A Thrilling Day at the Maxi Regatta: Coastal Race Highlights
The highly anticipated 26-mile coastal race, starting and finishing in the picturesque North Sound, delivered memorable conditions that kept tacticians on edge and crews pushing to stay sharp in every manoeuvre.
Day two of the Maxi Regatta proved to be even more sensational than the first. With wind speeds ranging from 7 to 9 knots and intense, neck-and-neck competition, every move was crucial. The race wound between Islands and around rocks and the racing was as tight as it gets within this fleet, which features seven of the world's most elite maxi yachts. The leader changed throughout, Balthasar went on to claim the race victory, while V took line honours. After three exciting races, Balthasar sits at the top of the leaderboard, just three points ahead of Galateia. Full results can be found here: maxiregatta.com/#results.
Race Officer Stuart Childerley reflected on the day’s racing: "We had a truly remarkable day, watching the yachts demonstrate their tactical expertise as they navigated these breathtaking islands. With winds from the east ranging between 7 and 9 knots, it was an unforgettable coastal racing experience for the whole fleet."
Bouwe Bekking, tactician onboard Balthasar, shared his thoughts on the win:"Today marked race three, and we had a fantastic 26-mile coastal race. Balthasar emerged victorious, which made for an excellent day. Max, our navigator, was exceptional—his precision and consistency in every decision played a pivotal role in securing our victory. He truly earned us the win today."
Sime Fantela, strategist onboard V, spoke of his first experience racing in the North Sound:"This is my first time racing here, so everything feels new and exciting. I spent the day taking in the stunning islands, rocks, and caves, and trying to predict how the wind would behave. The constantly changing colours—from turquoise and green to deep blue—added to the challenge, especially as clouds moved in, making it harder to spot the gusts. It was a tough yet thoroughly enjoyable race, and I’ve loved every moment of this Regatta so far."
The North Sound Maxi Regatta continues tomorrow with the first-ever Maxi Triple Head Sunday, a time trial to determine the fleet's fastest yacht and award the coveted title of Fastest in the North Sound. Racing starts at 11am local time.
