Rolex Swan Cup 2010 - Swans go long

by Jill Campbell on 17 Sep 2010 Rolex Swan Cup 2010 - On the third race day, each of the five competing divisions (Maxi, Grand Prix, Classics, Swan 45, Club Swan 42) completed a 'Long Islands Race' as scheduled.

The fleet of 92 Nautor’s Swan yachts enrolled in the regatta, organized by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 1980, were accompanied by 20 to 25 yachts of westerly breeze for the best part of the day and racing lasted between 5 and 8 hours approximately for the various divisions.

The occupants of the top spots in the overall classifications remain unchanged with Danilo Salsi’s DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) continuing to lead in the Maxi class, Peter Simon’s Moonsoon Jaguar (GBR) in the Classic class and Silveren Swaen (NED) in the Grand Prix class. Overall leaders in the one-design classes have not changed since yesterday either: among the nine Swan 45s racing in the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship Earlybird (GER) owned by Hendrik Brandis retains first place while in the Club Swan 42 class Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 heads the leaderboard.

The Maxi class was set a 63 nautical mile course which took them from the start off Porto Cervo to leave the Monaci island to port before heading south and along the channel between the coast of Sardinia and the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. At the main island of La Maddalena the Maxis turned north to round Barettinelli di Fuori to port and double back towards the coastline and onward to the French islands of Lavezzi approximately 6 miles off Corsica. From Lavezzi the fleet embarked on a long downwind run around the outside of the archipelago and south to Mortoriotto before turning for the finish at the entrance to the bay of Porto Cervo.

First out of the box in the Maxi class were the usual suspects: the Swan 90 White Lie (ITA), the Swan 100 Fantasticaaaniene (ITA) with Vasco Vascotto on tactics and the Swan 90 DSK led the fleet around the island of Barettinelli di Fuori, approximately one third of the way around the course. As the front-runners in the class crossed the finish line off Porto Cervo shortly after 5 p.m.

DSK continued to lead but it was the newly-launched Swan 80 Berenice that crossed the line second ahead of White Lie while Fantasticaaniene was forced to withdraw after having ripped three of her sails. DSK dropped back to fourth in corrected time. First place on handicap went to the Swan 80 Astra del Est (AUT) followed by Berenice and the Swan 82 Nikata (GBR). DSK retains her overall lead 3 points ahead of Johann Killinger’s Swan 60 Emma and the Swan 112 Mystery.

DSK’s owner Danilo Salsi commented: 'We had not a good start, we had to go back to the start line, and start again but now with all the big boats in front of us. At the first mark we were seventh, so we had to pass all the big boats. We only passed White Lie down by Motoriotto. Down there it was a complete change in the programme because the Sciroco from the south came up against the mistral. Because we were the first of the fleet, we stayed a long time changing from the spinnaker to the jib – it was a lot of work for the crew so we are going to have a good dinner tonight!'

The Grand Prix, Swan 45 and 42 classes followed a 47 mile course which took them along the coast and to Lavezzi where they turned west and completed the same downwind leg and finish as the Maxis.

The first Swan 45 to round the mark at Lavezzi was Hendrik Brandis’ Earlybird, at Barettinelli the fleet was closely grouped but Earlybird continued to lead followed by Vittorio Codecasa’s Jeroboam (ITA) and Andrea Masi’s Ulika (ITA). It was Tea Ekengren’s Blue Nights (FIN) with Jochen Scheumann on tactics, however, that led the Belgian Samantaga-Duval and Earlybird across the finish line. With this race having a weighted value of 1.5 Earlybird’s still leads the overall classification but is now followed by Samantaga-Duvel owned by Philippe Moorgat and Patrick Van Henr. Nico Poons’ Charisma (NED) slips back to third.

Kora 4’s domination of the Frers-designed Club Swan 42 class was threatened today as Leonardo Ferragamo’s Swan 42 Cuordileone, with Paul Cayard calling tactics, had another good day. Although Brandis led the fleet around Barettinelli, Ferragamo was able to overtake her on the homeward run to take victory. Long Echo (GBR) came in third behind Kora 4. The overall classification sees Kora 4 retain her lead with three bullets and two second places in the five races completed. Cuordileone is in second place and Natalia (ROM)in third.

Amanda Hartley’s Swan 56 Clem (ESP) took line honours in the Grand Prix fleet and P.H.J. Bakker’s Swan 53 Silveren Swaen (NED) took victory in corrected time ahead of Merel 4 (GBR) and Atalante 2 (BEL). Just two points separate the top three boats in the overall classification for this group. Silveren Swaen maintains a slim lead over Clem in second and Crilia (GER), owned by Heinz-Gerd Stein in third.

The Swan 65 Monsoon Jaguar led the Classic Sparkman & Stephens class around their 36-mile course which brought them from Porto Cervo to Monaci and up along the coast before turning for Barettinelli and heading downwind to the finish off Porto Cervo. Moonsoon Jaguar placed third in corrected time behind another two Swan 65s, Giuseppe Puttini’s Shirlaf (ITA) and Cassiopeia. Jaguar now sits on five points, as does Shirlaf but the British boat retains her lead overall thanks to two bullets gained in the first two days. Francesco Persio’s Swan 47 Dream is in third place.

Tomorrow will be a well-deserved lay day for all of the boats except the Swan 45 fleet who will continue battling for the title of World Champion. Racing is scheduled to start at 12 midday. Shifty southerly winds of 8-10 knots are predicted.

Owners will enjoy a gala dinner hosted by the YCCS and Rolex at the YCCS Clubhouse tomorrow evening while on Saturday Rolex will host a crew party.

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