2015 Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean - Early leaders hold firm

by Jill Campbell on 6 Mar 2015 Superb sailing conditions once again characterized the second day of racing at the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean 2015. The event, organized by longstanding partners Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Nautor's Swan and Rolex, is underway at the yacht club's Caribbean base in Virgin Gorda through Saturday 7th March and sees 21 Swan yachts participating.

Racing started on schedule at 11.00 with the prevailing easterly blowing at approximately 20 knots. After yesterday's circumnavigation of the island, the Race Committee today sent the fleet - split into two classes - on coastal courses that took them from the start off Necker Island to round the Dog Islands archipelago to port. From here the Class B yachts headed upwind to the finish off Necker for a total course length of 22 nautical miles. The larger Class A boats meanwhile continued south to round Ginger Island before returning to cross the same finish line for a total of 26 nautical miles.

Both of yesterday's winners, Swan 80 Selene (Class A) and Swan 53 Music (Class B), put in near-perfect performances once again to rack up their second consecutive bullets. In Class A Swan 90 Odin, owned by Tom Siebel, also produced some top-class sailing leaving her just two points behind the division leader. Last year's division winner Stark Raving Mad sits in third place. In Class B James Blakemore's Music was followed by Swan 48 Affinity in second.

'The first two days have gone really well, it's a lot of fun and a beautiful place to sail so we've had a great time. We've made a few errors which have cost us time. It's a fantastic venue to go sailing, stunning, it's very hard to concentrate when you have you are looking at all of the beautiful beaches and scenery!' commented America's Cup veteran Sean Clarkson, trimming on board Swan 90 Odin.

YCCS Member Vittorio Codecasa, owner of Swan 45 Jeroboam Ca Nova which placed third in today's race in Class B, said 'We had a very good race. We were leading the fleet up until the last mile, where Music caught a gust, passed us and went on to win. The location is beautiful, very much like sailing in Sardinia where the yacht club has its Mediterranean base.'

Owners and crews will be relaxing away from the race course tonight at a special Full Moon Beach Party at nearby Biras Creek Resort.

Racing continues tomorrow, Friday 6th March with the easterly breeze forecast to continue, falling just slightly to around 18 knots. The first start is scheduled for 11.00. (AST).

For further information visit event website.