Running races for the Maxi fleet in Australia shares something with mainstream TV sports; the show is part of the competition, and the competition is part of the show.

Australian Sailing has recently facilitated conversations with owners of Maxis and their key crew to facilitate the development a major championship event exclusively for this fleet. To be clear, the Maxis are big powerful boats, and it’s a big powerful fleet in Australia.

The boats themselves are defined as:
•    Mini-Maxi – LH from 18.29m (60ft) to 24.08m (79ft)
•    Maxi - LH from 24.09m (80ft) to 30.50m (100ft)

The Maxi fleet in Australia is surprisingly large. Australian Sailing has 60 yachts on its IRC records that fit these criteria. However, the spectacle of the 100ft Maxis often casts a shadow which hides the large number of Maxis and Mini-Maxis that fill in the rest of this fleet. Indeed, it makes Australia’s powerful and world-class 52 footer fleet look small fry.

The questions Australian Sailing put to the Maxi fleet’s representatives explored what format of event could bring the fleet together for racing aimed exclusively at their segment of the fleet. Ostensibly, an Australian Maxi Championships. The conversation included recognition of amateur crews and women’s participation, where and when it could be held, the length of regatta and format of racing, and rating systems.

Maxis are powerful boats. The average sailor and race official probably think they understand, but its only once you are onboard one in a bit of breeze and they’re powered up do you really have the epiphany. And it is as awe inspiring as it is intimidating. Given this, the gear and technology on board, they require elite sailors to run the boats safely, let alone competitively. Whilst a best performing ‘Corinthian’ boat might be recognised, they wanted no restrictions on professionalism of sailors or the application of World Sailing’s Categorisation Code imposed upon the fleet like happens in some regular sized keelboat classes.

Gender was a vexing question and ended with a similar outcome. The success of the Ocean Race and its rules requiring the inclusion of women was explored, as well as CYCA’s initiatives to promote women’s inclusion. The outcome was that women’s participation should be recognised but not imposed. The reasoning was the same around professionalism; the Maxis priority is to recruit the best crew who can safely and competitively race these yachts. The recommendation from the meeting was to recognise the best performing boats that meet a certain criterion of women onboard, but not impose minimum requirements.

The waters required to race Maxis limits the field of play to only a few locations. Arthur Phillip’s impression of Sydney Harbour was recorded in one of his letters "…the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security...". What this tells us and the many clubs that would love to host this fleet, is that large expanses of deep water are needed and Sydney is perfect; both inshore and offshore.

The location of Sydney ties into timing. The CYCA runs its Blue Water Pointscore in the lead up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and most of the Maxi fleet are already in Sydney, and in race mode. Like their power, the maintenance program and complexity of repairs in this fleet shouldn’t be underestimated either. Not a lot just ‘buffs out’. The Maxi representatives on the call recommended running races close to, but reasonably spaced from ‘the Hobart’ to catch them in race mode, but give them time to fix and finalise preparation for the race south. The first week of December would be ideal. 

What surprised us as facilitators of the call was the enthusiasm to incorporate other pre-existing events. Sometimes conflating events dilutes the identity of each and confuses preparation. The Maxis’ representatives were firm that a mix of races including a long distance offshore passage race, day races offshore, and even an inshore race in Sydney Harbour would give them good racing. Varying courses is something IRC recommends and needs to be taken on board by race officials running any keelboat racing.

They also pointed out that the first week of December would enable them to take advantage of the pre-existing Cabbage Tree Island Race and SOLAS Big Boat Challenge that they are already committed to. All agreed that four days of varied racing would be enough to sort out who the best Maxis are in Australia.

The Maxis also wanted to put their fleet on display; provide a show to the public and other sailors. The ways of doing this were agreed to be starting and finishing all races in Sydney Harbour, placing turning marks for the races within safe distances from popular beaches such as Manly and Bondi, and the inclusion of pursuit starts so that for some races the boats will finish in close proximity. This is the show the Maxis can provide like no other fleet in Australia. Let’s put it on, and why not.

Whether using virtual marks or laid marks, the nature of the boats and the practical reality of their operation requires long legs on any wind angle to allow for the deployment of sails and settling in. The Cabbage Tree Island Race naturally provides this, and other races should be designed to give the boats room to stretch their legs.

Good racing needs passing lanes. Largely self-explanatory to sailors and race officials, but the attendees asked that the courses avoid ‘soldier’s courses’ and enable tactical racing. This is also advice race officials for any fleet needs to take on board.

The representatives also agreed that starts and the first leg could be any wind angle. The Maxis sailors are accustomed to starting races on any wind angle and that the crews have the prerequisite competencies. Starting in Sydney Harbour and putting on the show was agreed to be a much a greater priority than having a start line square to the wind and the first leg to windward.

IRC is the preferred scoring system for the Australian Maxis. The critical mass of this fleet has IRC ratings and this provides a clear focus point. Getting an ORCi certificate for just one regatta wasn’t considered to be worthwhile, regardless of the greater detail and perceived thoroughness and accuracy of the system.

Tellingly, no one expressed any interest in performance handicapping.

The question from here is whether a critical mass of these Maxis can come together for a regatta. If it gets built, will they come? Will we get the watch the show?

Information on IRC can be found at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/ratingshome_2021_22/

By Glen Stanaway https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/