Swan 82, DreamCatcher KM takes ARC Line Honours

by Fast Track on 10 Dec 2008
A Swan 82, DreamCatcher KM, owned by Karsten Möller, has outdone a fleet of 221 yachts to take line honours for ARC 2008, crossing the Rodney Bay finish line after racing for 13 days 23 hours and 44 minutes.

Both boat and the nine crew looked in great shape after their 2,700 mile transatlantic crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. After a crossing of just under 14 days in light and variable conditions, the first yacht to finish the ARC 2008 arrived at Rodney Bay, St. Lucia yesterday - Sunday 7 December.

The eleven Swan yachts still competing in the race fall into the cruising division with Swan 59 Chloe leading the remaining Swan fleet across the water. Further arrivals are expected during the next 24 hours and winds are predicted to become more settled with consistent tradewinds from late Tuesday/Wednesday according to the latest forecasts from Commander's Weather.

Currently, over half the fleet still have more than 1,000 miles to cover, and, whilst arrivals over the next few days will still remain quite low, the numbers will pick up significantly from Wednesday onwards.

The ARC Race forms the Swan Transatlantic Challenge, the trophy for which will be awarded to the highest placed Swan in the fleet according to the final corrected results.


THE SWAN CHALLENGE SERIES

Incorporating a range of prestigious regattas across an international racing circuit, the Swan Challenge series covers six regional categories, with the highest ranking Swan in each of the assigned events being awarded one of the Asprey Silver Swan Challenge trophies.

2008 Swan Challenge Winners:

Stay Calm, Swan 70 - Stuart Robinson Swan Caribbean Challenge (Antigua Sailing Week)

Babe, Swan 46 - Colin Couper Swan Eastern American Challenge (Newport Bermuda Race)

Desperado, Swan 65 - Richard Loftus Swan Northern European Challenge (Skandia Cowes Week)

Lusso Lupa, Club Swan 42 - John Lango Swan Baltic Sea Challenge (Flensburger Fordewoche)

Cuordileone, CS42 - Leonardo Ferragamo Swan Med Challenge (Les Voiles de St. Tropez)

Swan Transatlantic Challenge (ARC) to be decided November 2008


2009 Challenge Series:

Stanford Antigua Week Swan Caribbean Challenge 26 April – 2 May

Copenhagen Challenge Swan Baltic Sea Challenge: Part I 5 – 7 June

Rolex Fastnet Swan Northern European Challenge 9 – 14 August

Flensburger Fordewoche Swan Baltic Sea Challenge: Part II 16 – 19 September

Les Voiles de St. Tropez Swan Mediterranean Challenge 27 September – 4 October

Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup Swan Transatlantic Challenge (TBC) November