Rolex Swan Cup at Porto Cervo - Day 4
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 17 Sep 2016 08:17 BST
11-18 September 2016
Freya, Arobas, Music, Sleeper, Elena Nova and Natalia lead
If there is one thing that the 125 Nautor's Swan owners participating in the 19th Rolex Swan Cup can agree on it is that the YCCS Race Committee is one of the most tenacious around. After yesterday's total lack of wind, this morning's heavy rain clouds and light breezes did not bode well. Principal Race Officer Peter Craig chose however to wait out the squall and ensuing dead calm and, as predicted, the light southerly gave way to a brisk westerly and racing commenced at 2.30 in the afternoon. Racing in the event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with Nautor's Swan, will continue through Sunday 18th September.
All divisions except the one-design classes completed coastal courses using the islands and islets of the La Maddalena archipelago as natural buoys. The Swan 45s and Swan 42s meanwhile were able to complete another windward-leeward competition, bringing them to a total of seven races run.
Maxi
Line honours went to the new Swan 115 Highland Fling with Mike Toppa on tactics, closely followed by her sister ship Shamanna - both of which were launched this year. Victory on handicap, however, went to Don Macpherson's Swan 90 Freya. This second bullet for Macpherson brings him to the top of the overall classification in the Maxi division, on equal points with Selene. Spain's Plis Play remains in third place.
Mini Maxi
A win in the Mini Maxi category took Gerard Logel's Arobas to first place overall in the division. The Swan 56 Yasha took fourth place and sits in second overall while a sixth place finish today was sufficient for Riccardo Pavoncelli's Gaetana to hold third place overall - on equal points with the Spanish Swan 56 Clem Primero.
Grand Prix
James Blackmore's Swan 53 Music maintains an unblemished record with three wins out of three coastal races run. The Swan 48 Solenia II, which finished in a tie for fourth place on corrected time with Ballytrim today, is in second place just half a point ahead of Germany's Crilia.
Sparkman & Stephens
A victory for Britain's Sleeper and second place for Italy's Mascalzone Latino sees them pull away from the rest of the fleet in the overall classification for the classic Sparkman and Stephens division. A third place finish in today's race brought Anthony Ball's Six Jaguar up to third in the overall standings as well.
Swan 45 Class
Elena Nova, owned by Christian Plump and with Sten Mohr calling tactics, claimed her fifth win so far out of the seven-race series. With two more race days in hand and a discard coming into play after the eighth race, R.W. Bol's Esthec in second place overall still has a fighting chance at claiming the Swan 45 World Championship title, as does German boat Earlybird - a former winner and favourite heading into this event.
Swan 42 Class
Romania's Natalia bagged another bullet today, bringing her also to a total of 5 wins. Ten points behind her in second place overall - and second in today's race - is the Italian crew on Bewild. Following a protest and redress being given for races on day 2, Spanish boat Pez de Abril moves up to third place overall.
The social programme which accompanies racing continues with the Nautor's Swan Owner's Dinner at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda this evening, which promises some special surprises to celebrate the shipyard's 50th Anniversary.
Natalia - Swan 42, Rolex Swan Cup 2016. Photo Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Saturday 17th September at 11.30. Winds of upwards of 22 knots are forecast.
More information at www.yccs.com. For updates on social media use the hashtag #RolexSwanCup.