The ClubSwan Racing focus shifts to the magnificent location of Villasimius at the end of May for the Swan Sardinia Challenge, a new location for the race teams competing in The Nations League series at venues across the Mediterranean.
Based in the Marina di Villasimius on the tip of Sardinia’s southeast coast, the Swan Sardinia Challenge has attracted a fleet of almost 30 one-design Swan yachts across three classes – the renowned Swan 45s, the ultra-modern ClubSwan 36s and what will be the season’s largest gathering of the high-performance ClubSwan 50s – between them flying the flag for at least 12 countries.
“The Swan Sardinia Challenge is a top-level regatta, the second event of The Nations League, a circuit dedicated to Swan One Design,” said Renato Marconi, CEO of Marinedi, the owners of Marina di Villasimius.
“At Marinedi Group we are pleased and proud to welcome our involvement in this coveted circuit for the first time in the wonderful waters of Villasimius.
“[We have] hosted the best international classes for years, with the aim of becoming a centre of excellence for sailing worldwide, and Swan is now part of that!”
With four days of high-intensity racing to be held in the spectacular setting of the Capo Carbonara Protected Marine Area, the event also offers ClubSwan Racing an ideal opportunity to highlight its sustainable initiatives.
These include the use of robotic marks by MarkSetBot which eliminate damage to the seabed, and ongoing collaborations with the Marevivo environmental group’s project to remove plastic from Calasetta Beach.
The Swan Sardinia Challenge – which is co-organised with the Lega Navale Italiana’s Villasimius section – will again bring together a highly competitive combination of professional racers and passionate and enthusiastic Corinthian sailors, while the enlarged fleet promises to raise the racing intensity a further notch from last month’s Tuscany Challenge.
The ClubSwan 50 fleet in particular has grown with the addition of Norway’s Proxflyer and a triple-boost for the German contingent with the arrival of long-standing class member Niramo, and more recent members Olymp and Tango.
“It is great to be joining the ClubSwan Racing party and we are looking forward to the challenge of racing in such a competitive fleet,” said Dr. Christian Kilger, owner of ClubSwan 50 Tango.
“Sardinia is our second home and to be sailing in this spectacular marine national park Capo Carbonara with yellow cluster anemones and red gorgonians passing under the hull of our Swan makes this a very special event to be participating in.”
At the same time the ClubSwan 36 class welcomes the appearance of Alex Kudlich on board Bracing Breeze, another asset for Germany in the Nations League, and Richard Thompson’s Black Seal flying the flag for Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
They will all face stiff competition from their hard-charging classmates, not least Italy’s Fra Martina who placed fourth in the season opener in Tuscany.
“We knew from the outset that the competition in the ClubSwan 36 class was going to be both fun and intense, and we saw the reality during last season,” said Vanni Pavesio, owner of Fra Martina and Class president.
“We just missed out on a place on the podium during Swan Tuscany Challenge, so we will be looking to go at least one better in Sardinia – in any case I am sure it will be a regatta to remember. For us, Swan Racing is not just about racing, but about sharing an exciting experience of joy and passion among 36 owners!”
Also joining the fray this time around are the redoubtable Swan 45s, with Italy well represented in the shape of Thetis, Ulika 45 and Blue Sky.
“We made the step up to the Swan 45 Class last year and we have never looked back, it is everything we hoped for and expected,” said Claudio Terrieri, owner of Blue Sky.
“ClubSwan Racing knows how to put on an event and we can’t wait to get going in Villasimius. The fleet is very competitive so we know we will have to be at our best, and that is what we have signed up for.”
Ashore in the Marina di Villasimius and with the patronage of Regione Sardegna and the town of Villasimius, as well as the Marinedi Group, ClubSwan Racing will also deliver its highly anticipated mix of social gatherings and celebratory daily prize-giving.
Among the highlights of the schedule are the opening cocktail party with wine provided by ClubSwan Racing Sparkling Partner Ferrari Trento, the owners’ cocktail and dinner party, during which a charity auction in support of the Marevivo beach clean project in Calasetta will take place, plus the Swan Sardinia Challenge Dinner Party.
The Swan Sardinia Challenge opens for registrations and measurements on Monday 30 May with a practice race scheduled for the following day. Four days of racing begin on Wednesday 1 June, concluding on Saturday 4 June.
Partners of the ClubSwan Racing 2022 One Design circuit are: Rolex, BMW, Randstad, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sease, Ferrari Trento, Banor, M&C Saatchi, North Sails, Quantum Sails, Gottifredi Maffioli, Garmin, B&G, Lavazza, Marevivo. The regatta management will be supported by the electric marks by Mark Set Bot.
How to follow the racing:
The Nations League 2022 dates:
- 26-30 April: Swan Tuscany Challenge
- 31 May-4 June: Swan Sardinia Challenge
- 5-9 July: Swan One Design Worlds
- 1-6 August: Copa del Rey
- 11-18 September: Rolex Swan Cup
- 4-8 October: ClubSwan 36 Europeans
