2022 Argentario Sailing Week at Yacht Club Santo Stefano - Day 2
by Tessa Wiechmann 17 Jun 2022 11:33 PDT
15-19 June 2022
2022 Argentario Sailing Week, day 2 © Marco Solari
The second day of racing at the 21st edition of Argentario Sailing Week, kicked off at 12 p.m. sharp with a steady westerly breeze and overcast skies.
As the day wore on, a timid sun burnt the haze away and the thermal breeze reached 15 knots, offering the crews of the 30 Grandes Dames another day of perfect sailing conditions.
The Vintage Gaff class was first to start with Olympian and Chinook cutting over the line early and having to restart. The windward mark was set at 2.6 miles for this class, giving the yachts ample time to close the gap. The Vintage Marconi class was next, with the fleet storming the start and - even in this case - three yachts called over the line early, with Recluta, Hallowe'en and Skylark of 1937 having to return to the start. For the Vintage Marconi, Classic and Spirit of Tradition classes the windward mark was set at 1 mile.
After less than three hours, Sumurun designed by William Fife William III in 1914 and owned by Alain Moatti, was first to cut the finish line just in front of the ancient harbor of Porto Santo Stefano.
Marco Poma, sporting director of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, was also at sea today to coordinate regatta support activities: "Today was simply another memorable day of racing from a weather condition point of view. Following the requests of several competitors, we lengthened the distance to mark 1, thus ensuring a very technical and long first upwind leg in stable wind conditions from 260 degrees that reached 15 knots. After the two races, the leader-board is beginning to take shape and it's tight at the top. On the water, I have seen a lot of competition, correctness and fair play. Beginning tomorrow, the battle will become tougher and once again, racing at Argentario will be spectacular"
As always, the Grandes Dames of the Sea are moored in Pilarella, the ancient port of Porto S. Stefano, where tourists and enthusiasts can admire the yachts up close from the pier promenade.
Stories
Jens Kellinghusen, the owner of Varuna and winner of Day 2 in the Vintage Marconi class, commented, "Argentario Sailing Week offers technically challenging racing conditions, a stunning scenery and the best ice-cream in the world! I have been sailing since I was six years old and I must say that the race set up today was simply perfect. What makes this venue special is that relationships are based on friendship and that people here truly appreciate us".
In talking about the yacht, Kellinghusen explained, "We purchased Varuna in 2019 after many years of offshore racing. It was time for a more comfortable boat and we were looking for a Sparkman & Stephens. When we purchased her, we decided to call the yacht Varuna in honor of the Hindu God of the Oceans and as a tribute to an offshore yacht I had back in 2000."
New York lawyer Floyd C Noble, grandson of the commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Henry George Stebbins Noble, commissioned the yacht from yacht designers Sparkman & Stephens in 1938 and originally named her Clemencia, after his mother. He wanted a state-of-the-art fast-moving yacht able to cruise the globe. The current owner undertook a refit of hull, topsides, bulwark, capping rail and hatches after original drawings and great effort was put into fitting Varuna of 1939 with authentic bronze deck-ware and details.
Results
Day 2 winners - In the Classics: Il Moro di Venezia I (Massimiliano Ferruzzi) followed by Crivizza (Ariella Cattai-Luigi Rolandi) and Ojala II (Susan Carol Holland). In the Vintage Gaff class Scud (Patrizio Bertelli) is first, followed by Marga (Marga Yachting Partners) and Chinook (Paolo Zannoni). In the Vintage Marconi day 2 victory goes to Varuna of 1939 (Jens Kellinghusen), then Skylark of 1937 (Superyacht Classic LTD) and Argyll (Jones Griff Rhys). Midva (Davide Besana) wins again in the Spirit of Tradition class followed by Toi et Moi (Alessandro Maria Rinaldi) and Hanni II (Bjor Heldund), third.
Provisional leaderboard - After two races, in the Vintage Gaff class Scud (Patrizio Bertelli) e Marga (Marga Yachting Partners) are both first, followed by Chinook (Paolo Zannoni); Varuna of 1939 (Jens Kellinghusen) is in the lead of the Vintage Marconi class followed by Stormy Weather (Christopher Spray) and Skylark of 1937 (Superyacht Classic LTD); In Spirit of Tradition first, Midva (Davide Besana) followed by Toi et Moi (Alessandro Maria Rinaldi) second and Hanni II (Bjor Heldund). Last but not least, in the Classics first is Il Moro di Venezia I (Massimiliano Ferruzzi), then Crivizza (Ariella Cattai-Luigi Rolandi) and Ojala II (Susan Carol Holland).
More information at argentariosailingweek.it