2022 Argentario Sailing Week at Yacht Club Santo Stefano - Day 3
by Tessa Wiechmann 18 Jun 2022 10:17 PDT
15-19 June 2022
2022 Argentario Sailing Week, day 3 © Marco Solari
Once again, ideal racing conditions for the third day of the 21st edition of Argentario Sailing Week.
After allowing the thermal westerly breeze to build up at 10 knots, the race committee set up the 20-mile course on the Argentario Bay under sunny skies and calm seas. Fair-weather clouds, the occasional cover, wind shifts and gusts up to 15 knots made racing tactically challenging: a veritable playground for sailing enthusiasts. Tomorrow, Sunday 19 June, last day of racing.
The Vintage Gaff class was first to start at 12.25 p.m. with the fleet heading towards the town of Santo Stefano on starboard tack. Next, the Vintage Marconi class: by then the breeze had picked up a few knots and shifted right, so the fleet split evenly.
The Classic and Spirit of Tradition classes sailed up the right hand side of the course towards the windward mark set at 1 mile from the start. Seeing the 30 Grandes Dames tacking on the lay line in front of the ancient harbor of Porto Santo Stefano was simply as stunning as seeing the fleet on the run, spinnakers flying and bows on the pristine beach of La Giannella. Later in the afternoon, the breeze started decreasing and the Race Committee headed decided to shorten the course.
After two and half hours of racing, at 3.06 p.m., majestic Rowdy designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff in 1916 and owned by Donna & Howard Dyer was first to cut the finish line.
"Why Argentario Sailing Week? We simply love coming here and wouldn't miss it for the world. The setting is spectacular and the race is very well run on the water. I must say the organization has really done it's best to keep the event going and everyone is trying very hard! The dinner at the Fortress last night was marvellous and the view stunning," commented Rowdy owners Donna and Howard Dyer at the end of the day. "We love it here, it's just that simple. Racing here is never boring and our crew had their work cut out with having to pack the kite six times during the race."
Navigator and tactician Johnathan Malbon added: "The race committee has done a great job in postponing on shore until the breeze settles, and in doing the right think at the right time, every time, every day. They have managed to set up good upwind and downwind marks, the communication on the radio is very clear, also in English. This is quite rare in my experience and we applaud their effort." Rowdy (NY 49), is one of the four NY 40s still sailing out of the original fleet of 14 constructed between 1916 and 1926 for a group of New York Yacht Club members. These yachts, nicknamed the "Fighting Forties", won the Bermuda Race from 1924 to 1928. Rowdy, whose first owner was American senator Holland Sackett Duell, originally had a gaff rig. She remained with the family until 1941.
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
Back on shore, Captain Giuseppe Cannatà, at the helm of the historic Grifone, spoke about the Argentario Sailing Week: "Being on Grifone gives me the shivers: this boat has a memorable history and skippers who have made the history of sailing have been helmed her. On the one hand, I feel unworthy and on the other I feel I am part of the Italian Navy's history".
In 1964, the International 5.5 meter class took part in the Tokyo Olympics with Admiral Agostino Straulino at the helm and placed 4th. The following year Grifone won the 5.5 World Cup in Naples.
Cannatà then talked about the event organized by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano and the Municipality of Monte Argentario: "This is the first time that I participate in Argentario Sailing Week and I must say that the location and the race course are certainly among the best and most beautiful in Italy. The thermal breeze is a guarantee that we can race every day. That said, Grifone is different from all other boats: competition is in her blood. Just think that we have neither compass, nor electronic instruments, nor engines on the boat. Just the tell-tales on the sails and stays". The first Lieutenant Michele Renna and the first Lieutenant Mauro Paturno are also on board.
Results
Day 3 winners - In the Classics: Ojala II (Susan Carol Holland) is first, followed by Crivizza (Ariella Cattai-Luigi Rolandi) and by Il Moro di Venezia I (Massimiliano Ferruzzi). In the Vintage Gaff class, first is Marga (Marga Yachting Partners), then Scud (Patrizio Bertelli) and third Chinook (Paolo Zannoni). In the Vintage Marconi once again the victory goes to Varuna of 1939 (Jens Kellinghusen), followed by Rowdy (Donna & Howard Dyer) and Comet (Woodward-Fisher). In the Spirit of Tradition class, first Toi et Moi (Alessandro Maria Rinaldi), followed by Midva (Davide Besana) and Hanni II (Bjor Heldund).
Provisional leaderboard - After three races, in the Vintage Gaff class Marga (Marga Yachting Partners) leads followed by Scud (Patrizio Bertelli) and by Chinook (Paolo Zannoni). Varuna of 1939 (Jens Kellinghusen) is still in the lead of the Vintage Marconi class followed by Stormy Weather (Christopher Spray) and by Comet (Woodward-Fisher). In the Classics first is Crivizza (Ariella Cattai-Luigi Rolandi), then Il Moro di Venezia I (Massimiliano Ferruzzi) and Ojala II (Susan Carol Holland). In Spirit of Tradition, Midva (Davide Besana) is still in the lead followed by Toi et Moi (Alessandro Maria Rinaldi) second and Hanni II (Bjor Heldund).