Swans flock to Newport

Nautor's American Regatta gets underway next week

An impressive number of yachts are preparing for this year’s Swan American Regatta, hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) at their summer residence of Harbour Court, Rhode Island.

The regatta will based at the Newport Yachting Center, from 27 July to 2 August, giving Nautor owners and over 600 competitors, the opportunity for a week of top class competition.

The regatta follows on from the successful Swan European Regatta of last month, won by the Belgian Swan 56, Aqua Equinox. At this regatta there will be representatives from the Netherlands, Italy, Australia and the UK, all hoping to threaten the American monopoly at the 11th edition of this prestigious event. No foreign yacht has ever taken overall honours in the Swan American Regatta.

With 52 boats competing, ranging from the American Swan 36, Ariel to the Dutch Swan 80, Favonius and the American Swan 70, Strabo, and also including Nautor’s new Swan 45 one design, there is sure to be some top racing on the waters off Newport.

One of the most intense battles within the two classes will be between the six Swan 56s and the seven Swan 45s. In particular Frank Savage’s, Swan 56 Lolita, who will be defending his title of Overall Winner in 2001 and hoping to improve on his second place overall in the 2002 Swan Cup, held in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

Among the other American entrants aiming to keep the trophy in the country is Raymond Peterson, owner of Swan 46 Cygne, who has competed in all but one of the Swan American regattas since 1982 and holds the distinction of being the longest competing Swan owner in the American fleet. Competing against Peterson will be long-term rival Richard Sylvanovich, from Missouri, in his Swan 44II, Cygnet.

Enrico Chieffi, Marketing Director for Nautor’s Swan is looking forward to the event: “It’s always great to see the North American Swan owners, with so many familiar faces from previous events. The range of boats on show at this regatta is impressive, from the very first Swan model, Swan 36, to the striking Swan 80, giving us all the chance to see a great mix of Swans sailing. Thanks to our Host, the NYYC, and Partners, we have an equally busy social calendar to offer all owners and crews and look forward to a week of excitement both on and off the water.”

The week will see an action packed social calendar, which has become the hallmark of every Nautor event, starting with a Cocktail Reception at the Museum of American Illustration on Sunday 27 July. The Swan American Regatta Opening Reception will take place on Monday 28 July, at Harbour Court and will also include the prizegiving for the Swan 45 East Coast of America Area Championship, which was held in June of this year.

Registration and measurement will be on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 July, with racing commencing on Tuesday 29 July with the S. Pellegrino Race Day.

Entries

Name	Type	Nation	Sail no	Class
Affinity	48/154	USA	50007	Racing
Alianza	56/025	USA	51956	Cruising
Alliance	45/002	USA	51688	Racing
Amanda	53/031	USA	53	Cruising
Antares	46/055	USA	51446	Cruising
Apsara	61	USA	K3088T	Cruising
Ariel	36/137	USA	137	Racing
Aura	44/020	USA	51016	Racing
Bandit	45/026	USA	45026	Racing
Bellicosa	45/022	ITA	52225	Racing
Better Than	45/018	USA	USA18	Racing
Black Tie	47/055	USA	43500	Cruising
Celerity	48/140	GBR	GBR4808	Racing
Chippewa	68/021	USA	IVB 6821	Racing
Ciao Bella	60/025	USA	50021	Racing
Clover III	56/002	USA	52056	Cruising
Constanter	62/003	USA	USA 50002	Racing
Crescendo	44II/150	USA	USA 51244	Racing
Cygne	46/021	USA	33813	Racing
Cygnet	44II/153	USA	51544	Racing
Devocean	45/024	USA	USA45024	Racing
Dire Wolf	44/140	USA	6697	Cruising
Edelweiss	38/016	USA	51965	Cruising
Falcon	56/035	USA	USA 42233	Racing
Favonius	80/007	NED	7	Racing
Feng	48/146	USA	51669	Racing
Fenix	60/008	GBR	GBR9660R	Racing
Fierce Pride	44II/147	USA	93310	Racing
Galadriel	46/054	USA	USA97060	Racing
Godspeed	51	USA	ANT5114	Racing
Goombay Smash	45/003	USA	45454	Racing
Intermezzo	44/068	USA	51944	Cruising
Lady B	53/030	USA	8888	Racing
Lightwave	44/125	USA	52853	Racing
Linda	59/015	USA	51759	Cruising
Lolita	56/019	USA	50056	Racing
Moondance	391/006	USA	53774	Racing
Neva	56/014	USA	USA 494	Racing
Nova	56/012	USA	USA 50088	Racing
Pirate	38/019	USA	13560	Racing
Reef Points	44II/163	USA	52244	Racing
Sky	53/028	USA	51382	Racing
Strabo	70/006	USA	73600	Racing
Vanish 2	56/007	AUS	USA 5007	Racing
VIM	45/020	USA	USA 52445	Racing
Vixen	44/041	USA	12002	Racing
Xenophon	40/137	USA	USA 51137	Racing
Y2K	68/020	USA	USA 68020	Cruising
Yellowdrama	57/025	GBR	GBR 1250	Racing