Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

The Nations Trophy 2019 Preview: Swan One Designs to compete for national honour and personal pride

by Mariangela Barbato 3 Oct 2019 15:24 AEST 8-12 October 2019

For Swan One Design yachts, The Nations Trophy 2019 taking place next week marks the crescendo to a Mediterranean season that has built in volume since its start in April. Scheduled to run from Tuesday, 8 to Saturday, 12 October, the event brings together a high-level fleet, filled with skilled, passionate, owners and crews competing for both individual and national honour. Hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, racing for the ClubSwan 50, Swan 45, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 36 classes will take place on the renowned waters of the bay of Palma.

"We are very excited about this second edition of The Nations Trophy, which is helping renew the concept of the competition between nations," commented Giovanni Pomati, Nautor's Swan Group CEO. "This year, a remarkable 41 Swan yachts will represent 14 countries. It is an amazing finale to the 2019 Mediterranean Swan One Design Circuit, especially since, in addition to our well-known ClubSwan 50, Swan 45 and ClubSwan 42 designs, our brand-new ClubSwan 36 will make its debut. We are really looking forward to seeing the first four boats of this dynamic new class, representing Italy, Croatia and Norway, on the racecourse."

The Nations Trophy Mediterranean League, contested over four legs this year, was a successful precursor to the main event. Competitive fleets of ClubSwan 50s, Swan 45s and ClubSwan 42s battled it out at a selection of superb venues, which included Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Scarlino. Next week offers a second visit to Palma, after the Copa del Rey in August closed out the season-long circuit. In addition to The Nations Trophy itself, there are three class titles at stake: ClubSwan 50 World Championship, Swan 45 World Championship and ClubSwan 42 European Championship.

Attracting some of the very best Owner/Driver-led teams in yachting, competition promises to be tight. The one design nature of the racing emphasises talent and effort in separating the individual crews on the water. The roster of tacticians is a typical who's who: round the world race legends Roberto Bermudez on Natalia (Rou), Bouwe Bekking on Niramo (GER) and Alberto Bolzan on the ClubSwan 36 Facing Future (ITA); multiple Olympic champion Jochen Schümann on OneGroup; Fernando Echavarri and Iker Martinez on Skorpios (RUS) and Mathilde (SUI) respectively, both Olympic gold medallists and former Rolex World Sailors of the Year; sought-after Portuguese sailor Diogo Cayolla, the Slovenian Brank Brcin and Spaniard Pablo Arrate, in turn on ThirtySix, Far Star (ITA) and B.Kolff Team Utheka (ITA) multiple world champions Chris Larson on Earlybird (GER) and Gabriele Benussi on Vitamina (ITA); America's Cup veterans Pietro D'Alì on Drifter Sail (ITA) and Cameron Dunn on Bronenosec (RUS); and the incomparable Ken Read on Cuordileone (ITA). It is a tough call to pick out the strongest teams.

In terms of The Nations Trophy, Italy go into the competition with a two-point advantage having won the Mediterranean Leagues in 2018 and 2019. This is small comfort given the four days of competition that lie ahead. The destination of the magnificent Nations Trophy, designed in 2017 for the inaugural, biennial event by Milanese silversmiths Buccellati, will be determined by taking the two best-placed yachts from each country and combining their place-position. Yachts may be in the same class. Sweden has a strong entry with one yacht in each of three different classes: Jacob Wallenberg and Gutta Johansson's ClubSwan 50 Regina 2.0, Björn Rosegren's Swan 45 Brujo and Marcus Letsell's ClubSwan 42 CLC Housing Blue, with Whitbread Round the World Race winner Klas "Klabbe" Nylöf in the crew. This spread may prove crucial as all three can pursue their personal class ambition without any risk of negatively affecting the 'national team's' aims.

The Nations Trophy 2019 opens with a practice race on Tuesday, 8 October and concludes with the Final Prize Giving on Saturday, 12 October. A maximum of nine races will be sailed with no discard.

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen Posted today at 11:12 pm
Aussies hunt 'Ashes on Water' win
The BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance in Portsmouth Fresh off a bruising weekend in New York, the BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance as they take on long time rivals Great Britain in their home waters at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, held in Portsmouth. Posted today at 9:27 pm
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition. Posted today at 6:45 pm
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators. Posted today at 5:41 pm
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s. Posted today at 4:14 pm
McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 Preview
The race to South Africa starts from Vuda Marina Fiji on 26th July In a world-first sailing challenge, 15 solo sailors from eight countries are navigating identical 5.8-meter (19-foot) self-built plywood yachts around the globe— The fleet has enjoyed a five week stopover in Fiji at the end of Leg 2. Posted today at 1:26 pm
Third time Finn World No.1 for Alessandro Marega
Maintaining the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List Italy's Alessandro Marega maintains the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List for the third consecutive release. He remains World No. 1 with an 80-point lead over France's Laurent Hay. Posted today at 1:18 pm
World Sailing Nations Cup to make grand return
After a seven-year hiatus, World Sailing has officially opened the bid process for host cities After a seven-year hiatus, the World Sailing Nations Cup, the ultimate event to crown the world's top match-racing nations, is making its much-anticipated return. Posted today at 9:08 am
J/99s the in Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
There will be a race within a race taking place in the 63 yacht fleet When the fleet of 63 yachts set off in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (NSGCYR) on 26 July, there will be a race within a race taking place. Posted today at 6:53 am
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle. Posted today at 5:25 am
X-Yachts X4.3Selden 2020 - FOOTERAllen Dynamic 40 Footer