need when sailing in the Caribbean? Day Three and still everything to play for with everyone pushing hard for overall c...

  • 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 - Race Preview

    Episode 5

    The RORC Caribbean 600 has close to Royal Ocean Racing Club's classic offshore race. The offshore race takes the fleet around some of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean starting from Antigua and Barbuda passing by Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla. The biggest and fa...

  • 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 - Start Highlights

    Episode 6

    The 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 started in magnificent conditions with the largest ever offshore fleet assembled in the Caribbean enjoying sparkling conditions. Olympic medallists, America's Cup winners and round the world sailors competed alongside passionate corinthians on the same 600 mile race co...

  • 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 - First Finishers

    Episode 7

    Phaedo 3 and Maserati MOD70 battled it out for line honours up to speeds of 36 knots! Superyachts and Maxi's were out in force too with Rambler and Shamanna (Swan 115) showing their stunning transoms to many of the other competitors.

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - Peters & May Round Antigua Race

    Episode 8

    Sir Peter Harrison tries to beat his own record in the Peters & May Round Antigua Race on Sojana with Nomad 4 chasing hard behind. It was going to be very tight but will he get his special 80th birthday present...

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 - Wrap

    Episode 9

    The 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 will be remembered for highly competitive racing throughout the fleet, with American yachts winning the major prizes. The race was affected by unusual weather conditions, with a low pressure system sending the wind direction spinning through 360º of the compass.

    Vi...

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - English Harbour Rum - Race Day 1

    Episode 10

    And we're off! Race 1 of the 50th Antigua Sailing Week, 2017. Magic conditions...

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - Fever Tree - Race Day 2

    Episode 11

    Sparkling conditions for race day 2 of Antigua Sailing Week 2017, hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club. Onboard with Sir Hugh Bailey's Rebel and the other 150 yachts enjoyed champagne conditions.

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - Johnny Walker - Race Day 3

    Episode 12

    Its all go on Race Day 3 as leaders emerge in divisions A and B. Ride with a cutting edge Polish catamaran (classic crazy sailors) and with a team of German girls battling for the podium in their bareboat class at the 50th Antigua Sailing Week.

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Day Two - Time For The Weigh In

    Episode 13

    Day Two of Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the best french hospitality St Barth has to offer - Big verses Small - tim...

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Day One - Racing

    Episode 14

    Day One of Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the best french hospitality St Barth has to offer - Let the racing begin.....

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Light Breeze Conditions

    Episode 15

    Day Three of Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the best french hospitality St Barth has to offer - Light breeze conditi...

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Day Off

    Episode 16

    Lay day for the competitors of Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the best french hospitality St Barth has to offer - Ti...

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Final Day & Winners

    Episode 17

    Final day and the winners take to the podium - the usual magnums of Veuve Clicquot is there to accompany them. Celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the ...

  • Les Voiles de St Barth 2017 - Wrap Up - The Best Of Times

    Episode 18

    Celebrating it's 7th anniversary and established as one of the world's leading super yacht regattas. The multiclass Caribbean yacht regatta combining extreme competitive racing with the best french hospitality St Barth has to offer... "One of the beauties of sailing is that it's never the same. A...

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - Caribbean Sailing Association - Race Day 4

    Episode 19

    Day Four and everyone should have been chilled out after listening to Damian Marley, the Jamaican reggae artist, the night before but the bareboat class at the 50th Antigua Sailing Week had their 'race faces' on at the start. Crunch time for the regatta leader, Thomas Sparrer, in more ways than o...

  • Antigua Sailing Week 2017 - Epic Highlights

    Episode 20

    The 50th Antigua Sailing Week has finished but what a festival of racing in the Caribbean. Take a look at some of the action both on and off the water - get ready to book your place at the 2018 ASW.

    Video Producer: Acquafilms

  • Maxi 72 - Corfu Challenge 2017 - Practice Day

    Episode 21

    The 2017 Corfu Challenge Maxi 72 class regatta kicked off with an official practice day. Prior to leaving the dock, Father Alex Karloutsos came down to bless newly named Evniki, as well as the entire fleet. Teams then zipped out to the racecourse in a sunny, 20 knot north westerly wind. Breeze re...

  • Maxi 72 - Corfu Challenge 2017 - Day One

    Episode 22

    Five boats lined up for a clear start of the 2017 Corfu Challenge Maxi 72 class regatta. Bella Mente winning the pin and the young Evniki taking the committee boat end. Proteus’ tactician Mark Mendelblatt choose the left side of the course and positioned the team into an early lead that ultimatel...

  • Maxi 72 - Corfu Challenge 2017 - Day Two

    Episode 23

    Second Day of the Maxi 72 Corfu Challenge hosted the Marina Gouvia Sailing Club. All five boats got off to a clean start in a small swell and building breeze. After racing to the first windward mark, it was MOMO who lead the pack back towards Corfu and around the north side of the island to the f...

  • Maxi 72 - Corfu Challenge 2017 - Day Three

    Episode 24

    Third Day of the stunning Maxi72 Corfu Challenge hosted the Marina Gouvia Sailing Club. Race one rewarded those who choose the left side up the first beat. It was George Sakellaris and team Proteus who proved to be flawless with two bullets. Crew member, Sam Loughborough described the performance...