Nautor’s Swan 2010 race calendar action

by Cailah Leask on 13 Nov 2010 Nautor’s Swan 2010 Racing - 2010 was another action packed year for the Nautor’s Swan racing calendar incorporating international competitive Class Circuits and Challenge Series across the Swan racing fleets.

Club Swan 42 European Circuit
For 2010 there was once again a dedicated European circuit for the more recently developed model of the one design Club Swan 42s. The European Circuit was based solely around events in the Mediterranean Sea for 2010 with Northern Europe and US based Club Swan 42s joining the local Med fleets for Giraglia Rolex Cup, Copa Del Rey Audi Mapfre and Rolex Swan Cup.

The Giraglia Rolex Cup each year during June is established as one of the classic regattas of the Mediterranean. Situated just 1.5 miles to the North of Corsica, measuring 800 metres long by 50 metres wide and whose highest point is just 60 metres above sea level is the rocky islet known as ‘la Giraglia’. Exposed to all wind directions and isolated from humanity for most of the year this once strategically important group of rocks with its lighthouse, medieval towers and accompanying chapel has for the past 58 years lent its name and served as the turn mark to the largest offshore race in the Mediterranean.

Winds of 25 knots with heavy seas and rain tested both the Race Committee and the IRC fleet at the Giraglia Rolex Cup this year. After a delayed start the four participating Swans were well placed in the 127-boat IRC Group A Division. Leonardo Ferragamo of Italy’s ‘Cuordileone’ took seventh overall, with Ludovic de Saint Jean of France’s ‘PMSI Pilot’ (formerly ‘KuujjuaQ’) in 10th, Enrico Scerni of Italy’s ‘Kora 4’ in 20th and Jean Luc Boixel of France’s ‘Genapi’ in 21st.

As is the annual tradition, the first week of August marked one of the most prestigious regattas in the Mediterranean sailing calendar, the Copa Del Rey Audi Mapfre. Hosted by the Real Club Nautico de Palma, in the fantastic racing conditions off of the coast of Palma de Majorca, a number of Club Swan 42s gathered amongst the international entries. Almost a hundred boats from 18 countries, among which some of the world’s top teams, fought for the coveted trophies.

The Club Swan 42s enjoyed a good performance in IRC B; Natalia, Cuordileone and Long Echo finished ninth, 10th and 11th respectively.

Swans quickly filled the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda to capacity for the 16th edition of the Rolex Swan Cup, with racing beginning on 14th September. The now biennial Rolex Swan Cup, first run in 1984, has always attracted a diverse crowd of Swan owners and crew. The event is unique in the breadth of Swan models. Ninety-two Swans arrived from near and far – including Finland and Australia – to compete in the week of racing.

In the Club Swan 42 Class, it was Enrico Scerni on ‘Kora 4’ (ITA) who repeated his win of 2008. Leonardo Ferragamo on ‘Cuordileone’ (ITA) finished second to ‘Kora 4’, despite scoring two firsts during the week, including the Long Islands Race. third was ‘Natalia’ (ROM), notable for its enthusiastic and capable female skipper Natalia Brailoiu and as the first Swan from Romania.

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