Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

21st Rolex Swan Cup at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda - Day 4

by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 16 Sep 2022 12:00 PDT 11-18 September 2022

The Race Committee's decision to bring forward the start for both divisions to 10 a.m. today enabled them to make the most of a mistral wind blowing at 18 to 22 knots before it became too strong to permit racing. Division 1 yachts raced on coastal courses differentiated according to the various classes, while Division 2 completed two windward-leeward races.

The Rolex Swan Cup is a biennial regatta organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in collaboration with the Nautor Swan shipyard and with the support of title sponsor Rolex. Now in its 21st edition, the event will conclude on Sunday 18th September.

Two days from the conclusion of racing, the rankings are beginning to take shape, and in most classes are very tight, bearing witness to the high standard of competition across all the participants. For Division 1, the Race Committee set up three different courses around the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. The Maxi Swans sailed clockwise around the islands of Spargi, La Maddalena, Caprera and Monaci, and up to the Secca di Tre Monti shallows before heading back towards Porto Cervo via the Bisce pass, covering a total of approximately 36 miles. A similar route, but shortened to 32 miles, was assigned to the Swan Mini Maxis, who left Spargi to port. For the Classic S&S Swans and for the Grand Prix class, their course of approximately 28 miles involved heading through the Bisce pass, leaving the Secca di Tre Monti to starboard, sailing up towards Monaci island and from there running down to round the island of Soffi, in front of Cala di Volpe, and returning to the finish line off Porto Cervo.

The Swan 90 Freya claimed victory in the Maxi class, thanks to excellent tactical choices and perfectly executed manoeuvres, which is not the easiest of tasks in around 20 knots of wind while wielding a gennaker of about 600 square metres. Second place for My Song, owned by YCCS member Pier Luigi Loro Piana, and third went to Plis-Play, who stays at the top of the overall classification, two points ahead of Freya and five ahead of My Song.

In the Mini Maxi class, the Swan 601 Flow, owned by Stephen Cucchiaro, continued an unbroken run of wins, consolidating the lead in the overall standings ahead of Arobas, owned by Gerard Logel, and Les Amis, owned by Valter Pizzoli.

The Swan 65 ketch Shirlaf, owned by Giuseppe Puttini, dominated among the Classic S&S Swans ahead of the Swan 65 sloop Libelula and the Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino XXXIII. In the general classification Shirlaf occupies the top spot on equal points with Mascalzone Latino XXXIII, while the Swan 36 Josian (ninth place today) sits in third.

Giuseppe Puttini, owner of Shirlaf commented: "In the past few days the smaller boats of the fleet were favoured by the prevalence of downwind legs, today finally it was our turn to win, we are in the lead on equal points with Mascalzone Latino and we are looking forward to the next two days of racing. Today's course was perfect, 30 miles with the wind at the right intensity, a wonderful day!"

In the busy Grand Prix Class, with 22 yachts enrolled, the Swan 53 Crilia returned to winning form, followed by the Swan 58 OM II and the Swan 54 Katima. Crilia leads the general standings, two points ahead of OM II. Significantly further back in third place is the Swan 58 Tycoon.

The cool breeze of 18 to 22 knots provided for a thrilling spectacle in the windward-leeward races, with the fleet tightly packed at mark roundings and sensational planing speeds of up to 20 knots for the ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 36 yachts. Among the larger class, the ClubSwan 50s, the two victories of the day went, respectively, to Earlybird, owned by Hendrik Brandis and with Will Ryan on tactics, and Cuordileone, owned by YCCS member Leonardo Ferragamo with Manu Weiller in the role of tactician. The best scoreline of the day, however, went to Balthasar, owned by Louis Balcaen (4-2) with Hamish Pepper calling tactics, who strengthens her lead at the top of the overall rankings. Following in second and third are Hatari and Stella Maris, with Marcus Wieser and Robert Scheidt, respectively, on tactics.

A tremendous battle was fought in the ClubSwan 36 class between Farstar, owned by Lorenzo Mondo who, with a second and a first place of the day jumps to the top of the overall standings, on equal points with G Spot (5-3 today). In a slightly more distant third place is the Brazilian team on Mamao, owned by Haakon Lorentzen, who after a win in the first race of the day, were forced to withdraw in the second.

Lorenzo Mondo, owner of the ClubSwan 36 Farstar: "Despite the demanding conditions, with about 20 knots of wind, we did well. After a not very positive day on Wednesday, today we went onto the water determined to prove something to our opponents, and we did that. Our class is very competitive, at the moment we are on equal points with G-Spot but given the high level, any other ClubSwan in the fleet could be a direct rival."

The top ClubSwan 42 of the fourth day was the Spanish Pez de Abril, owned by Jose Maria Meseguer (1-3), which now sits in third place overall. Class leader is Nadir, owned by Pedro Vaquer Comas, just one point ahead Selene Alifax in second. Among the Swan 45s, Claudio Terrieri's Blue Sky maintained her perfect record of victories, with Lorenzo Bodini calling tactics.

The weather forecasts indicate a particularly intense mistral wind for tomorrow. The Race Committee is constantly monitoring the evolution of the situation, with the intention of sounding the first warning signal in the afternoon, not before 2 p.m., when the wind may drop slightly, according to some models.

For more information visit the YCCS event page.

Related Articles

Entry criteria announced for Sardinia Cup 2026
Iconic Yacht Club Costa Smeralda regatta to mirror Admiral's Cup rating bands The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is pleased to announce that the next edition of the Sardinia Cup, taking place from 31 May to 7 June 2026, will adopt the IRC Rating Bands applied by the Royal Ocean Racing Club for the Admiral's Cup. Posted on 17 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo preview
Spectacular Sardina will see teams looking to finish 2025 on a high note Teams on the 52 SUPER SERIES head to the renowned YC Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo for the final event of the season, 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta, all sharing the same, universal ambition, to finish on an absolute high note. Posted on 17 Sep
Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge concludes
Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won for the second time For a second occasion, Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge (MMOC). Having first claimed this title for the 2021-22 season, the French-flagged silver Botin 65 has again won it for 2024-25. Posted on 16 Sep
IRC Rating Rule unites Admirals Cup & Sardinia Cup
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) has announced the return of the Sardinia Cup The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has confirmed that the Admiral's Cup will return in 2027, building on the spectacular success of its 2025 comeback after a 22-year hiatus. Posted on 15 Sep
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: Defining excellence
The 2025 edition featured two world titles The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup brings together some of the finest yachts in world, combines them with elite sailing talent and sets them to compete in one of the most stunning locations yachting has to offer. Posted on 14 Sep
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 overall
Galateia and Django 7X claim Maxi World Championships The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concluded today with the Costa Smeralda in more clement mood; moderate to light conditions enabling crews to focus more on tactics and boat speed and less on survival and protecting equipment. Posted on 13 Sep
35th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Porto Cervo overall
Galateia and Django 7X win Rolex World Championships in Maxi 1 and Maxi Grand Prix classes The 35th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concluded with a final day of top-class sailing, followed by the traditional prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra. Posted on 13 Sep
35th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Porto Cervo Day 5
Mistral wind halts play on penultimate day The Mistral dominated once again in Porto Cervo today, blowing with such force that it led to the cancellation of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Posted on 12 Sep
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 Day 5
Penultimate day beset by Mistral conditions Sadly the second day of the northwesterly Mistral proved stronger than the first at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Posted on 12 Sep
Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2025 Day 4
Bringing on the big breeze Racing at Porto Cervo is usually at its best when both race committee and crews alike are wondering if conditions are sailable. Posted on 11 Sep
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastPalm Beach Motor YachtsBarton Marine Pipe Glands