Festival of sailing - Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

by Jill Campbell on 11 Sep 2007 It’s not often one gets the chance to see Neville Crichton’s ultra-modern Reichel-Pugh designed Maxi sloop Alfa Romeo (NZL) take to a starting line alongside Tuiga (MON), the Yacht Club Monaco’s 30 metre 1909 launched Fife sloop, and a fleet of Smeralda 888s, but that was the sight enjoyed by numerous lucky spectators at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 40th Anniversary Regatta this morning.

A total of fifty boats spanning virtually the entire history and size spectrum of international yachting assembled in Porto Cervo to help the Club, founded by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1967, celebrate forty years of challenges, innovation and sportsmanship.

Although the fleet was divided into various divisions for scoring purposes a single start was given at 12 midday before competitors set off on a 22 mile course which would take them southwards to the islands of Mortorio and Soffi before rounding a mark in the bay of Cala di Volpe and heading back to Mortoriotto and onwards to the finish line off Porto Cervo.

For the fifteen participating maxi yachts today’s race saw things shaken up a little compared to last week’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup as Alfa Romeo for once did not manage to lead the fleet the entire way around the course. George David’s Rambler (USA) won the start and Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki (AUS) was also looking strong as she held second place almost as far as Mortorio before Alfa Romeo overtook her then went on to pass Rambler rounding the island of Soffi and crossed the finish line in first place.

Also present were many representatives of the International 12 metre class, the craft used in the America’s Cup from 1958 to 1987. Two-time America’s Cup winner Courageous (USA), with James Gubelmaar at led this pack around the course from the offset. The Brazilians of Wright on White almost managed to overtake just metres away from the finish line but Courageous held tight and came in just 4 seconds ahead in real time, followed closely by Patrizio Bertelli’s Kookaburra II in third place. Bill Koch, onboard Kiwi magic, sat back in fifth place on corrected time.

A number of Italian, English and Spanish boats from the South-African Southern Wind Shipyard were also present and Beppe Gentile’s Illusion of the Isle (GBR) got off to a great start and held the lead for most of the course but was overtaken at the Cala di Volpe mark by Gunter Herz’ Allsmoke (GBR) who held onto the lead and also took victory on corrected time.

The overall winner of the event on corrected time was Luigi Arturo Carpaneda with his Bottadritta 5, a Ron Holland designed sloop. As a YCCS member Carpaneda is also winner of the YCCS Social Championship.

The overall winner and various division winners will be awarded trophies specially designed by Asprey for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s 40th Anniversary. The prizegiving will take place during an open-air party at Porto Cervo Marina this evening which will host over 1,000 invited guests.

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda rounds off their year of anniversary celebrations with today’s event but the racing does not stop here: the International 12 metre class will be racing in Porto Cervo from tomorrow, 11th September until Thursday 13th while racing also begins in the Rolex Veteran Boat Rally begins on Thursday. After a few days rest the YCCS Calendar continues with the Rolex TP52 Global Championship (21st-29th September) and the Moby M30 World Championship (1st-7th October) before the Club transfers to Tenerife for the start of the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (26th November).

For more details please visit www.yccs.it.

RESULTS - Overall Winers - YCCS 40th Anniversary Regatta

1st CLASSIFIED – BOTTA DRITTA 5 – LUIGI CARPANEDA, ITA
2nd CLASSIFIED – COURAGEOUS – JAMES GUBELMAAR, USA
3rd CLASSIFIED – ALFA ROMEO – NEVILLE CRICHTON, NZL

International 12 metre class

COURAGEOUS – JAMES GUBELMAAR, USA

Maxi Boats

ALFA ROMEO – NEVILLE CRICHTON, NZL

Non-maxi Boats

BOTTA DRITTA 5 – LUIGI CARPANEDA, ITA

Smeralda 888

GIADA – VITTORIO CODECASA, ITA

Southern Wind Maxi

1st CLASSIFIED – ALL SMOKE – GHUNTER HERTZ (GER)

Vintage Boats

EMERAUD – VITTORIO CAVAZZANA, ITA

YCCS Social Championship

BOTTA DRITTA 5 – LUIGI CARPANEDA, ITA