Rolex Swan European Regatta - Overall Report

LIGHT WIND REGATTA SPELLS SUCCESS FOR SMALLER SWANS

The starting gun for the ninth Rolex Swan European Regatta was fired from the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes sending the Swan fleet off on their first race of seven around the Solent in light conditions and difficult tides. The light breeze favoured the smaller and older boats from the beginning and as this trend continued throughout the week the big boats struggled to make an impression. The Solent may be renowned for its yachting history but it is also notable for its exceptional tidal patterns. Local knowledge of the waters proved the making for many boats and, once again, the big boats unable to get close in-shore out of foul tide suffered.

The record 57-boat fleet from seven different countries were split into two divisions - the big boats (LOA 46'-65') formed a 21-boat fleet in Division F and the 36 smaller boats (LOA 36'-44') in Division G. Each boat entered under one of three crew classifications - Amateur, Open and Pro-Am. The regatta is governed by the Nautor Swan Rating Rules, now retitled NSR 2000, a handicap system which aims to create a level playing amongst the fleet. The equality of the handicap system combined with the abilities of a boat's crew are the pre-requisite ingredients required for success and this proved to be the case at the 1999 regatta.

There were numerous trophies to be won but the most sought after was the prestigious Swan European Challenge Trophy for the overall winner of both divisions. It became clear from race one that the lower-rated boats were going to do well. In the big boat division veteran Swan 65 Desperado and 1973 Swan 48 Jacobite were placed third and fourth. Whilst in the small boat Division G the oldest Swan in the fleet Carte Blanche of Helf (S36) came second behind her sister-ship Shaytana who finished in first place.

Admiral's Cup sailor Bouwe Bekking, tactician on board Arien van Vemde impressive Swan 60 Sotto Voce, had only one thing to say after finishing 15th: "We have one discard in this regatta and I think this is going to be it!" The ambitions of holding a Round the Island race on the second day were snuffed out as fog and lack of wind hampered the start. So were the hopes of the bigger boats who desperately needed lots of breeze and long upwind legs to gain distance on their smaller rivals. The first upwind leg took two hours for the front leaders as the Swan fleet inched their way westward trying to keep out of a foul tide. Six hours later Sotto Voce took line honours but with no hope of a reasonable placing as Jacobite scored her first victory in Division F.

One of the prettiest boats in the fleet, Keert Jansen's Swan 43, Cisne notched up her first victory benefiting from the local knowledge of tactician Timothy Dalton. "We were first at the start and had clear air although we felt we slipped a bit on the two hour upwind leg," said John Hofland, Cisne's helmsman. "Timothy has excellent local knowledge which helped us along the shore where quite a few boats went aground." It was no surprise to see local boat Swan 441 Menenes in second place in Division G with the expertise of Cowes-based Olympic and Admiral's Cup yachtsman, Jo Richards on-board.

Two short 12-mile races were held on Champagne Mumm Race Day on day three with the fleet enjoying the best breeze so far as the SW wind averaged between 10-15 knots, occasionally gusting 18, during race four. In the big boat division, Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy's Swan 56 Noonmark VI took line honours but, once again, victory went to the 1977 Desperado. "Short racing is all about good starts and clear air to get away. The big boats are only really going to do well with long beats in strong tides where they can stretch ahead, plus there are lots of spaces where we can't go," explained Noonmark's tactician, Stuart Quarrie. "Desperado managed to go over the Knoll Bank putting Noonmark in much worse tides."

Mid-way through the regatta a clear battle was developing for the Overall Trophy and divisional honours. In the big boat division, Swan 48 Jacobite and Keith Miller's Swan 46 Crackerjack were only two points apart. Not to be discounted, however, was last year's overall champions, Terry Robinson's Swan 48 Assuage who were currently third overall in Division F. Assuage boasted an impressive racing history since her launch in 1996 with high-spec racing sails and Olympic Soling sailor, Andy Beadsworth, calling the shots she was always going to be in contention. In division F two points also only separated Libby and Graham Deegan's Swan 441 Menenes and Swan 43 Cisne. Although Shaytana had dropped to third overall in her division she had a major discard in hand having finished 15th in race 3.

The penultimate Talisker Race Day proved to be the most challenging for both the Royal Yacht Squadron and the 57-boat fleet. There was a long postponement waiting for breeze - water fights and swimming became the order of the day off Osborne Bay. Finally by mid-afternoon, race 5 was started off the mainland shore in a SE 5 knot breeze but the fleet had to contend with major wind shifts which saw both spinnakers and headsails being used on the same leg. The skippers views on whether the shortened race should have been abandoned depended on where they finished in the fleet. For John MacIntyre's Shaytana another first in this very fluky race meant they were still in with a shot at the overall title: "Today's race was won and lost depending on where you were when the breeze came in," explained Eddie Warwick. "I am pretty sure we are the only boat to kedge off Kelvin Hughes so, I suppose, we kedged to victory!" Going into the final day's racing of the Rolex Swan European Regatta six boats were in contention for the Swan European Challenge Trophy. But all eyes were on Stephen James' Jacobite and his smaller rival Crackerjack. With only four points between them but with Crackerjack able to discard a 10th place, Jacobite knew she had to beat her in this final race to clinch overall victory.

The wind gods were finally kind providing a steady SE 8-10 knots of breeze. A RYS start line provided shore-side spectators with a Swan spectacle they are unlikely to forget. With very little room to manoeuvre the boats jostled for a good starting position on the shore trying to keep out of foul tide tacking up through the moored boats in Cowes harbour.

Jacobite helmsman, Mark Heeley, got a good start but Crackerjack eased ahead on the five mile upwind leg to gain five minutes at the first windward mark. Heeley knowing that Crackerjack performs better upwind could only hope to claw back some time on the downwind legs. Rounding the final windward mark of the 19 mile six-leg course, Keith Miller's Crackerjack was still ahead. But true to form Jacobite had enough edge downwind to get dead level to pull ahead and finish just two minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Crackerjack on corrected time.

Scoring a double victory, Stephen James and his crew proved to be worthy winners of the Swan European Challenge Trophy and winners of Division F in the 1972 Sparkman and Stephens designed Swan 48 Jacobite. "Stephen James has given us a fabulous vintage Swan to race," said Heeley. "To win here in the boat's first serious regatta since its complete rebuild is a great reward."

Libby Deegan, helming Swan 441 Menenes sailed a brilliant final race to win securing first place in Division G and second place overall. "We went into this regatta hoping for a top 10 position so we are amazed and thrilled with these victories," said Deegan. "The experience of Graham Deegan and Jo Richard's tactical knowledge always kept us in the front."

Undoubtedly, the light conditions played a major role at the 1999 Rolex Swan European Regatta confirmed by the presence of five smaller and older boats in the top six. The only exception being Terry and Sue Robinson's 1996 Swan 48 Assuage who finished fourth overall.

But this is part and parcel of the success of the Swan regattas as they continue to attract a mixed fleet of both old and new. The enthusiasm continues to grow as Nautor Finland chief, Luciano Scaramuccia explained: "Some weeks ago when I heard that we had reached 57 entries I took this to be clear indication of the enthusiasm for Swan sailing in northern Europe. This past week on the testing waters of the Solent has proved this."

The Rolex Swan European Regatta has grown in stature since its inception in 1983 building a reputation for competitive racing combined with a touch of glamour on-shore. The post-racing festivities play a big part and as the 800-strong crew gathered at the Royal Yacht Squadron for the 1999 prizegiving, Assuage tactician Andy Beadsworth summed up: "We came here to race hard but also to play hard." What more can you say ?"

Overall Top Three Positions:

1st Jacobite    (Swan 48 / Stephen James)          11 points
2nd Menenes     (Swan 441 / Libby & Graham Deegan) 12 points
3rd Crackerjack (Swan 46 / Keith Miller)           14 points

Division F Top Three Positions

1st Jacobite    (Swan 48 / Stephen James)
2nd Crackerjack (Swan 46 / Keith Miller)
3rd Assuage     (Swan 48 / Terry Robinson)

Division G Top Three Positions

1st Menenes     (Swan 441 / Libby & Graham Deegan)
2nd Cisne       (Swan 43 / Keert Jansen)
3rd Shaytana    (Swan 36 / John MacIntyre)

For full results please go to the RYS website at www.rys.org.uk