Porto Cervo, 19 September 2024. The third day of racing at the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup brought a northeasterly wind of 7-10 knots, allowing the competition to start on schedule at 12 noon CEST and all planned races to be completed.
The Swan One Design classes had a dedicated windward-leeward race course, which hosted the debut of the new ClubSwan 28 class boats. The remaining classes, competing in compensated time, sailed on coastal courses – 21 miles for the Division A Swan Maxi and 18 miles for all other divisions. After rounding the offset mark 1.5 miles from the starting line, followed by a reaching leg to the second mark, the fleet headed downwind towards the islands of Mortorio and Soffi, which mark the southernmost point of the La Maddalena archipelago. Having rounded Soffi, the Swan fleet turned back upwind towards Porto Cervo, with only the Division A boats continuing to a mark off the starting line and doubling back to round Mortoriotto again before turning for the finish line.
The winners of today’s race in Group 1 were:
Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 80 Umiko; Maxi Cruiser, Swan 90 Freya; Mini Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 60 Sea Quill; Mini Maxi Cruiser, Swan 65 Marlin II; S&S Racing, Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino; S&S Classic, Swan 47 Dream; Swan Grand Prix, Swan 45 Tengher; Swan Cruiser, Swan 53 Bedouin.
In Division A Swan Maxi, the Swan 90 Freya continued her unbeaten run of victories and sits ahead of Hummingbird in the provisional overall classification. The Swan 60CR Sea Quill also racked up a hat-trick of wins in the Swan Mini Maxi class, followed by the Swan 601 @robas.
Andrea Fornaro, skipper of Sea Quill: “Before the Rolex Swan Cup we followed a meticulous process that is paying off, we prepared the boat carefully, the crew is of a high level, we have always done everything well, from the starts to tacking and manoeuvres, we are happy of course. The icing on the cake is the presence on board of Young Azzurra athlete Maddalena Spanu. She has immediately adapted to the complexity of a maxi compared to the Wingfoil, where she is world champion, she actively collaborates with the crew, she’s certainly not a passenger!”
The Division B S&S Classic sees the Swan 47CB Matilda in the top spot, followed by the Swan 36 Isabella and Swan 44 Solano on equal points. In Division B S&S Racing, the Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino XXXIII leads on equal points with the Swan 48 Elan, with the Swan 65 Shirlaf in third place.
The Swan 54 Katima of Germany holds on to her lead in the provisional classification in Division C Cruiser ahead of the winner of the day, the Australian Swan 53CB Bedouin. The modified Swan 45 From Now On leads the classification in Division C Grand Prix, ahead of the winner of the day, another modified Swan 45, Tengher.
Today’s winners in Group 2 were:
Clubswan 28, Anya Race; Clubswan 36, Fra Martina; Clubswan 42, Canopo; Clubswan 45, Ex Officio; Clubswan 50, Moonlight.
In the ClubSwan 50 Class, Olymp managed to stay on top thanks to discarding an 11th-place finish in today’s second race after placing third in the first race of the day. Moonlight and Perhonen claimed victory in today’s two windward-leewards.
In the ClubSwan 36 class, Fra Martina climbs to the top of the provisional ranking thanks to a first and a second place today. She is followed by Black Seal and Cuordileone, who claimed a first and a third place today. “It was obviously a positive day in terms of the result,” commented Fra Martina’s tactician Lorenzo Bressani, “but a challenging one with a light and shifty breeze, combined with waves of about 80 centimetres. We are very happy with the speed of our boat.”
The Swan 45 Ulika maintains the lead in the provisional classification, just one point ahead of Greek yacht Ex Officio, winner of the day.
Canopo remains unchallenged in the ClubSwan 42 class, blazing ahead with a series of five bullets. “These results are the fruits of a journey that began last year,” explained tactician Michele Regolo, “championship after championship we work on the details. This season we took two second places at the Copa della Reina in Valencia and at the Copa del Rey in Palma, we were always missing that extra something, but thanks to in-depth post-event analysis we have managed to improve in every area, we’re doing well but it’s important to stayed focused.”
Claiming the opening victory in the first outing for the ClubSwan 28 class was Anya Race, scoring a first and a third place today, with Enrico Zennaro on board as mainsail trimmer and tactician. Marcello and Django follow.
Owners will be guests of Nautor Swan tonight for the Owner’s Dinner on the terrace of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, one of the highlights of the social calendar at the Rolex Swan Cup. The Rolex Dinner Party, open to all regatta participants, will take place tomorrow evening.
Racing continues tomorrow at 12 noon CEST, with the ClubSwan 28 and 36 classes set to race on windward-leeward courses, while all other classes sail a coastal race. The forecast is for a light north-easterly of between 7 and 10 knots.
For further information, results, the entry list, programme, photos
