SARDINIA 2010: FARR 40 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 SET TO START IN PORTO ROTONDO

Preparations are well underway in Porto Rotondo for the 11th edition of the Farr 40 European Championship. Racing in the event, organized by the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo in conjunction with the Farr 40 Class Association and the Farr 40 European Fleet, begins Thursday 30th September and will continue through Sunday 3rd October 2010. The ten participating crews are currently completing registration, sail measurement and weight controls as well as fitting in some practice on the regatta course off Porto Rotondo prior to the start of competition.



Up to ten races will be held over the course of the four-day event aboard identical Farr 40 sailing yachts. The Class enforces a strict owner-driver rule which ensures fierce competition in the fleet and - as in all one-design events - racing is close, tactical and exhilarating.
Competitors to watch will certainly include three-time class World Champion (1998, 2004 and 2009) and Farr 40 Class President, Jim Richardson aboard his Barking Mad (USA), as well as current world title holder Massimo Mezzaroma with his Nerone (ITA). Wolfgang Schaefer’s Struntje Light (GER), will also be a strong competitor having won the Audi Sardinia Cup with team Germany in nearby Porto Cervo in June 2010. Although the Corinthian spirit is strong within the class, the standard of racing is extremely high and this event has attracted renowned sailors such as Vasco Vascotto aboard Nerone, Hamish Pepper on Barking Mad, Chris Larson aboard Plenty (USA) and Ray Davies on Fiamma (ITA).
The Farr 40 European Championship 2010 also represents the second, conclusive event in the class’ European Circuit. During the final prize giving scheduled to take place at the YCPR on Sunday 3rd October, the European Championship Perpetual Trophy and the European Circuit Perpetual Trophy will be awarded in addition to a Corinthian Trophy for the best placed amateur crew.
In addition to on-the-water action participants will enjoy a full social programme including welcome and farewell cocktails at the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo and a gala dinner at the nearby Hotel Sporting. The Farr 40s are not new to Porto Rotondo, having completed a leg of their European circuit here in April 2009. Just a few months later, however, the Clubhouse was virtually destroyed in a fire which led to the complete reconstruction of the YCPR headquarters so owners and crews will be able to enjoy the new facilities provided by the host club for the first time.
Luigi Carpaneda, Commodore of YCPR commented: “We are very happy to have the Farr 40 fleet back in Porto Rotondo and we hope that our collaboration with the class will continue for many years to come.
"The European Farr 40 fleet is delighted to be back racing in Porto Rotondo again," echoed Wolfgang Schaefer, President of the European Farr 40 fleet. It is a wonderful venue and the newly rebuilt Clubhouse is even more charming than before. Of course the regatta course and the conditions off the north-east coast of Sardinia are among the best in the world and we are looking forward to some excellent racing with ten top-level competitors.”For further information please visit http://www.farr40.org/ , http://www.farr40.net/ or http://www.ycpr.it/ or follow the Farr 40 class on Facebook and Twitter.

CHAMPAGNE OPENER AT OYSTER REGATTA AT PORTO CERVO, COSTA SMERALDA (SARDINIA)

A fleet of 30 elegant Oyster sailing yachts took to the crystalline waters off Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda this morning for the first day of racing in the Oyster Jubliee Regatta. The 25th event in the Oyster Regatta series is taking place from 21st to 25th September and is hosted for the first time by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Racing started on schedule on a stunning 15 mile coastal course, using the granite islands of La Maddalena archipelago as natural buoys and a gentle northeasterly breeze built during the day giving the majestic Oyster fleet some spectacular sailing conditions. Azure blue sky and warm breeze typify the sailing grounds on the Costa Smeralda and today was no exception.
In Class One (yachts of 60ft and over), local knowledge clearly came in handy as Alberto Vignatelli’s Oyster 72, Albertone 3, took line honours and a corrected time victory. Vignatelli has been a Member of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda for over 20 years and knows this regatta course better than most. Today was also his birthday making the victory even more special. Alberto was at the helm of his newly-launched Oyster 72 throughout and was clearly delighted as he crossed the finish line to take the gun. Trevor Silver’s Roulette V.2 and Richard Smith’s Sotto Vento, both Oyster 655s, took second and third place respectively.
Gerd and Annemarie Köhlmoos’ Oyster 54, Sarabande put in a polished performance, taking line honours in Class Two and also first in class on corrected time. Second across the line was Boarding Pass III, owned by Bill Munro and Susan Harris which slipped into third, however, on corrected time behind Mark Howard’s Oyster 56 Amanzi.
Michael Morris’ Oyster 72, Cookielicious, had a fantastic day on the water, despite being late for the start of today’s race and finishing at the tail end of Class One. Highlighting the family-oriented nature of the fleet Morris was accompanied by his sons and daughter-in-laws.
“We may not have achieved the result that we are capable of but we learnt a lot and all of the crew enjoyed the day immensely. Commented Morris who has chartered an Oyster complete with skipper and crew for the event. “Whilst I have been an Oyster owner for many years my Oyster 49 is back in Lymington. This is the sixth Oyster regatta that we have taken charge of the Oyster 72. The arrangement allows us to just enjoy the occasion and relax. The most important aspect of coming to an Oyster Regatta is to have a wonderful time on board a stunning yacht.”
Owners and crews enjoyed a welcome cocktail and dinner on the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Pool Terrace overlooking Porto Cervo Marina yesterday evening and the social programme Oyster regattas are renowned for continues with a cocktail reception and dinner on the beach-side terrace of the nearby Hotel Romazzino this evening.

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Day Two of the Rolex Swn Cup in Porto Cervo, Sardinia

Swan 45 start. Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.

On Day Two of the Rolex Swan Cup 2010, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and underway until Sunday 19th September in Costa Smeralda (Sardinia), the 92 boats enrolled had a brief wait for the breeze to fill in before the first starting signal was sounded at 1 p.m. The overall leaders at the conclusion of today’s racing were the Swan 90 DSK Pioneer Investment (ITA) in the Maxi class, Silveren Swaen (NED) in the Grand Prix class and Monsoon Jaguar (GBR) among the Classics. Meanwhile in the one-design fleets Earlybird (GER) occupies the top spot in the battle for the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship while Kora 4 (ITA) continues to lead in the Club Swan 42 class.The Swan 45s completed a further three windward-leeward races today, bringing them to a total of five races completed in the series. Today’s first race, which got underway in approximately 8 knots of north north-westerly breeze which would gradually shift left over the course of the afternoon, went to Charisma (NED), owned by Nico Poons and with New Zealand sailor Ray Davies calling tactics. Tea Ekengren’s Blue Nights (FIN) which has Jochen Schuemann on tactics came in second. The second race saw Charisma take her second bullet of the day ahead of Jeroboam Ca’nova (ITA), owned by Swan 45 class President Vittorio Codecasa. Today’s third and final race started in approximately 8 knots of wind from 300° which shifted dramatically during the first downwind leg resulting in the course being repositioned during racing to 190°. Earlybird, owned by Hendrik Brandis won the final race ahead of Vittorio Ruggero’s Talj (ITA) in second, this second bullet was sufficient to bring Brandis to the top of the overall classification ahead of Charisma and Belgium’s Samantaga–Duvel owned by Philippe Moorgat and Patrick Van Henr. The Swan 42s completed two windward-leewards with the third race being abandoned due to the impossibility of setting the course during the wind shift that affected the Swan 45s. Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 took her third consecutive bullet in the first race. Scerni won in this class in the 2008 edition of the Rolex Swan Cup and is certainly a strong competitor for the Rolex prize at the end of the week. Cuordileone (ITA) took second and Romania’s Natalia third.


Rolex Swan Cup 2010. Swan 90 DSK - Maxi class. Credits: Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex.

In the second race of the day it was Nautor’s Swan President Leonardo Ferragamo, with America’s Cup legend Paul Cayard calling tactics aboard his Cuordileone, who dominated. Kora 4 took second with Natalia in third. The overall classification still sees Kora in first place with a five-point delta from Natalia, Cuordileone is in third.The Maxi class groups together the 21 largest boats in the fleet, from the 18.3 metre Swan 601s @Robas and Cuordisole to the three competing 30-metre Frers-designed Swan 100s Fantasticaaaniene (ITA), Hoppetosse (ITA) and Varsovie (USA). The class completed a 31 mile course which brought them from the start off Porto Cervo to round Spargi to starboard before doubling back to Porto Cervo. DSK Pioneer Investment was once again the fastest boat around the course in real time, a lead she retained in corrected time ahead of the Swan 112 Mystery and the Swan 90 White Lie (ITA). DSK’s win today puts Salsi in first place overall, knocking Johann Killinger’s Swan 60 Emma into second place ahead of White Lie.The Grand Prix class – 24 boats under 18.29 metres - were set a 21 mile course from Porto Cervo to the Secca Tre Monti. The Swan 56 Vanish II (ITA) took line honours but slipped back to fifth place in corrected time while the top spots were taken by P.H.J. Bakker’s Swan 53 Silveren Swaen, Crilia (GER) and the Swan 56 Clem (ESP) respectively. The overall classification sees the Dutch boat lead Clem by one point which is in turn one point ahead of the Swan 53 Crilia.Peter Simon’s Monsoon Jaguar was the fastest around the same course among the Sparkman & Stephens designed models competing in the Classic class. She also led in corrected time with two Italian boats, Giuseppe Puttini’s Shirlaf and Francesco Persio’s Dream in second and third place respectively, all three boats retain the same positions in the overall classification. Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow, 16th September at 11.30 AM with all classes frollowing a coastal course.For further information including the entry list, NOR, courses and full results please visit http://www.yccs.it/ , http://www.regattanews.com/ or http://www.holidays-in-sardinia.com/ for accomodation in Sardinia, Costa Smeralda, Olbia and Porto Cervo.

New TriStar222 Sardinia at the Costa Smeralda in October 2010

The prestigious Emerald Coast Costa Smeralda in Northern Sardinia is home to the high-quality long distance triathlon event in Italy on the 3rd of October 2010. The TriStar222 Sardinia Arzachena Costa Smeralda is situated in one of the most beautiful areas of Italy, where white sands meet crystal clear waters, the Emerald Coast. The first long distance triathlon in Italy entails 2km of swimming, 200km of cycling and 20km.

“TriStar222 Sardinia offers one of my favourite cycling routes, attractive from the standpoint of scenery and at the same time challenging in terms of racing, thanks to the rolling landscapes. The hilly layout will enable all athletes to compete in agility and strength, and at the same time it will make the competition even more exciting”

says Martina Dogana, Italian Champion in triathlon who has participated in developing the race in Sardinia.
The 2km swim takes place in the clear waters of the Bay of Cannigione (Arzachena), in the province of Olbia. The 200km cycling portion follows a single-loop course entirely closed for traffic. Once in the vicinity of Arzachena, triathletes will head east towards Porto Cervo sailing around the headland on the west of Cannigione. Once back near Arzachena, the circuit will turn towards the coast in the North-East to Palau. Then athletes will follow the coastal road through Santa Teresa di Gallura until Aglientu, where the course will enter into the wild hinterlands of Northern Sardinia distinguished by the classical Mediterranean bush through Luogosanto, Tempio Pausania, Luras, Calangianus, Sant'Antonio di Gallura and back to Cannigione. The 20km run course consists of a very fast circuit of 5 km, entirely flat along the seafront of Cannigione, to be completed 4 times.

For Registration and Info: http://www.tristar222sardinia.com/

Daily Telegraph: Sardinia: The lure of the Emerald Coast

Daily Telegraph has dedicated a long article to Sardinia and its Emerald Coast in the North of the Island in its September 2nd 2009 issue. In its article "Sardinia: The lure of the Emerald Coast" Telegraph correspondent Oliver Smith writes about leisure time in Costa Smeralda, the best accomodation between Olbia and Palau, how to arrive at Olbia airport, where to spend the morning, lunch and dinner time and gives hints about golfing, going out and shopping

Daily Telegraph: The lure of the Emerald Coast