The 23rd Rolex Swan Cup has wrapped up in Porto Cervo, with more than 1,800 sailors and a 170-boat fleet marking Nautor Swan's 60th anniversary in what organisers are calling a record-breaking regatta.
The final day delivered clear skies and a north-easterly that built from eight to 12 knots, suited to the coastal course that wound from the Gulf of Arzachena along Caprera's eastern coast, past Isola dei Monaci and through the Passo delle Bisce to Secca di Tre Monti and back to the finish off Porto Cervo.
The rating divisions tackled that coastal route while the ClubSwan One Design classes ran two windward-leeward races between Isola delle Bisce and Isola dei Monaci. The coastal fleet wove around the one-design boats mid-course, creating a dramatic scene across the bay.
Freya, a Swan 90, pulled off the standout comeback of the week in the Swan Maxi class. Sixth in the opening race, she then posted three straight firsts, including today's race, which she won ahead of Spiip to seal the class.
Arobas, a Swan 601, held her nerve in the Mini-Maxi division. A second today behind Sea Quill was enough to retain the overall lead built up through consistency across the series.
From Now On, a Swan 45, took out the Cruiser Racer class with three consecutive wins, finishing level on points with Thetis but ahead on the day.
Among the Legacy fleets, Giuseppe Puttini's Swan 65 Shirlaf went down to the wire with Elan, both boats posting two wins and two second places across the series before Shirlaf's win today settled it in her favour, fitting given the yacht is celebrating 50 years since her launch this year. Pride, a Swan 44, claimed both her class and the overall Legacy title with a win in the coastal race ahead of Mascalzone Latino XVIII.
Lunz am Meer, an Austrian Swan 651, confirmed her dominant run in the Classics by Frers division with a win in the final race. Katia, a Swan 39, was the only Ron Holland design in the fleet, racing within the Swan Legacy division. Black Zero, a Swan 51, took the Pure Cruising class on countback over Alegher, thanks to her race win on Day 2. Azzurro, a Swan 78, claimed the Maxi Pure Cruising title with three straight wins, the latest ahead of Miss 5K and Coco de Mer.
In the one-design ranks, Earlybird dominated the ClubSwan 50 with five wins from seven races, Francesco "Checco" Bruni calling tactics for owner Hendrik Brandis. Cuordileone, with YCCS Honorary Member Paul Cayard on tactics for owner Leonardo Ferragamo, finished second after two runner-up finishes on the final day, with Marcus Brennecke's Hatari third.
In the ClubSwan 43, Hyppolite Machetti's Team 42+1 took the overall win with six consecutive victories and a second in the final race, ahead of Vargen, owned by Bjorn Rosengren and Jonas Nordlund.
The ClubSwan 42 produced the tightest finish of the regatta. Two Spanish boats, Pedro Vaquer Comas's Nadir and José Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril, finished level on 10 points with identical records of three firsts, two seconds and a third apiece, before Nadir's win in the last race, ahead of Jerome Stubler's Raving Swan, broke the deadlock. Pez de Abril took third overall.
In the ClubSwan 36, Edoardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone, with Michele Regolo calling tactics, won the opening four races to secure the overall title. Nikolai Burkart's Goddess fought back with three straight wins late in the series to finish second, with Fra Martina, owned by the Pavesio brothers, third.
The ClubSwan 28 came down to a single point between Giulio Gatti's Anya Race, with tactician Enrico Zennaro, and Lorenzo Bortolotti's Black Swan. Anya Race had a tougher final day with a fifth and a discarded ninth, while Black Swan won the last race in a late charge that fell just short. Marcello, owned by YCCS member Philippe Ligot, finished third after winning the day's opening race.
At the prize-giving, Paul Cayard presented the Fabio Gallia Award to Catherine Chabaud, who raced aboard the Swan 55 Storm, recognising her status as the first woman to complete the Vendée Globe and her ongoing work in marine conservation. The YCCS also presented an award to the staff of the Marina di Porto Cervo in recognition of their cooperation, drawing particularly warm applause from the fleet.
The bowman's award, established in memory of Matteo Auguadro and voted on by fellow bowmen, was presented the previous morning. This year's recipient was Matteo Ramian, who received it from Rachele Vitello, Auguadro's wife.
The YCCS sporting calendar continues with the J/70 Class and Italian Championship from 2 to 4 October.
