Around the islands

Swans off on distance race at Rolex Swan Cup

Day three of the Rolex Swan Cup 2004, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and the 102-boat fleet of Swans were off on the long-distance Islands Race.

The course of 57.1 nautical miles provided a great test with a fresh westerly breeze of 18-20 knots. While the three classes started separately, they sailed the same course. From the starting line off Porto Cervo, the fleet sailed upwind to a turning mark, then continued on the wind to Monaci Island, before heading downwind to Mortoriotto. This rocky outcrop provided a dramatic turning mark with the fleet tightly compacted.

The next leg took the yachts upwind, leaving the islands of Caprera, Santo Stefano, La Maddalena and Spargi to starboard. After navigating the channel between Santa Maria and Barettinelli (the first boat, the Swan 80 Favonius, rounded at 15:46), the fleet headed into open sea on a long run downwind, rounding Mortoriotto a second time, before heading up to the finish line off the entrance to Porto Cervo.

Leaders on the water at the halfway mark, the Barettinelli Islands, were in Class A, the Swan 80 Favonius followed by Swan 70's Bugia Bianca and Stay Calm; Massimo Ferragamo's Bellicosa headed up Class B, followed closely by Wisc (GBR) and Mascalzone Latino (ITA). In Class C/D Solenia 2 (Swan 48) was followed by King's Legend (Swan 65), with Katrina (Swan 53) in third. At time of press, one yacht, the Swan 60 Alula had withdrawn due to gear failure.

Racing continues on Saturday after a lay day. Tomorrow, Friday 17th September, from 10am to 1pm, a selection of Nautor's Swan yachts will be exhibited in their full glory in Porto Cervo Marina.

Nautor's Swan recognise that with over 100 Swans present in Porto Cervo, and over 33 models within the entire Swan portfolio (past and present) entered in the regatta, it is the perfect occasion to open the doors on the new and improved SwanLine.

German Frers chief designer for Nautor's Swan for over 20 years, comments on the extensive SwanLine: "We are making consistent and continuous progress, producing a modern line of performance cruisers and racing yachts, which is a big change from the past and will secure Nautor's position as the undisputable leader in the market. The Showcase tomorrow provides a great chance for everyone to experience the key elements of the SwanLine firsthand."

Class A (Top 10):

Yacht
Owner/Skipper						Total	Place
BUGIA BIANCA	ITA14014	1	1	5	1	8	1
Massimo Dentice/Massimo Dentice
AQUA EQUINOX	BEL6237	12	4	1	5	22	2
Filip Balcaen/Jamie Connelly
FAVONIUS	7	10	2	9	2	23	3
Roel Pieper/Roel Pieper
STAY CALM	GBR70R	9	8	4	3	24	4
Stuart Robinson/Stuart Robinson
CHIPPEWA	IVB6821	2	6	10	7	29	5
Clayton Deutsch/Clayton Deutsch
LOLITA	USA50056	5	13	2	9	29	6
Frank & Lolita Savage/Frank Savage
CONSTANTER	USA50002	4	15	7	4	30	7
Willem Mesdag/Richie Seel
NOONMARK VI	GBR5698R	6	17	3	8	34	8
Geoffrey Mulcahy/Mike Gilburt
PARADIS	GBR1582	11	9	8	6	34	9
David Ward/Rinaldo Boscolo
ISLAND FLING	GBR88R	8	3	11	12	34	10
Paul F. Winkelmann/Stephen Dodd

Class B - Swan 45 (Top 10):

Yacht						Total	Place
Owner/Skipper
VERTIGO	GBR23R	1	2	1	8	12	1
Marco Salvi/Alberto Signorini/Alberto Signorini
CUOR DI LEONE	ITA14545	2	8	2	6	18	2
Leonardo Ferragamo/Leonardo Ferragam
MASCALZONE LATINO	ITA21210	11	3	6	2	22	3
Vincenzo Onorato/Vasco Vascotto
KORA 3	ITA4541	4	10	4	4	22	4
Paolo Scerni/James Gair
T AL J	ITA14694	3	9	7	13	32	5
Vittorio Ruggiero/Alex Orsino
WISC	GBR45R	12	5	13	3	33	6
Glynn Williams/Mike Bradbury
MINTAKA	ITA14519	10	1	PEN	16	35	7
Stefano Polti/Stefano Polti
OPUS ONE	GER5245	8	PEN	8	7	39	8
Wolfgang Stolz/Thomas Ehler
MAGICIAN	FRA9400	5	7	11	17	40	9
Jacques Bureau/F. Pailloux
GINGER	AUS8	17	12	9	5	43	10
Leslie Green/Leslie Green

Class C/D (Top 10):

Yacht
Owner/Skipper								Total	Place
SOLENIA 2	ITA2992	1		5		1		7	1
Roberto Ferrero/Lorenzo Bressani
KATRINA	USA28553	2		4		8		14	2
Damon Guizot/Damon Guizot
JUNKANOO	GBR1622R	12		3		2		17	3
Colin Buffin/Colin Buffin
SAGA	FRA8737	3		2		12		17	4
Alain Foulquier/Alain Foulquier
TRUMPETER OF THE ROCK	GBR9801	13		1		5		19	5
Louis W. Triay/Louis W. Triay
CRILIA	GER4342	10		7		7		24	6
Heinz Gerd Stein/Heinz Gerd Stein
OASIS	AUS6293	8		8		9		25	7
Barrie Elsbury/Barrie Elsbury
SOMETHING FOR US	ITA3762	6		6		17		29	8
Luisa Silvestrini/Alessio Razeto
MONOMOTAPA	MO9206	7		14		11		32	9
Alberto Querci/Alberto Querci
SWANY	E6192	11		9		20		40	10
Gonzalo Infante/Gonzalo Infante