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.
The 12th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 starts on Monday 24th February around 11 islands off Antigua. The diverse fleet will be competing in four classes, with 74 entries sailed by over 700 crew members representing 37 nations. (CC Available)
Video Producer: Acquafilms
Light air combat amongst sparkling conditions for the 12th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600. 73 yachts, 37 nations and well over 700 sailors from across the globe embarked on the 600 mile offshore race around 11 Caribbean Islands.
Video Producer: Acquafilms
After three nights and four days of competition out on the 600nm race course, the first boats have arrived back on the docks in Antigua. Interviews with some of the early arrivals, including Multihull and Monohull Line Honours winners, and provisional class champions in the 12th edition of the RO...
The 12th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 attracted 73 boats from 22 nations and competitors from 37 different countries The fleet was made up of professional sailors and boats, as well as corinthian amateurs who love their offshore racing. Tilmar Hansen's TP52 Outsider (GER), skippered by Bo Te...
With Summer turning to Autumn, it's the start of the season for Gitana Team to set sail on her first Jules Verne Trophy attempt. To mark the occasion meet Maxi Edmond de Rothschild in full flight, demonstrating her stunning stability and elegance. Stand-by begins on 1 November for the men of Gita...
On 1 November 2020, the crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild will officially begin it's meteorological stand-by to set sail on the Jules Verne Trophy, the round the world record under sail Launched in 2017, she is the first offshore racing maxi-trimaran designed to fly in the open ocean. And thi...
Aboard the 32-metre giant, there will be a crew of six working in relay day and night in a bid to beat the current record of 40 days 23 hours and 30 minutes held by Francis Joyon and IDEC Sport since 2017. Among them, Morgan Lagravière and David Boileau. Though they hail from very different backg...
Round the world experience, a talent for helming at very high speeds with technical knowledge of the craft could well sum up the criteria set out by Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier in putting together the crew on the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. There will be six men to set sail aboard the lat...
"Today, the boats go so much quicker through the water, flying even… that our greatest brake comes from the air!” says Charles Caudrelier. To reduce drag, take care of the aerodynamics… to do that, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild has undergone some new developments and been subject to some new modi...
