The Nations League - Swan One Design Worlds in Porto Cervo - Day 2
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 20 Jun 08:22 BST
18-21 June 2025
Second day of racing at The Nations Trophy - Swan One Design Worlds off the island of Caprera - The Nations League - Swan One Design Worlds © ClubSwan Racing - Studio Borlenghi
Leaders of the provisional classification are: Earlybird (ClubSwan 50), Mamao (ClubSwan 36), Nadir (ClubSwan 42) and Swing (ClubSwan 28)
Day two at The Nations League - Swan One Design Worlds brought light winds that did, however, permit two races to be held for all classes.
While the AP flag was hoisted ashore and crews awaited instructions, the Race Committee went out to sea to monitor the breeze. The decision was then taken to position both race courses near the island of Caprera, between the Passo delle Bisce strait, the Monaci islets and the Secca di Tre Monti shoal, where the wind was spreading out more evenly.
Racing got under way for the ClubSwan 50 class at 1.45 p.m., followed by the ClubSwan 36 and the ClubSwan 42s, while the ClubSwan 28 boats started on their own separate course, positioned closer to the Monaci islets. The breeze of 5 to 6 knots from the northeast rotated steadily northwards, reaching small gusts of up to 10 knots on the more easterly ClubSwan 28 course. Towards the end of the second race for the ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 36 classes, the wind dropped and swung around, forcing the boats to finish upwind on a leg that had started as a reach. The Race Committee consequently shortened the course for the ClubSwan 42s, which had started last, to finish at the windward mark.
The light and unstable breeze created a dilemma for tacticians to resolve, and fortunes alternated for the boats throughout the two races.
In the ClubSwan 50 class, smart tactical calls from Manu Weiller allowed the red-hulled Earlybird to notch up a second and a fourth today, consolidating her lead in the provisional classification for the World Championship. In second place overall, with a gap of eight points, sits Stella Maris, who finished seventh in the first race, but went on to claim the win in the second. With a tenth and a fifth place today, Moonlight drops to third place overall, while in fourth place is Cuordileone, victorious in the first race but unlucky in the second due to the breeze dropping out right at the finish line.
Brazilian ClubSwan 36 Mamao remains at the head of their class with third and a first today, followed by the top performers of the day - Hungary's Black Battalion (1-2) - and Fra Martina (2-5). Ross MacDonald, tactician on Mamao: 'It was a challenging day, the forecast predicted light winds so we didn't really know what to expect. In the end we managed to do both races in quite nice conditions, it just got a little tricky towards the end of the last race, but it was a good day for us. The next two days it's just about sailing well. We haven't done a lot of racing in this class this year although the team has been sailing together a lot in Brazil. At the moment we're still trying to get used to the boat again. I think in stronger winds we're more comfortable, so we're looking forward to the next few days."
The ClubSwan 42 class proved once again how efficient this hull is in light air, with the fleet sailing close and compact at all times. With a second and a first place, current class champions Nadir moved into the lead overall, just one point ahead of Canopo, winner of the first race and fourth in the second. Third in the provisional classification is Pez de Abril, posting a third and a second-place finish today.
The ClubSwan 28s delivered thrilling racing, with close manoeuvres and a tight-knit fleet on the mark roundings. The Japanese boat Swing has moved into the lead in the provisional standings, thanks to a first and a second place today. She now sits two points clear of Black Swan (2-1), while yesterday's provisional leader, Play Bigger (3-5), drops back to third place. Having completed their fifth race today, the ClubSwan 28s have been able to discard their worst result.
Australian gold and silver Olympic medallist in the 470 class, Will Ryan, tactician on Swing: "Today is day two at the Swan World Championship, actually a lot better than the forecast had said, we ended up with a really nice breeze coming from the north, slowly from 6 to maybe 8 knots, very very tricky racing but it means that everyone was super close and it was a fight the whole way around. I think all the fleet had two very nice races and tomorrow promises a lot more breeze so we're all looking forward to that."
Tomorrow, Friday 20 June, the first starting signal for racing is scheduled for 1 p.m. A Mistral wind is expected to arrive, blowing between 14 and 18 knots.
The Owner's Dinner will be held on the YCCS terrace in the evening.
For further information,results, entry list, official documents, programme and photos please visit the YCCS website.