Overall Results of the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup: A Spectacular Conclusion
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 21 Sep 15:52 PDT
15-21 September 2024
Rolex Swan Cup 2024 © YCCS / Daniele Macis
On the final day of the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup, competitors enjoyed a stunning day at sea, providing the perfect incentive to join the next edition in 2026. The light easterly breeze, rising from 8 to 12 knots, facilitated a coastal race for classes competing on corrected time, as well as two windward-leeward races for the Swan One Design categories.
The champions of the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup in their respective divisions included: Freya, Sea Quill, Isabella, Mascalzone Latino XXXIII, Katima, From Now On, Moonlight, Ulika, Canopo, Fra Martina, and Marcello.
The 17-mile coastal course led the fleet to the Monaci islet, following a windward offset mark. After navigating around the islet, the Swans made their way to the Passo delle Bisce and had to leave a mark near the Tre Monti shoal to port before heading to the finish line off Porto Cervo. The Sparkman & Stephens Swan boats followed a similar course but were shortened to 12 miles by omitting the round of Monaci.
Victory in Division B S&S Classic was fiercely contested, with the German Swan 36 Isabella, the first model crafted by Nautor Swan, securing the win by a narrow margin, just one point ahead of Finland’s 1978 Swan 57 Lintu. In other divisions, one yacht surged forward with a string of victories, as seen with the Swan 90 Freya (Division A Maxi) and the Swan 60 CR Sea Quill (Division A Mini Maxi). Other classes saw winners determined by only a two-point gap: the modified Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino XXXIII (Division B S&S Racing) finished ahead of the Swan 48 Elan, the Swan 54 Katima (Division C Cruiser) edged out the Swan 53 CB Bedouin from Australia, and finally, the modified Swan 45 From Now On outperformed fellow modified Swan 45 Tengher (Division C Grand Prix).
The brand-new ClubSwan 28 class, making its racing debut, competed in four challenging races starting on Thursday, 19 September. YCCS member Philippe Ligot’s Marcello emerged overall victor of this regatta, alongside tactician Andrea Cherin, tying on points with Giulio Gatti’s Anya Race, led by Enrico Zennaro. Marcello secured the title with two first-place finishes compared to Anya Race’s solitary win. Django, owned by brothers Guglielmo and Vittorio Lombardi Stronati, who are also YCCS members, finished in third, just two points behind.
In a surprising twist, the ClubSwan 50 class saw Graeme Peterson’s Moonlight, with Hamish Pepper as tactician, narrowly defeat Olymp (7 – 8 score) by a single point, after Olymp had held a strong lead until yesterday. Hatari, owned by YCCS member Marcus Brennecke, claimed third place, tied in points with Olymp.
The ClubSwan 36 class witnessed a commanding performance from Fra Martina, owned by the Pavesio brothers and directed by tactician Lorenzo Bressani, who clinched victory with a third and a first place finish today, outpacing Cuordileone (1-3 today) owned by Edoardo Ferragamo, who had Diogo Cayolla on tactics. Third place went to Black Seal.
In the ClubSwan 42 class, Adriano Majolino’s Canopo, with tactician Michele Regolo, triumphed, even with a discarded second-place finish today as their worst result of the week. The day’s winner and second place overall was Jose Maria Meseguer’s Pez de Abril, with the Belgian yacht Andante 4 taking third.
For the Swan 45 class, Stefano Masi’s Ulika, guided by tactician Edoardo Mancinelli Scotti, bested Georgios Petrochilos’ Ex Officio, led by former Olympic 470 medalist Panagiotis Kampouridis, also by just one point. YCCS member Luca Locatelli’s Thetis came in third.
As is tradition, the concluding prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra was a full house, attended by Rolex Italia CEO Stephan Müller, Nautor Swan CEO Giovanni Pomati, and YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati. “What has just concluded so splendidly was a Rolex Swan Cup that marked a special milestone, as it has been precisely 40 years since the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda established its successful partnership with Rolex through this event. My heartfelt thanks go to Rolex for continuing to share our common values of excellence, innovation, technology, and respect for the sea. I would also like to thank Nautor Swan for returning to Costa Smeralda every two years since 1980 with an incredible fleet, showcasing everything from the historic first 36-foot model to the latest racing one designs and maxi Swans. Congratulations to all the winners, and my sincerest gratitude to every owner and crew member present who traveled here from all corners of the globe – it is you who make this event truly unique. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you again in 2026 for the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup!” remarked Andrea Recordati.
The Rolex Swan Cup concludes an intense sporting season at the YCCS that kicked off in May.
For more information, visit www.yccs.it
