22nd Rolex Swan Cup Day 1: Northeastern Breeze for Opening Day of Racing
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 17 Sep 14:18 PDT 15-21 September 2024
Rolex Swan Cup 2024 © YCCS/Daniele Macis
The 22nd Rolex Swan Cup, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the enduring partnership between YCCS and Rolex—established in 1984 with the third version of the Swan Cup—commenced today with a north-eastern wind blowing at 12 to 18 knots, enabling the Nautor Swan fleet to accomplish all scheduled races successfully.
The Race Committee wisely postponed the start to 2:30 p.m. CEST, keeping the fleet at the docks as they awaited a storm front with possible gusty winds to move through. For Group 1, designated for Swans racing on compensated time, three closely matched coastal courses were established, varying in length based on boat performance: 24 miles for the Swan Maxi Division A, 15 miles for the Swan S&S Division B, and 19 miles for the Swan Division C. All divisions rounded a windward offset mark and then proceeded on an upwind leg, leaving Monaci island to starboard, before sailing downwind through the Gulf of Arzachena to the Secca di Tre Monti shoal and then returning to Porto Cervo. The Swan Maxi Division A extended to round Mortoriotto island, finishing off the Gulf of Pevero. Conversely, the Swan Division C had a longer downwind journey to a mark in the Gulf of Saline before returning to Porto Cervo via the Passo delle Bisce strait after leaving the Secca di Tre Monti shoal to starboard.
These diverse courses brought the fleet back to Porto Cervo in a tight formation and ensured that crews were engaged with frequent sail changes and intense, close-quarters competition.
The day’s winners were:
Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 80 Umiko; Maxi Cruiser, Swan 90 Freya; Mini Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 60 Sea Quill; Mini Maxi Cruiser, Swan 65 Marlin II; S&S Racing, Swan 48 Elan; S&S Classic, Swan 47 Matilda; Swan Grand Prix, Swan 45 From Now On; Swan Cruiser, Swan 54 Katima.
Ettore Botticini, mainsail trimmer on Sea Quill, stated: ‘We were pleasantly surprised by our boat’s performance against our closest competitors in the division, which is no small feat. We executed several complex maneuvers for a team as inexperienced as ours, made up mostly of dinghy sailors, accompanied by professionals like Andrea Fornaro and Lorenzo De Felice. We are just beginning the Rolex Swan Cup, but it’s an ideal start. Over the next few days, we will welcome reigning Wingfoil world champion Maddalena Spanu, an athlete from the YCCS Young Azzurra sporting program, which I was also part of.’
Cesare Barabino, an ILCA 7 athlete from the Young Azzurra program, will be joining YCCS member Luigi Stoppani’s Swan 48 Mia starting tomorrow.
On the second racing course, designated for windward-leeward races for the Swan One Design classes, two races took place, with the first start at 2:30 p.m. for the ClubSwan 50 boats, followed by the ClubSwan 42s, Swan 45s, and ClubSwan 36 boats. The brand-new ClubSwan 28 class is scheduled to debut on the racecourse on Thursday, 19 September. Two races were completed today in gusty winds of 15 to 18 knots and rough seas, testing both crews and helmsmen.
Today’s winners were:
ClubSwan 36, Black Seal; ClubSwan 42, Canopo; Swan 45, Ulika 45; ClubSwan 50, Olymp.
Leading on day one were ClubSwan 36 Black Seal, with a first and a second place, 42 Canopo with two wins, 45 Ulika with a second and a first, closely trailed by Ex Officio, just one point behind with a first and third. In the ClubSwan 50 fleet, Olymp, with 3-time Olympic gold medallist Jochen Schuemann calling tactics, emerged as a clear victor: ‘It was hard to determine if the best pressure was on the left or right due to dark clouds; it was challenging but also presented numerous tactical opportunities as the wind varied in speed and direction. Overall, we managed to maintain better pressure and capitalize on the last shift for the top windward mark. We are thrilled.’
Racing will resume tomorrow, Wednesday 18 September, at 12 noon CEST, featuring a coastal race for all classes, except for the ClubSwan 36s, who will continue with windward-leeward races. Forecasts indicate lighter winds of 7 to 11 knots, shifting from northeast to easterly directions.
Full results available here.
More information can be found at www.yccs.it
