"Swan so long...." on the third race day of the Rolex Swan Cup 2010

On the third race day of the Rolex Swan Cup 2010 each of the five competing divisions (Maxi, Grand Prix, Classics, Swan 45, Club Swan 42) completed a “Long Islands Race” as scheduled. The fleet of 92 Nautor’s Swan yachts enrolled in the regatta, organized by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 1980, were accompanied by 20 to 25 yachts of westerly breeze for the best part of the day and racing lasted between 5 and 8 hours approximately for the various divisions. The occuoants of the top spots in the overall classifications remain unchanged with Danilo Salsi’s DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) continuing to lead in the Maxi class, Peter Simon’s Moonsoon Jaguar (GBR) in the Classic class and Silveren Swaen (NED) in the Grand Prix class. Overall leaders in the one-design classes have not changed since yesterday either: among the nine Swan 45s racing in the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship Earlybird (GER) owned by Hendrik Brandis retains first place while in the Club Swan 42 class Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 heads the leaderboard.

Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Maxi fleet. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex

The Maxi class was set a 63 nautical mile course which took them from the start off Porto Cervo to leave the Monaci island to port before heading south and along the channel between the coast of Sardinia and the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. At the main island of La Maddalena the Maxis turned north to round Barettinelli di Fuori to port and double back towards the coastline and onward to the French islands of Lavezzi approximately 6 miles off Corsica. From Lavezzi the fleet embarked on a long downwind run around the outside of the archipelago and south to Mortoriotto before turning for the finish at the entrance to the bay of Porto Cervo.
First out of the box in the Maxi class were the usual suspects: the Swan 90 White Lie (ITA), the Swan 100 Fantasticaaaniene (ITA) with Vasco Vascotto on tactics and the Swan 90 DSK led the fleet around the island of Barettinelli di Fuori, approximately one third of the way around the course. As the front-runners in the class crossed the finish line off Porto Cervo shortly after 5 p.m. DSK continued to lead but it was the newly-launched Swan 80 Berenice that crossed the line second ahead of White Lie while Fantasticaaniene was forced to withdraw after having ripped three of her sails. DSK dropped back to fourth in corrected time. First place on handicap went to the Swan 80 Astra del Est (AUT) followed by Berenice and the Swan 82 Nikata (GBR). DSK retains her overall lead 3 points ahead of Johann Killinger’s Swan 60 Emma and the Swan 112 Mystery.
DSK’s owner Danilo Salsi commented: “We had not a good start, we had to go back to the start line, and start again but now with all the big boats in front of us. At the first mark we were seventh, so we had to pass all the big boats. We only passed White Lie down by Motoriotto. Down there it was a complete change in the programme because the Sciroco from the south came up against the mistral. Because we were the first of the fleet, we stayed a long time changing from the spinnaker to the jib – it was a lot of work for the crew so we are going to have a good dinner tonight!”
The Grand Prix, Swan 45 and 42 classes followed a 47 mile course which took them along the coast and to Lavezzi where they turned west and completed the same downwind leg and finish as the Maxis.
The first Swan 45 to round the mark at Lavezzi was Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird, at Barettinelli the fleet was closely grouped but Earlybird continued to lead followed by Vittorio Codecasa’s Jeroboam (ITA) and Andrea Masi’s Ulika (ITA). It was Tea Ekengren’s Blue Nights (FIN) with Jochen Scheumann on tactics, however, that led the Belgian Samantaga-Duval and Earlybird across the finish line. With this race having a weighted value of 1.5 Earlybird’s still leads the overall classification but is now followed by Samantaga-Duvel owned by Philippe Moorgat and Patrick Van Henr. Nico Poons’ Charisma (NED) slips back to third.
Kora 4’s domination of the Frers-designed Club Swan 42 class was threatened today as Leonardo Ferragamo’s Swan 42 Cuordileone, with Paul Cayard calling tactics, had another good day. Although Brandis led the fleet around Barettinelli, Ferragamo was able to overtake her on the homeward run to take victory. Long Echo (GBR) came in third behind Kora 4. The overall classification sees Kora 4 retain her lead with three bullets and two second places in the five races completed. Cuordileone is in second place and Natalia (ROM)in third.

Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 45 Blue Nights. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.

Amanda Hartley’s Swan 56 Clem (ESP) took line honours in the Grand Prix fleet and P.H.J. Bakker’s Swan 53 Silveren Swaen (NED) took victory in corrected time ahead of Merel 4 (GBR) and Atalante 2 (BEL). Just two points separate the top three boats in the overall classification for this group. Silveren Swaen maintains a slim lead over Clem in second and Crilia (GER), owned by Heinz-Gerd Stein in third.
The Swan 65 Monsoon Jaguar led the Classic Sparkman & Stephens class around their 36-mile course which brought them from Porto Cervo to Monaci and up along the coast before turning for Barettinelli and heading downwind to the finish off Porto Cervo. Moonsoon Jaguar placed third in corrected time behind another two Swan 65s, Giuseppe Puttini’s Shirlaf (ITA) and Cassiopeia. Jaguar now sits on five points, as does Shirlaf but the British boat retains her lead overall thanks to two bullets gained in the first two days. Francesco Persio’s Swan 47 Dream is in third place.
Tomorrow will be a well-deserved lay day for all of the boats except the Swan 45 fleet who will continue battling for the title of World Champion. Racing is scheduled to start at 12 midday. Shifty southerly winds of 8-10 knots are predicted.
Owners will enjoy a gala dinner hosted by the YCCS and Rolex at the YCCS Clubhouse tomorrow evening while on Saturday Rolex will host a crew party.

Sardinia: Preparations for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup underway in Porto Cervo

Preparations for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup which will take place in Porto Cervo from 5th to 11th September are in full swing. Forty-nine yachts are due to take part in the annual regatta which has been organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 1980. Twenty-four of the participating boats will compete in the Mini Maxi division for the title of Mini Maxi Rolex World Champion 2010.




Throughout this inaugural edition of the Mini Maxi Worlds technical controls will be rigorous and each of the vessels must undergo weighing and measurement. Inspections have already begun at the nearby Portisco Marina using equipment and scales specially designed and constructed for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the International Maxi Association for this regatta. For the first time each boat, some of which weigh as much as 20 tons, will be hauled out, fully exposing their hull and keel and providing precise data to determine the yacht’s handicap rating.
The Mini Maxis range from 18 to 24 metres and will line up on the quays of Porto Cervo Marina alongside the rest of the Maxi fleet, several of which are over 40 metres long. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup regularly attracts some of the world’s top yachtsmen and women and racing is scheduled to start on Monday 6th September. The event will conclude with a final prize giving in the Yacht Club’s Piazza Azzurra on 11th September.

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Porto Cervo Costa Smeralda: Maltese Falcon wins at Perini Navi Cup 2009 in Sardinia

Westerly winds gusting at up to 40 knots put paid to racing on the second and final day of racing in the Perini Navi Cup 2009. The results of Friday’s race at the Coasts of Northern Sardinia are valid for the series and therefore the 88 metre, triple masted Maltese Falcon, which reached top speeds of 21 knots during racing, takes victory overall. The 64 metre Felicità west takes second place and the 46 metre Antara third.



The final prize giving took place at 6 p.m. on the Yacht Club’s Piazza Azzurra and the Perini Navi Cup and a Rolex timepiece were awarded to the Maltese Falcon by the President of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, His Highness the Aga Khan and Fabio Perini. Prizes were also awarded to the yachts which had completed Friday’s race in the fastest elapsed time. The 56 metre Salute was the swiftest yacht, having completed the 25 mile course in just under 1 hour and 50 minutes, and was followed by the 56 metre Felicità West. The 50 metre ketch Baracuda, which stands out visually due to an unusual steel grey hull combined with violet sails, was third fastest around the course.

“We saw these yachts at their very best on Friday.” commented YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo. “The racing really was of a very high standard and the fleet is so impressive. Seeing 19 Perinis lined up in front of the YCCS at sunset brought such glamour and elegance that we will remember them for a very long time.”

Owners and guests were due to round off a highly enjoyable two days with a gala dinner on the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s panoramic pool terrace.



The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s sporting calendar continues immediately with the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup which starts tomorrow, 6th September with inspections and registrations while racing starts on Monday 7th September.

Marina Yachting, Rolex, Axa, Acqua di Parma, Pommery, Icet and Audi are sponsors of the Perini Navi Cup 2009. Yacht Capital is media partner of the event.
Perini Navi: with a fleet of 46 sailing yachts cruising the world's oceans, Perini Navi is a leader in the design and manufacture of blue water sailing yachts. Famous for revolutionary automatic sail handling systems and for their unique aesthetics, the Perini’s are among the most celebrated vessels in the world. For all results please visit http://www.yccsresults.com/perini09/perini1.htm.

Photos: Atmosphere, Fleet, Maltese Falcon.
Credits Rolex/ Carlo Borlenghi

In typical Farr 40 style the final day of racing in the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2009 saw the 25 boat fleet line up for the tenth and final race with just one point separating the top two teams. All was set for a duel to the death between two time world champion Jim Richardson (1998, 2004) on Barking Mad and Massimo Mezzaroma with his Nerone (ITA), winner of the 2003 world championship organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Porto Cervo. In the end Nerone, with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, did not manage to shine in Race Ten and Barking Mad, with tactician Terry Hutchinson, comfortably defended the lead she had held since day one of the series to clinch the title for the third time. Nerone took second place with Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly in third. Former world champion Vincenzo Onorato came fourth.
The Mistral wind, sunshine and blue skies which characterized the entire event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 22nd to 27th June, were present once again for the start of today’s first race. Race Nine started on schedule at 11.05 in approximately 18 knots of wind from 290°. Nerone started well and was followed around the first mark, where winds reached 22 knots, by Joe Fly and Flash Gordon (USA), owned by Helmut Jahn. A head to head battle ensued between Nerone and Joe Fly but it was Vascotto’s team which crossed the finish line first ahead of Joe Fly, with Francesco Bruni on tactics, and Flash Gordon.
Heading into Race Ten, the final of the series, Barking Mad’s sixth place in Race Nine left her just one point ahead of Nerone. Tension was high as the fleet crossed the line at 12.40 pm in approximately 20 knots of wind which held at 290°. The American’s of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon followed Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma, with tactician Tommaso Chieffi, around the first windward mark. Barking Mad had taken the lead by the leeward gate with Mascalzone Latino hot on her heels and Flash Gordon in third. Mascalzone gained the lead during the second windward leg and held it to the finish, crossing the line ahead of Barking Mad and Flash Gordon respectively.
Richardson was delighted with a World Championship which saw him average less than four points per race: "We're very, very happy. Coming to Italy and winning this World Championship in Porto Cervo is an amazing feeling for us. There are so many good teams out there, particularly the Italians and to be able to win in their home waters is a great thrill for us.”
"We could almost taste victory, so it’s disappointing not to win”, commented Vasco Vascotto, tactician on Nerone, “we sailed well but the American’s were more constant. It has been a great season and we have gained experience, you never stop learning.”
Mascalzone’s Vincenzo Onorato, racing under the YCCS burgee, was philosophical about handing over the title he had won for three consecutive years. “ It’s a great story for the class, we went to Jim’s hometown to win the Farr 40 World Championship in 2006 in Newport, Rhode Island, and Jim has come here to our home, in Porto Cervo to win the Worlds. The last race was the first in our campaign for the Farr 40 Worlds 2010 at Casa di Campo.”
PRO Peter “Luigi” Reggio summed up the week’s racing nicely: “This place is just insanely cool!”
Jim Richardson, Rolex Farr 40 World Champion 2009, was awarded the Farr 40 World Cup trophy and a specially engraved Rolex timepiece during the prize giving held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
For further information on this regatta please visit http://www.farr40worldchampionship.com/ , http://www.yccs.it/ , http://www.regattanews.com/

Barking Mad, Nerone, fleet. Credits Kurt Arrigo/Rolex

Porto Cervo/Costa Smeralda: Racing in Sardinia cancelled at Audi Invitational

The prevailing mistral wind which has made the regatta course off Porto Cervo one of the world’s most famous failed to cooperate for the Audi Invitational, the third leg of the Farr 40 European Circuit 2009. Yesterday’s first scheduled day of racing was abandoned due to sustained winds of 30 knots and more, all was set to rest on today’s second and final day of racing but a storm front which is passing across Italy put paid to all hopes of completing the minimum two races required to validate the event.
The 24 Farr 40s participating in the Audi Invitational left Porto Cervo Marina on schedule for the programmed 11 am start but as the Race Committee was setting the course at 270° the wind shifted to 030° and began to build to approximately 25 knots. As the Race Committee prepared the new course the storm front arrived from Porto Cervo bringing torrential rain, thunder and lightning. PRO Peter Reggio then sent the fleet back to the docks and at 1pm racing was abandoned for the day.
The provisional standings after two legs of the European Circuit held in Porto Rotondo and Capri therefore remain valid and Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino leads the fleet on 33 points. Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone is in second place with 40 points and Alessandro Barnaba’s Fiamma sits in third place on 49 points.
Racing in Porto Cervo for the Farr 40 fleet will begin on Wednesday 24th June with the first start of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship 2009 scheduled for 11am.
For further information on this regatta and the entire Yacht Club Costa Smeralda season please visit http://www.yccs.it/

Credits: Kurt Arrigo/Audi