Extreme Machines: Radical new Maxi meets a 19-year-old legend - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2026

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one of the biggest showcases of high-performance maxi yacht racing and this year, one radical new arrival turned heads from the moment she hit the racecourse. This year the 2026 event attracted 50 yachts racing across six classes, including a multihull fleet as Porto Cervo once again brought together some of the most spectacular carbon-fibre racing machines in the world. But two yachts stood out. The all-new 76ft Judel/Vrolijk-designed North Star III arrived with an extraordinary specification. Developed and built in secret over two years, she features a canting keel, a fully powered deck layout with no conventional grinding pedestals, a twistable mast, a distinctive sunken deck and an innovative central pit pod. It’s an ambitious approach — and one that comes with the highest rating in the Maxi Grand Prix class. So, for her first event, there was one big question: would the gamble pay off? At the other end of the spectrum, the 19-year-old Leopard 3 proved that you don’t have to be new to attract attention. Continually reconfigured and refined throughout her career, she remains one of the most recognisable maxis in the fleet, with an impressive list of victories and records behind her. We take a closer look at the boats, technology and racing that made the 2026 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup one to remember. CHAPTERS 00:00 Extreme Machines 00:29 The Heart of Maxi Racing 02:14 Inside the Grand Prix Fleet 03:22 NorthStar III: The Radical Newcomer 03:35 What Makes NorthStar III Different? 04:35 Would the Gamble Pay Off? 05:25 Leopard 3: The 19-Year-Old Legend 05:45 19 Years of Evolution 06:39 Has the Maxi Game Changed? Facebook - @planetsail.org Website - www.planetsail.co.uk Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sheahan Instagram - matthewsheahan