22nd Rolex Swan Cup Overall: A fantastic finish
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 21 Sep 2024 23:52 BST
15-21 September 2024
Rolex Swan Cup 2024 © YCCS / Daniele Macis
The final day of the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup treated the fleet of competitors to a beautiful day at sea, the best possible invitation to return for the next edition in 2026. The light easterly wind, which increased from 8 to 12 knots, allowed a coastal race to be held for the classes competing in compensated time, and two windward-leeward races for the Swan One Design classes.
Winners of the 22nd Rolex Swan Cup in their respective classes were: Freya, Sea Quill, Isabella, Mascalzone Latino XXXIII, Katima, From Now On, Moonlight, Ulika, Canopo, Fra Martina and Marcello.
The coastal race of approximately 17-miles took the fleet towards the Monaci islet after passing a windward offset mark. After rounding the islet, the Swans headed for the Passo delle Bisce, and on to leave a mark near the Secca di Tre Monti shoal to port before turning for the finish off Porto Cervo. The Swan Sparkman & Stephens boats followed a similar course, but reduced to 12 miles by leaving out the rounding of Monaci.
Victory in the Division B S&S Classic was hard-won, with the German Swan 36 Isabella, the first model built by Nautor Swan, clinching the top spot by just one point over the 1978 Swan 57 Lintu from Finland. In some of the other classes a single yacht dominated with a string of first places, as in the case of the Swan 90 Freya (Division A Maxi) and the Swan 60 CR Sea Quill (Division A Mini Maxi). In the remaining classes, the winner was decided by a margin of just two points: the modified Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino XXXIII (Division B S&S Racing) ahead of the Swan 48 Elan, the Swan 54 Katima (Division C Cruiser) ahead of the Swan 53 CB Bedouin, hailing from Australia, and finally the modified Swan 45 From Now On ahead of Tengher, another modified Swan 45 (Division C Grand Prix).
The brand new ClubSwan 28 class, making its racing debut at the event, sailed four hard-fought races starting on Thursday 19 September. The overall winner of this first regatta was YCCS member Philippe Ligot's Marcello, with tactician Andrea Cherin, tied on points with Giulio Gatti's Anya Race, with Enrico Zennaro calling tactics. Marcello sealed the deal with two first places compared to Anya Race's single win. Claiming third place, just two points behind, was Django, owned by brothers Guglielmo and Vittorio Lombardi Stronati, both YCCS members.
The ClubSwan 50 class saw a surprising final plot twist, as Graeme Peterson's Moonlight, with Hamish Pepper on tactics, edged out Olymp (7 - 8 scoreline today), holder of a commanding lead until yesterday, by a single point. Third place, on equal points with Olymp, went to Hatari, owned by YCCS member Marcus Brennecke.
In the ClubSwan 36 class, Fra Martina, owned by the Pavesio brothers and with Lorenzo Bressani in the role of tactician, claimed a convincing win thanks to a third and a first today, ahead of Cuordileone (1-3 today), owned by Edoardo Ferragamo and with Diogo Cayolla calling tactics. Third place went to Black Seal.
Adriano Majolino's Canopo, with tactician Michele Regolo, won in the ClubSwan 42 class, allowing themselves the luxury of discarding today's second-place finish as their worst result of the week. Winner of the day and second overall was Jose Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril. Third was the Belgian yacht Andante 4.
The Swan 45 class saw Stefano Masi's Ulika, with Edoardo Mancinelli Scotti on tactics, get the better of Georgios Petrochilos' Ex Officio, with former 470 Olympic medallist Panagiotis Kampouridis on tactics, again by just one point. Third place went to YCCS member Luca Locatelli's Thetis.
As always, the final prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra was a packed affair, with Rolex Italia CEO Stephan Müller, Nautor Swan CEO Giovanni Pomati and YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati in attendance. "What has just concluded in the best possible way was a Rolex Swan Cup with something extra, because it was precisely 40 years ago, with this regatta, that the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda began its successful partnership with Rolex, who I would like to thank for continuing to share with us the same common values of excellence, innovation, technology and respect for the sea. I would like to thank Nautor Swan for returning here to the Costa Smeralda every two years since 1980, with an incredible fleet, ranging from the historic first 36-foot model to the most modern racing one designs and the maxi Swans. Congratulations to the winners, along with the most heartfelt thanks to all the owners and crews present, who have travelled here from every corner of the world - it is you who make this event unique. We look forward to seeing you in 2026 for the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup!" commented Andrea Recordati.
The Rolex Swan Cup concludes and intense sporting season at the YCCS which began in May.
More information at www.yccs.it