The term 'Maxi' refers to a class of racing yacht usually over 70ft (21m) originating as part of the IOR rating system, which measured racing yachts and applied a single-number rating to each boat. This number was approximately equal to the sailing waterline length in feet, plus or minus speed enhancing or reducing factors in the design. A yacht designed and built to the maximum limit of 70ft rating was known as a Maxi.

Read about our legendary racing flagship 'Sorcery' here

The IOR Maxis were generally 75 to 83 feet long overall, and raced boat-for-boat without handicap, unlike the rest of the IOR fleet which raced with a time correction factor depending on the boat's rating. For a time in the 1980's they were the most glamorous, exciting, expensive and high-visibility racing yachts in the world, with regular appearances at most of the great races such as the Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart, Bermuda Race, and their own private series of regattas in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and elsewhere. The maxis were also prominent as line-honours winners in every Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) from 1973 to 1993.

These boats are generally custom-designed and built, so each one is unique, but some are built to conform to class specifications that make them capable of similar speeds. One recent example of a maxi yacht class is the maxZ86 specification. Maxi yachts are raced in both short-distance buoy races and in offshore ocean races.

Race on these amazing yacht's for an experience of a lifetime - register as a crew member here

For larger Maxi Racing pictures - go to the gallery