Big names for Swan 45 Gold Cup

by Annabel Merrison on 11 Oct 2004 Whilst America’s Cup Teams battle it out in Valencia, a whole host of former America’s Cup legends have headed to Capri for the Swan 45 Gold Cup.

Paul Cayard, Ed Baird, Andrew Cape, Tommaso Chieffi, Chris Law, Ian Budgen and Vasco Vascotti are among the big players competing in the first ever ‘world championship’ of the Swan 45 class.

Organised by the Yacht Club de Capri and the Yacht Club Italiano, the event will undoubtedly bare witness to some top class racing from 11th to 15th October, confirming the unprecedented success of this unique one-design class.

A dock which was this morning lined with 20 participants representing Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and USA, is now empty as the teams have headed out for a final practice race ahead of the first day of racing tomorrow.

Ed Baird, tactician onboard Tom Stark’s Rush, commented on the importance of preparation ahead the regatta.

‘Team and boat preparation suddenly becomes so much more important when you are racing in real time. Many of the teams here have raced together at the Farr 40 Worlds and the Rolex Swan Cup, where it was very evident that the level of competition was rapidly improving and all the teams are raising their game. These boats are so evenly matched that success comes down to skill, teamwork and tactics on the course,’ he said.

Racing will commence at 10.30am (CET) with the Ermenegildo Zegna Race Day. The fleet will compete in two windward-leeward races with a forecast of winds gusting between 12 and 15 knots.

Ermenegildo Zegna continues its connection with sailing through this new partnership with Nautor’s Swan. The International menswear brand will not only be sponsoring the first day of racing but also hosting the all important Opening Reception tonight.

Owners and their crews will celebrate the start of this exciting championship in one of the most spectacular venues in Italy - the beautiful Capri Palace Hotel and Spa in Anacapri.


Confirmed entries for the Swan 45 Gold Cup are as follows:


AMNESIA - Neil CHESTON (skipper), Great Britain


AXELLE S - Hubert WARGNY, France

AY! AY! AY! - Leopoldo GAVITO, France

CRACKERJACK - Keith MILLER (own/skip), Great Britain

CUOR DI LEONE - Freccia blu srl/Leonardo FERRAGAMO, Italy

DSK - Danilo SALSI, Italy

FEVER - Stuart MILLER (skipper), Great Britain

GOOMBAY SMASH - William DOUGLASS, USA

JEROBOAM - Vittorio CODECASA, Italy

KORA - 3 Paolo SCERNI, Italy

MASCALZONE LATINO - Vincenzo ONORATO, Italy

MINTAKA - Stefano POLTI, Italy

OPUS ONE - Wolfgang STOLZ (owner), Germany

PAPASTILLA - Fabio MONTAUTI (owner), Italy

Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Charles SWINGLAND, Great Britain

RUSH - Thomas L. STARK, USA

TALJ Vittorio – RUGGIERO, Italy

TWINS - Erik MARIS, France

VERTIGO - Marco SALVI/Alberto SIGNORINI, Great Britain

WISC - G. WILLIAMS, Great Britain


Web: www.nautorswan.com