After a long wait caused by an agitated sea state left over from yesterday’s strong winds, racing in the Rolex Swan Cup 2010 got started at 3.30 p.m. in 12 to 15 knots of northerly breeze. The owners and crews of the 92 boats enrolled in the biennial event organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were kept ashore until early afternoon as the YCCS Race Committee waited for the wind to fall, as forecast, below 22 knots.
Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 42 Kora 4. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.
Leaders of their respective divisions on completion of Day One’s coastal course were Emma (GER) in the Maxi division, Clem (ESP) in the Grand Prix class and Monsoon Jaguar (GBR) among the Classics. In the one design classes, each of which completed two windward-leeward races, Andrea Masi’s Ulika (ITA) has taken an early lead among the Swan 45s competing for their annual World Championship while Kora 4 (ITA) is top of the classification in the Club Swan 42 class.“We had boats out controlling the sea state all morning,” explained PRO Peter Craig, “but we had 3 metre waves and 20 to 25 knots. It would not have been a good idea to send people out on the first day of racing to break equipment and take unnecessary risks. The event encompasses a wide range of boats and sailors, some of whom are very experienced, others less so. We decided to hang tight and thankfully we got a good, fair race in and the feedback from the fleet has been positive.”In the Swan 45 class nine boats representing six nations completed two windward-leeward courses, each of approximately 7 miles. Race one of the event started in 12 to 15 knots of northerly wind and saw Hendrik Brandis, owner of Early Bird (GER) triumph over Ulika, and Charisma (NED), owned by Nico Poons. Dutchman Poons is the reigning Swan 45 World Champion and has America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Ray Davies calling tactics. Ulika won race two ahead of Earlybird leaving both teams on equal points in the overall classification but the Italians ahead of the Germans on countback. Charisma sits in third place overall.
Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 80 Berenice - Maxi class. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.
Masi was clearly pleased with today’s result: “For us it was a real pleasure, we were always able to sail free after the start. We really have a very good speed, we found the right tuning which was not easy at all today with the choppy sea and high waves coming from all sides, even more difficult to sail with quite light winds – so really it was great fun to find the right path.”Five Club Swan 42s, designed by German Frers for the New York Yacht Club, are competing in the regatta. Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 won the first race ahead of Romanian team Natalia and Barry Simpson’s English crew aboard Long Echo. Scerni took a second bullet in Race Two and was followed once again by Natalia and Long Echo leaving the same pecking order reflected in the overall classification. The Maxi class (LOA over 18.29 metres) followed a 25 nautical mile coastal course which took them west from Porto Cervo to round the Secca Tre Monti before heading upwind to the Monaci island. A long run to Mortoriotto followed before the final leg brought the fleet to the finish line just off Porto Cervo. Marco Rodolfi’s newly launched Swan 80 Berenice with Tiziano Nava on tactics led the Swan 90 White Lie and Danilso Salsi’s 90-foot DSK Pioneer Investment around the weather mark positioned approximately 2 miles from the start. By the Secca Tre Monti DSK had taken control of the fleet and held her lead throughout to finish ahead of White Lie, and Fantasticaaaniene, with Vasco Vascotto on tactics. It was Johann Killinger’s new Swan 60 Emma, however, that took victory in corrected time with White Lie in second and DSK in third.The Grand Prix class (LOA under 18.29 metres) completed a 20 mile coastal course which took them west past the Secca Tre Monti and on to the Gulf of the Saline before turning for Monaci and the finish off Porto Cervo. Amanda Hartley’s Swan 56 Clem took line honours and corrected time victory over P.H.J. Bakker’s Silveren Swaen (NED) and Crilia (GER), owned by Heinz-Gerd Stein.The Classic class, made up of Sparkman & Stephens designs, followed a similar course to the Grand Prix Class but rounded the Secca Tre Monti before heading towards Monaci and the finish off Porto Cervo for a total course length of 17 nautical miles. The Swan 65 Moonson Jaguar (GBR), owned by Peter Simon led from early on followed by Giuseppe Putini’s Shirlaf (ITA). These two held their positions for the duration to cross the finish line ahead of Francesco Persio’s Swan 47 Dream (ITA). All three retained their placings in corrected time. Racing is scheduled to continue September 15th at 11.30 AM. For further information including the entry list, NOR, courses and full results please visit www.yccs.it , www.regattanews.com or www.holidays-in-sardinia.com for accomodation.
Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 42 Kora 4. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.Leaders of their respective divisions on completion of Day One’s coastal course were Emma (GER) in the Maxi division, Clem (ESP) in the Grand Prix class and Monsoon Jaguar (GBR) among the Classics. In the one design classes, each of which completed two windward-leeward races, Andrea Masi’s Ulika (ITA) has taken an early lead among the Swan 45s competing for their annual World Championship while Kora 4 (ITA) is top of the classification in the Club Swan 42 class.“We had boats out controlling the sea state all morning,” explained PRO Peter Craig, “but we had 3 metre waves and 20 to 25 knots. It would not have been a good idea to send people out on the first day of racing to break equipment and take unnecessary risks. The event encompasses a wide range of boats and sailors, some of whom are very experienced, others less so. We decided to hang tight and thankfully we got a good, fair race in and the feedback from the fleet has been positive.”In the Swan 45 class nine boats representing six nations completed two windward-leeward courses, each of approximately 7 miles. Race one of the event started in 12 to 15 knots of northerly wind and saw Hendrik Brandis, owner of Early Bird (GER) triumph over Ulika, and Charisma (NED), owned by Nico Poons. Dutchman Poons is the reigning Swan 45 World Champion and has America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Ray Davies calling tactics. Ulika won race two ahead of Earlybird leaving both teams on equal points in the overall classification but the Italians ahead of the Germans on countback. Charisma sits in third place overall.
Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 80 Berenice - Maxi class. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.
Masi was clearly pleased with today’s result: “For us it was a real pleasure, we were always able to sail free after the start. We really have a very good speed, we found the right tuning which was not easy at all today with the choppy sea and high waves coming from all sides, even more difficult to sail with quite light winds – so really it was great fun to find the right path.”Five Club Swan 42s, designed by German Frers for the New York Yacht Club, are competing in the regatta. Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 won the first race ahead of Romanian team Natalia and Barry Simpson’s English crew aboard Long Echo. Scerni took a second bullet in Race Two and was followed once again by Natalia and Long Echo leaving the same pecking order reflected in the overall classification. The Maxi class (LOA over 18.29 metres) followed a 25 nautical mile coastal course which took them west from Porto Cervo to round the Secca Tre Monti before heading upwind to the Monaci island. A long run to Mortoriotto followed before the final leg brought the fleet to the finish line just off Porto Cervo. Marco Rodolfi’s newly launched Swan 80 Berenice with Tiziano Nava on tactics led the Swan 90 White Lie and Danilso Salsi’s 90-foot DSK Pioneer Investment around the weather mark positioned approximately 2 miles from the start. By the Secca Tre Monti DSK had taken control of the fleet and held her lead throughout to finish ahead of White Lie, and Fantasticaaaniene, with Vasco Vascotto on tactics. It was Johann Killinger’s new Swan 60 Emma, however, that took victory in corrected time with White Lie in second and DSK in third.The Grand Prix class (LOA under 18.29 metres) completed a 20 mile coastal course which took them west past the Secca Tre Monti and on to the Gulf of the Saline before turning for Monaci and the finish off Porto Cervo. Amanda Hartley’s Swan 56 Clem took line honours and corrected time victory over P.H.J. Bakker’s Silveren Swaen (NED) and Crilia (GER), owned by Heinz-Gerd Stein.The Classic class, made up of Sparkman & Stephens designs, followed a similar course to the Grand Prix Class but rounded the Secca Tre Monti before heading towards Monaci and the finish off Porto Cervo for a total course length of 17 nautical miles. The Swan 65 Moonson Jaguar (GBR), owned by Peter Simon led from early on followed by Giuseppe Putini’s Shirlaf (ITA). These two held their positions for the duration to cross the finish line ahead of Francesco Persio’s Swan 47 Dream (ITA). All three retained their placings in corrected time. Racing is scheduled to continue September 15th at 11.30 AM. For further information including the entry list, NOR, courses and full results please visit www.yccs.it , www.regattanews.com or www.holidays-in-sardinia.com for accomodation.
Sardinia has always been a much sought after destination for tourists with its green transparent sea and unspoiled white sandy beaches. But the place has much more to offer then just the beaches and seas.
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