CAPRI CLASSICA SCHOONER RACES
First race for classic schooners
The Gulf of Naples took on a northern European feel for the inaugural
Capri Classica schooner races in May, with an overcast sky, Vesuvius
obscured by the murk, and a dark grey cloud over Capri’s highest
summit giving the appearance that the island was about to erupt.
The cold front brought conditions that made for spectacular
imagery over the four-day event, with winds at times gusting above 25
knots. Witnessing Mariette of 1915’s 138ft ( 42m) and 180 tonnes
thundering downwind at 12 knots, under full canvas, including her
fisherman, blasting apart the substantial seas that were
otherwise hammering Capri’s southern shore, was
a sight to behold, reported James Boyd for
the International Maxi Association who
oversaw the event.
Capri Classica is a new event
that forms part of the new
Schooner Cup Series, which
will also feature single
races at Monaco
Classic Week and Les
Voiles de Saint-
Tropez. The winner
will be awarded
the Schooner of
the Year Trophy
at Saint-Tropez.The Schooner Cup Series and Capri Classica have been created by
the International Schooner Association in conjunction with the
International Maxi Association, and although only four vessels made
the start – Mariette of 1915 was joined on the racecourse by 85ft (26m)
Orianda, 126ft (38.4m) Puritan, and 128ft (39m) Naema – it is expected
that more schooners will join the party as the series develops.
While Mariette of 1915 claimed honours in the Schooner Cup
Series race, winner of Capri Classica after three days of racing over
Wednesday-Friday was Naema, with whom she had spent the entire
event match racing. The outcome of this competition was decided
in Friday’s race when Naema planted a penalty on her rival in a port-
starboard incident at the top mark.
“It is the first time Naema has won a regatta,” reported her
jubilant captain, Florian Franke. “We have had several day wins but
never won a regatta before. It is especially great because we beat
Mariette, which has been our goal since 2016.”Tell Tales