Swans at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and Rolex Swan Cup Preview
by Nautor's Swan 12 Sep 2016 13:00 BST
4-10 September 2016
Swan 115 Highland Fling 15 at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup © Carlo Borlenghi / Rolex
The 27th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has drawn to a close with a record fleet of 52 yachts, all in excess of 60 feet. Racing is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in conjunction with the International Maxi Association together with the support of Rolex.
There were five yachts in the Swan fleet enjoying fabulous racing but the prestigious Swan Maxi Class Trophy was awarded to Swan 601 AROBAS, finishing the best placed Swan, attaining second place in the Mini Maxi RC Class. Swan 80 ALPINA also enjoyed a great week's racing, achieving third prize in the Maxi RC Class. The recently delivered Swan 115 Highland Fling 15 chose the event for her debut appearance on the Maxi circuit. Although missing the first day's racing she quickly found her pace, achieving podium positions every day with a 3-1-2 score sheet. A seriously impressive result for a brand new yacht and demonstrating this Swan 115's huge potential.
This was just a warm-up event for the Swan fleet in Porto Cervo, with the thrilling 19th edition of the Rolex Swan Cup set to start next week. This 50th Anniversary celebration sees a record number of 125 yachts competing in the stunning waters of Sardinia.
Rolex Swan Cup (11-18 September 2016)
This iconic Nautor's Swan event will form the perfect setting for Nautor's 50th Anniversary celebrations: a beautiful venue, an array of passionate owners who are equally talented sailors, an international fleet, a stunning yacht club, a glamorous social program and a title sponsor known for excellence.
This unmissable event will bring together a showcase of iconic yachts produced by Swan over fifty years, from the earliest classic Sparkman and Stephens models to the newest launches, including the revolutionary high performance ClubSwan 50 The first Swan ever built, Tarantella, Swan 36.001 will race again in Porto Cervo with a special crew: the same people who built her in 1966. This team came forward voluntarily this year to restore this special yacht to her original beauty and now she is ready to compete. Three Swan 115s, admirals of the fleet, will sail alongside the three ClubSwan 50s, and the latest bluewater Swan 54.
The fleet will be divided into classes according to size and age: Swan Maxi Class (80 ft and above), Swan Mini Maxi Class (between 56 and 80 ft), Swan Grand Prix Class (56 ft and below), Sparkman & Stephens Class and finally the Club Swan 42 and Swan 45 Classes. The Swan 45's will also compete for their World Championship title.
The rich social program of lively and exclusive events concludes with the spectacular Crew Party organized by Rolex at the Colonna Pevero in Porto Cervo.
Exceptional Nautor's Swan partners to this event will be Perrier-Jouét with its exclusive champagnes and the iconic camera brand Leica, who will document every step of the event with its world-class photography.