Superyachts battle saw spectacular manoeuvres below the rocks of Capo Ferro
As predicted, the third day of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta was characterised by very light air. As soon as a breeze of around 7 knots filled in from the south-east at 1 p.m., the Race Committee sounded the start for the Superyacht division.
The course covered approximately 29-miles and included an upwind start to the offset mark, before heading downwind to the Monaci island with its characteristic lighthouse. Leaving the island to port, the Superyachts headed for the Secca di Tre Monti shoal, before sailing through the Passo delle Bisce strait, with some spectacular tacking close to the rocks of Capo Ferro and a stronger breeze of up to 10 knots. From here they headed south to circumnavigate the islands of Mortorio and Soffi, and finally sail back up to Porto Cervo and the finish line.
Moat, the Swan 115 owned by YCCS member Juan Ball, got off to a perfect start right on time and built on her lead over the RP-Nauta 100 Morgana to claim both line honours and the win in corrected time.
Tactician, Guillermo Parada: “Congratulations to the Race Committee for daring to set a 29-mile course that might have seemed long in light airs, but they obviously knew it was going to get heavier and it was a beautiful trip, the past few days we’ve sailed in the most beautiful places in the La Maddalena archipelago! The boat is very fast and that allowed me to manage the tactics with no problems.”
Satisfaction aboard Morgana too, despite some indecision in the manoeuvres. “Light airs today, but a beautiful race course,” confirmed crew boss Claudio Novi, “from Monaci to Tre Monti and then down to Mortorio, Soffi and back to Porto Cervo. We didn’t do a clean lap, as you would say in F1, one sail in particular gave us a few problems on the approach to the Isola dei Monaci, but it was one of those useful days where you learn something.”
In that pure sailing style dedicated to relaxation, a distinguishing feature of the Southern Wind Rendezvous, the shipyard’s fleet sailed to the island of Caprera, and dropped anchor off Cala Coticcio, also known as Tahiti thanks to the beach’s similarity to a Polynesian atoll. Here the Rendezvous participants enjoyed a day of rest, sunshine and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia. On the way back, a friendly sailing challenge took place between the two Southern Wind 105 yachts present, Taniwha and Kiboko.
This evening all crews will be attending the beach party organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda at the Cone Club Sardinia, a new social event in the calendar of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta.
For the final day of racing, wind forecasts indicate 10-15 knots from the east-southeast. The start for the Superyacht division is scheduled at 11.30 a.m., followed by individual starts in sequence for the Southern Wind Rendezvous. The prize-giving ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. in Piazza Azzurra, next to the Giorgio Armani pop-up boutique.
For further information, results, entry list, programme, photos please visit the YCCS website
