Penultimate day at Rolex Swan Cup

by Key Partners (KPMS) on 17 Sep 2006
The leaders in the Swan 45, 601 and Grand Prix classes have all enjoyed epic tussles on the penultimate day of the 2006 Rolex Swan Cup, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, to set up some intriguing battles in the quest for overall honours tomorrow.

Artemis and DSK Comifin lead the one-design classes, whilst Aqua Equinox extends her lead in the Grand Prix division. Jacobite close to victory in Classic division.

After a final race in which the Swan 45 regatta leaders appeared to be linked by an umbilical cord, Danilo Salsi's DSK Comifin (ITA) has a six point lead over Dick Weismann's Vixen (USA). Having dominated the 29 strong fleet from nine countries, the two yachts again finished both races today locked together.

At the first mark of the day, Salsi might have been excused for thinking about the chance of wrapping up the title a day early. Leading Vixen by seven boats, the Italian regatta leaders looked to make their lead unassailable. However, DSK got caught on the wrong side of a shift down the run and at the leeward mark, Vixen had not only overtaken her but had managed to place four boats between them. With America's Cup sailor Pietro D'Alí calling the tactics, DSK managed to overtake Vixen on the final leg and finish one place ahead of Weismann's team.

Pietro D'Alí summed up today's racing: 'Today we kept a close eye on Vixen as they are our direct rival. Fortunately they have a worst discard than us, so we will be able to sail in tomorrow's race with a little more confidence than them.

'Today's first race was definitely more challenging than the second because of the frequent wind shifts, especially the one that occurred just after the start when the breeze went all the way to the right. We were sailing in the centre group and we tried to reach the pack on the right but we got caught in between two boats and struggled to free ourselves.

On the first run Vixen was behind us and I insisted too much on the left side of the run, which was the favoured one at the beginning. But the wind shifted again and when I had to gybe back we were sailing at a bad angle in light air. Vixen was able to make some good gains and overtake us. In the second run we kept to the left again and that paid well, as the wind shifted right and enabled us to sail on a fast and direct route to the finish. We were able to beat Vixen, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.'

Despite a good week so far, Dick Weismann is determined to push for the Rolex Submariner tomorrow: 'We're having a great time and we're really pleased with what we've accomplished so far, but we're here to win.'

'We sailed our own race today. We were sailing against the whole fleet and not just one boat. Our view is that we are trying to do a good race. period. Our strategy was the same as always, to not make too many mistakes and try to make no significant mistakes, sail a clean race and persevere, always persevere, never to give in even when you're looking not so good. We're in the game tomorrow; there are thirty boats in the race. The strategy will be the same again; to sail a clean race and not worry about one boat but to worry about all the boats.'

In the Swan 601 fleet James Swartz's 007 entry Moneypenny (USA) recorded a victory to close the gap on Torbjorn Torquist's Artemis (SWE) which has Russell Coutts on board calling tactics. Swartz has a tough challenge tomorrow, to record a victory and put a boat between his Swan 601 and the Swedish yacht, something they have not yet achieved in series.

Dee Smith tactician on Swan 601 Moneypenny believes that the American team can mount a challenge for overall honours: 'We came well prepared and the crew are confident going into tomorrow's race.'

Commenting on the race today, Smith outlined how the team had escaped Coutts' clutches: 'We did have a strong start but Artemis was right on our tail throughout the race. We were quick sailing downwind and on the run we were able to pick up even more speed. At one point we gained a five boat length cushion, allowing us to select our mark.

'Our sailing up wind was great, we really broke away. We caused a few problems for Artemis, directing them into a couple of shifts that really affected them. Racing has been close, we've never sailed in such consistently light winds and it's a good experience.'

Russell Coutts, Swan 601 Artemis: 'We did gybe early on in the race but I thought it was a good time to separate. We came out even at the bottom mark but Moneypenny gained initiative on the second upward leg, forcing us the wrong way about three quarters of the way up.

The America's Cup legend was quick to compliment the crew on Moneypenny. 'We didn't make too many mistakes out there, Moneypenny just sailed really well. Every race has been competitive - now the focus is on results tomorrow and I know it will be a good race.'

The competition in the Grand Prix fleet remains equally fierce. Swan 100 Fantasticaaa, co-owned by Lanfranco Cirillo and Leonid Mikchalson took line honours today, but Filip Balcaen's Aqua Equinox (BEL) won on corrected time to extend her lead over Massimo Dentice's Swan 70 Bugia Bianca (ITA). The Belgian entry has a four point lead going into the final race.

Dentice is clear on the challenge ahead: 'Aqua Equinox is sailing so well and we really need a clear win tomorrow to beat them. After a good day, we are feeling confident, very determined and will fight the Swan 56 all the way. We did have a close race with the 70s and can't afford to get caught up with them tomorrow, it happened today and they slow us down. It will be a fun race tomorrow and so long as we can avoid the larger boats we stand a good chance of winning this class.'

In the Classic Fleet Stephen & Benedict James have had their lead slightly eroded after a fourth place finish in Swan 48 Jacobite (GBR). William Kardash's Swan 44 Aura (USA) is capable of overhauling the British entry, but requires a win tomorrow and James' team to finish worse than fourth.

Andrew McLeuland, tactician on Jacobite explained their position in the race today. 'Our biggest mistake was at the start as most of the pressure came from the left hand side, pushing us further right than we wanted to be. We gained speed at Bomb Alley, pulling ourselves back into and it was really a drag race around the rest of the course. We are feeling very positive about tomorrow, it is important to us that we win the race.'

Tonight the crews will relax at the Rolex Crew Party before the final race showdown.

CURRENT PROVISIONAL STANDINGS - Top 3 boats

Swan 45
1. DSK COMIFIN Danilo Salsi ITA, 1/4/3/4/1/(9)/6/19.0
2. VIXEN Dick Weismann USA, (22)/1/1/3/5/10/5/25.0
3. PLENTY Alexander Roepers USA, 3/10/8/9/9/1/(17)/40.0

Swan 601
1. ARTEMIS Torbjorn Tornquist SWE, 1/2/1/2/1/(2)/7.0
2. MONEYPENNY James R. Swartz USA, 2/(3)/2/1/2/1/8.0
3. CUOR DI LEONE Leonardo Ferragamo ITA, 3/1/3/4/3/(4)/14.0

Grand Prix
1. AQUA EQUINOX Swan 56 Filip Balcaen BEL, 2/1/3/1/7.0
2. BUGIA BIANCA Swan 70 Massimo Dentice ITA, 1/7 (Pen)/1/2/11.0
3. FAVONIUS Swan 80 Roel Pieper SWE, 5/3/2/4/14.0

Classic
1. JACOBITE Swan 48 Stephen and Benedict James GBR, 1/1/2/4/8.0
2. JUNKANOO Swan 44 Colin Buffin GBR, 4/5/3/1/13.0
3. AURA Swan 44 William J. Kardash USA, 2/2/7/2/13.0

The fleets that have completed five races benefit from one discard.

For more information about the Rolex Swan Cup 2006 including entry lists and results please visit www.rolexswancup.com.