Memorial Falck for Swan 45 and X35 classes

by Tessa Wiechmann on 11 Apr 2009
The III edition of the Memorial Falck powered by Jaguar kicked off in Scarlino, Tuscany Friday. The event is organized by the Club Nautico Scarlino for the Swan 45 and X35 classes. Over 200 sailors and friends are spending their Easter holidays in Maremma, a pristine and award-winning vacation destination in southern Tuscany.

Before setting out to sea, with feverish preparations taking place on the docks, yacht owners and guests took the opportunity to test drive the new Jaguar XF and XK models, which will be officially presented to the public in the coming days.

The two fleets cut the starting line shortly after noon with a spring breeze from the south-west, under sunny skies, crystal blue waters and the Islands of Elba and Montecristo hovering on the horizon. Only one race took place today. Tomorrow 3 more races are scheduled. Racing will continue through Monday April 13th.

Winner in the Swan 45 class was 'Blue Nights', owned and driven by Finn Tea Ekengren. In the lead from the start, 'Blue Nights' was also the winner of the Spring Cup Trophy that took place in March.

'This for me now is my second home,' she said back at the dock. 'Today marks the sixth time we have come here to race and it is wonderful. We have our favourite restaurants, everyone is very efficient and friendly, you can’t beat the weather and the racing grounds are great. It is also wonderful to have so many Swan 45s at the yard in Scarlino and we are all giving each other a hand.' The American tactician from Annapolis Mike Buckley agrees: 'Sailing in Maremma is a dream. Every time I have been at La Marina di Scarlino weather conditions have been different and that makes for some challenging racing.'

Winner in the X35 class, was 'Tixelio' owned by Italian Carlo Brenco, also a winner of the recent Spring Open Championship. At the end of the race 'Tixelio'’s Slovenian tactician, Branko Brcin, commented,

'In my opinion, La Marina di Scarlino is one of the few marinas in Italy where they really care about sailing. Just look at the racing calendar: it is truly remarkable. I have been racing here since 2004 and have seen this structure grow and develop: the synergy between Marina, Yacht Service, and Club Nautico is incredible.' Branko Brcin will be back in Scarlino for the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series. By then the shopping arcade and the real estate development will be up and running: 'I look forward to it.'

Memorial Falck - Results at the end of the first day of racing:

Swan 45
1) Blue Nights shipping Ekengken Tea, Finland
2) No Limits owner Bol, Netherlands
3) Talj owner Vittorio Ruggiero

X35
1) Tixelio owner Brenco Carlo
2) Sberressa owner Stefano Mauro
3) Ready X Sea owner Gradnik Roberto

The III Memorial Falck is a Sail & Golf Event. The gala dinner will be held on Saturday 11 April at the Golf Club Toscana, an ideal setting overlooking the Gulf of Follonica in the heart of the sweeping Maremma countryside. The Golf Club Toscana was already chosen last year by Jaguar as the venue for the final of the Jaguar Golf Trophy 2008 and will host a competition sponsored by Jaguar on 13 April.

Jaguar leader brand for its philosophy of creating beautiful fast cars delivering high performance, excellent refinement and great dynamic ability.

Club Nautico Scarlino Race Calendar 2009

March
14-15 Spring Open Championship Swan 45 e X-35
21-22 Spring Open Championship Swan 45 e X-35
27-30 Europa Cup Laser (CNS, LNI Follonica, CN Follonica)

April
3-5 Arcipelago 650 for Mini 650
3-5 BMW Match Race Cup
10-13 III Memorial Giorgio Falck Swan 45 e X-35
18-19 Match Race Grade 4
25-27 Star District Championship

May
23-24 Match Race Grade 4
29-30 AUDI Melges 20 Sailing Series

Jun
5-7 AUDI Melges 32 Sailing Series
13-14 International Match Race Grade 3

July
4-5 Match Race Grade 4

September
12-13 Coppa Italia Finn
VII edition Cook & Sail
14-20 X-41 World Championship (Yacht Club Italiano & Club Nautico Scarlino)
26-27 Snipe Italian Championship

October
3-4 Match Race Grade 4
22-25 Italian Match Race Championship