SWAN SARDINIA CHALLENGE
The second day of racing saw perfect conditions. Three races were run and the scoreboard is beginning to show some favourites.
Both the weather forecast and the racing schedule were right on time for the second day of racing at the Swan Sardinia Challenge, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda together with Nautor’s Swan and ClubSwan Racing. Currently in the lead of this event’s various Classes we see ClubSwan 50 Sparti; G-Spot and Vitamina are tied in the ClubSwan 36 Class; Koyré-Spirit of Nerina is in the lead of the ClubSwan 42s and Ulika is leading the Swan 45 Class.
Punctually at 12:00 CEST the Race Committee, headed by Principal Race Officer Arianne Mainemare, began starting procedures for the first of the day’s three scheduled windward/leeward races. Thanks to a Mistral breeze at 12 knots that gradually built to 20 over the course of the day, conditions were perfect.
Conditions like today’s are Porto Cervo’s international claim to fame: sparkling sea, perfect breeze, stunning natural scenery. The teams could vent their passion for sailing and test their skills in tricky beats, close crossings and adrenaline-fueled runs. The ClubSwan 50s and ClubSwan 36es especially performed at their best in today’s conditions.
Some teams are looking strong, but often teams alternate in the leading positions from one race to the next as so often happens in top-level One Design racing. In the ClubSwan 50 Class the Russian team aboard Dmitri Rybolovlev’s Sparti, with the Spanish gold medalist Fernando Echavarri as tactician, currently has a two-point lead over the second placed team, Marcus Brennecke’s Hatari, who placed 4-2-1 in today’s races. Leonardo Ferragamo’s Cuordileone, after having placed first in the day’s first race managed to bounce back from an over early, recovering positions to finish third in the second race. Earlybird, yesterday’s winner, had to withdraw after breaking her bowsprit in a small collision with another boat.
Fernando Echavarri, tactician aboard Sparti commented: “The conditions today were ideal for racing and the ClubSwan 50 fleet is very competitive. We were fast both up and downwind and we performed well overall with excellent manoeuvring aboard. We’re happy to be here in Porto Cervo and it’s fantastic to see that we’re in the lead.”
The ClubSwan 36 Class seems to be gelling around a couple of teams: Andrea Lacorte’s Vitamina and G-Spot, owned by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio are tied for points in first place and both won a race each today. “Our duels with G-Spot are always interesting and fun too,” said Lacorte, owner/helmsman aboard Vitamina. “Giangiacomo Serena is an old friend and a formidable adversary, we’re having lots of fun on the water!” The Pavesio brother’s Fra Martina is currently in third place while Lorenzo Mondo’s Farstar, winner of a race today, is fourth.
Koyré-Spirit of Nerina is currently leading the ClubSwan 42s. Owned by Luca Formentini with Roberto Spata tactician, this boat placed 1-2-2 today. Second place for Pedro Vaquer Comas’ Nadir, while Pit Finis’ Dralion is third. “After yesterday’s win we managed to get another bullet today plus two second places,” said Roberto Spata, Koiré’s tactician. “We’re in the lead for now and it’s wonderful days of hard sailing. Porto Cervo is always fantastic, a unique place with today’s Mistral. Our Class is always compact with photo finish endings, which isn’t easy because the Swan 45’s sail together but differently from us.”
In the Swan 45 Class two first places and a fourth have put Stefano Masi’s Ulika, with tactician Edoardo Mancinelli Scotti, in the lead ahead of Lennard van Oeveren’s Motions and Klaus Diederichs’ Fever. “We have only been sailing Ulika for a few years,” said owner Stefano Masi. “At first we were sailing in ORC rating regattas and were doing very well, we only started racing One Design races last year. This is our first time winning a prize for a day and it’s a real emotion.”
In fact, in a ceremony in Piazza Azzurra the winners of the day were awarded prizes by Garmin Marine, sponsor of the second day of racing at the Swan Sardinia Challenge.
Racing is scheduled to begin tomorrow at 12:00 CEST in Mistral conditions similar to today’s: between 14 and 20 knots.
