2015 Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean preview

by Jill Campbell on 4 Mar 2015 Competition at the second edition of the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean gets underway at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's base in Virgin Gorda, the British Virgin Islands tomorrow, Wednesday 4 March.

A fleet of 21 Swan yachts, comprising an array of different models from seven different countries and territories will contest an eagerly anticipated week of action in the Virgin Gorda archipelago.

Four days of racing are scheduled for the two classes of Swan, Class A (18.29m and above) and Class B (18.28m and below), starting with tomorrow's alluring Around the Islands Race.

The competition was inaugurated two years ago to mark the expansion of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's activities to the Caribbean. The event immediately captured the attention of the sailing world, providing the scenic, tactical sailing competitors have been accustomed to at the longstanding biennial Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo. A convivial atmosphere and host of popular social occasions add further lustre and excitement to the week. 'For this second edition of the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean we are happy to have a fleet of 21 boats, many of whom compete regularly in Porto Cervo and are now joining our regattas in the Caribbean,' explained YCCS Sports Director Edoardo Recchi. 'Conditions from tomorrow are expected to be fairly stable with an easterly wind of around 20-22 knots falling slightly to 15-18 knots by Saturday. We will be setting different courses for the fleet which will allow the range of yachts to show off their best performances'.

James C Madden's Swan 601 Stark Raving Mad from the United States is the defending champion in Class A and eager to defend its title. 'We are going to do our best to win but we are also here to have fun as it's a great event,' revealed Madden. 'To win, it's about making no mistakes. You've got to get the sails up and down, turn around the marks and through the islands without any errors because I am sure all of the boats are going to be pretty well sailed here.' Competition will be provided by Swan 80 Selene, runner-up in 2013, and by Swan 90s Freya and Odin as well as Leonardo Ferragamo's Swan 90S Solleone.

In Class B, Swan 53 Music, Swan 53 Naia'a and Swan 56 White Rhino all featured in the inaugural 2013 event and will use that experience to their advantage. The Club Swan 42 Kora, owned by Paolo Scerni of Italy is the week's smallest entrant.

Racing starts tomorrow, Wednesday 4th March at 1100 local time (AST).