A stellar line up for Rolex Swan Cup 2016

Fleet start at the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean 2015 © Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi

An impressive and eclectic fleet of 121 Nautor's Swan yachts are preparing to grace what promises to be a memorable edition of the Rolex Swan Cup from 11-18 September. Memorable because 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the very first Swan yacht.

The 19th edition of the biennial Rolex Swan Cup is also a continuation of one of the sport's most enduring partnerships, that between organisers Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), Nautor's Swan and title sponsors Rolex. One which dates back to 1984.

Not only does 121 entrants comfortably surpass the 93 attendees at the previous edition in 2014, the range of competing yachts pays testament to both the longevity of Swan yachts and the company's desire to continually push the design envelope.

A Classic division of historic designs counts nearly 40 entries, and the Maxi division is enhanced with the presence of three cutting-edge, freshly launched Swan 115s.

The fleet will be divided into six classes and contest five days of racing in one of the world's most compelling and challenging sailing environments. Emerging as class winner after navigating a week of varied conditions, testing racecourses and top class competition is a notable achievement and one justly rewarded with a Rolex timepiece at the final prize giving.

The largest yachts competing at the Rolex Swan Cup represent the marque's latest design thinking. The Swan 115, the new flagship of the SwanLine, was conceived in 2014.

Shamanna and Highland Fling 15, the latter owned by perennial Porto Cervo campaigner Lord Irvine Laidlaw, were launched this spring, and the prospect of all three of these superyachts duelling on the picturesque waters of Sardinia's Costa Smeralda promises to be very special.

The Maxi Class, open to yachts measuring above 80 feet/24.38 metres, will be a powerful display and includes among its numbers the Swan 90s B5 (CAY) and Nefertiti (GBR), the Swan 80s Plis Play (ESP) and Selene (CAY).

Intense competition is expected in the 24-strong Mini Maxi division (comprising yachts measuring 56-80ft/17.06-24.38m). Featuring entrants from an impressive 16 different countries, the Class includes Yukihiro Ishida's Yasha from Japan, an event winner in 2014 following a 12-year hiatus, together with Gerard Logel's Swan 601 Arobas (FRA), Amanda Hartley and Jaime Olazabal's Swan 56 Clem Primero (ESP) and the ever consistent Swan 60 Bronenosec (BVI).

The Swan Grand Prix class, open to yachts measuring under 56ft/17.06m, is highly anticipated with 19 yachts scheduled to compete including three brand new ClubSwan 50s, the first of a nascent one design class. Nautor's Swan has a history of offering high performance racing yachts to complement its range. The ClubSwan 50, drawn by Juan Kouyoumdjian, is at the cutting edge of contemporary yacht design, pushing the limits and intimating at yet another revolution in sailing prowess from this famous yard.

In a nod to Nautor's longstanding traditions and heritage, the Classic division will feature nearly 40 designs from the pen of famed New York studio Sparkman & Stephens. Proof of the enduring quality, robustness and appeal of Swan yachts, these were all built from the mid-1960s through to the early 1980s.

Fittingly this historic occasion will be graced by the very first Swan creation, with the Swan 36 Tarantella featuring among the entrants. Together with Eugenio Alphaudery's Josian (winner of the inaugural Rolex Middle Sea Race in 1968), Tarantella is the smallest boat in the fleet at 36ft (10.91m).

With defending champion Finola not expected to compete, Giuseppe Puttini's Shirlaf and Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino will seek to better their second and third places from 2014.

Competing in its own World Championship, the Swan 45 is always one of the most closely-fought and, given the one-design nature of the competition, one of the most finely-balanced contests. The German crew on Hendrik Brandis and Christian Nagel's Earlybird have already claimed a staggering four titles and as defending champions will begin as favourites. Second in 2014, fellow German Christian Plump will hope to go one better and upset his compatriots by guiding Elena Nova to glory.

The ClubSwan42 will also compete in its own one design competition where the defending champion is the Romanian boat Natalia.

The YCCS's internationally respected race management team will ensure competitors can concentrate fully on attacking the scenic and challenging race courses with gusto.