Currently in the lead of Swan Sardinia Challenge in Porto Cervo are ClubSwan 50 Sparti; G-Spot and Vitamina are tied in the ClubSwan 36 Class; Koyré-Spirit of Nerina is in the lead of the ClubSwan 42s and Ulika is leading the Swan 45 Class.
Both the weather forecast and the racing schedule were right on time for the second day of racing at the event, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda together with Nautor’s Swan and ClubSwan Racing.
Punctually at 12:00 CEST the Race Committee, headed by Principal Race Officer, Arianne Mainemare, began starting procedures for the first of the day’s three scheduled windward/leeward races.
Thanks to a Mistral breeze at 12 knots that gradually built to 20 over the course of the day, conditions were perfect. Conditions like today’s are Porto Cervo’s international claim to fame; sparkling sea, perfect breeze, stunning natural scenery.
The teams could vent their passion for sailing and test their skills on tricky beats, close crossings and adrenaline-fueled runs. The ClubSwan 50s and ClubSwan 36es especially performed at their best in today’s conditions.
Some teams are looking strong, but often teams alternate in the leading positions from one race to the next as so often happens in top-level One Design racing.
In the ClubSwan 50s, the Russian team aboard Dmitri Rybolovlev’s Sparti, with the Spanish gold medalist Fernando Echavarri calling tactics, currently has a two-point lead over the second placed team, Marcus Brennecke’s Hatari, which placed 4-2-1 today.
Leonardo Ferragamo’s Cuordileone, after having won the day’s first race, bounced back from an OCS, recovering positions to finish third in the second race. Earlybird, yesterday’s winner, had to withdraw after breaking her bowsprit after a small collision.
Echavarri commented from Sparti: “Conditions were ideal for racing and the ClubSwan 50 fleet is very competitive. We were fast both up and downwind. We performed well overall with excellent manoeuvring aboard. We’re happy to be here in Porto Cervo and it’s fantastic to see that we’re in the lead.”
The ClubSwan 36 results seem to be shared around a couple of teams; Andrea Lacorte’s Vitamina and G-Spot, owned by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio. The two are tied for points in first place and both won a race each today.
“Our duels with G-Spot are always interesting – and fun too,” said Lacorte, owner/helmsman aboard Vitamina. Giangiacomo Serena is an old friend and a formidable adversary.”
The Pavesio brothers Fra Martina is currently in third place while Lorenzo Mondo’s Farstar, winner of a race today, is fourth.
Koyré-Spirit of Nerina is currently leading the ClubSwan 42s. Owned by Luca Formentini with Roberto Spata on tactics, this boat placed 1-2-2 today. Second place for Pedro Vaquer Comas’ Nadir, while Pit Finis’ Dralion is third.
“After yesterday’s win we got another bullet today plus two second places,” said Roberto Spata, Koiré’s tactician. “We’re in the lead for now and it’s wonderful days of hard sailing.
“Porto Cervo is always fantastic, a unique place with today’s Mistral. Our Class is always compact with photo finish endings, which isn’t easy because the Swan 45’s sail together but differently from us.”
In the Swan 45 class, two wins and a fourth have put Stefano Masi’s Ulika, with Edoardo Mancinelli Scotti on tactics, in the lead, ahead of Lennard van Oeveren’s Motions and Klaus Diederichs’ Fever.
“We have only been sailing Ulika for a few years. At first we were sailing in ORC rating regattas and were doing very well, we only started racing One Design races last year. This is our first time winning a prize for a day and we’re feeling a real emotion,” owner Stefano Masi said.
In fact, in a ceremony in Piazza Azzurra the winners of the day were awarded prizes by Garmin Marine, sponsor of the second day of racing at the Swan Sardinia Challenge.
Racing is scheduled to begin tomorrow at 12:00 CEST in Mistral conditions similar to today’s: between 14 and 20 knots.
Full results: https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=14600
