Django 7X, built by King Marine, wins Maxi world title

Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Django 7X, a Wally Rocket 71 built by King Marine, won the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship title in a close-fought week of competition in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

King Marine, the Valencia-based boatbuilder, was well represented at the Maxi Worlds, with four boats across the 47-strong entry in Porto Cervo.

Aside from Django 7X’s victory, other King Marine-built Maxis competing were:

Spirit of Lorina, Botin 65, helmed by Jean Pierre Barjon, 5th in Maxi Class 3

Deep Blue, Botin 85, helmed by Wendy Schmidt, 6th in the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship

Capricorno, Judel/Vrolijk 82, helmed by Alessandro del Bono, 7th in the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship

As for Django 7X’s victory in the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship, it was by narrow margins from two well-sailed rivals, Jolt and Bella Mente. Stronati was delighted to come away with victory after the regatta was decided by a matter of seconds on the race course. "It was a good job, by nice guys in a nice team on a good boat," said Stronati. "Everything went well, because we were not the fastest, in windward-leeward especially, but today [the final day] it was our day. We have been lucky. I am very happy. Thanks to the guys who sailed the boat very well."

The Botin Partners-designed wallyrocket 71 was launched earlier this year, and the Django team has worked hard to get their state of the art racer up to World Championship-winning form so quickly. The boat is a step on from previous generations - substantially lighter and with more water ballast than her rivals, giving her a strong edge downwind.

Tactician and project manager Vasco Vascotto said: "I feel very grateful to everybody for this - it's amazing and it's happened because we are a team. We are very happy for Giovanni and Francesca that gave us this opportunity. I think that today we put in our best performance of the year, especially in the last race, pushing with every single manoeuvre. In the end it came down to millimetres."

King Marine will also be well represented at the next major event on the yachting calendar, Les Voiles de St Tropez, starting at the end of September.