International Maxi Association’ members and officers voted in favour of the admission of Gašper Vinčec to the IMA, the international sailing class – in 2010 recognised by World Sailing – that represents the owners of maxi yachts from all over the world.

Gašper is therefore the second Slovene and the youngest member to join the maxi association (first one was Igor Simčič, the former owner of the Esimit Europa 2 yacht, an IMA member too) in her 40-year history. The International Maxi Association was founded in 1979 putting together members, all maxi owners, at the helm of the most competitive sailing yachts in the world. With 60 members now, IMA is based in Genève, Switzerland, but has an “operative headquarter” in Porto Cervo, Italy . IMA’s remit is to guide and structure maxi yacht racing, with the IMA rules that define and categorise maxi yachts: it aims to embrace all maxi yachts and as such follows, instigates and encourages developments that are deemed to have a positive effect on the construction and racing of maxi-sized boats.

Gašper Vinčec, proposed by IMA President Benoĭt de Froidmont and seconded by IMA Vice President George Andreadis, was admitted to the association with only votes in favour. This is a great honour for Vinčec himself as well for Slovenian sailing.