Swan-tastic

67 yachts entered for next weeks Rolex Swan European Regatta

Next week, 67 Swans and around 800 sailors from all over Europe will converge on Cowes, Isle of Wight for the Rolex Swan European Regatta. The twelfth edition of this biennial event will be hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron from 19-25 June 2005. The entry list for this year goes a long way to confirm the Rolex Swan European Regatta as a premier event on the international sailing circuit. Within the 66 Swans entered, 12 nations are represented, spanning Great Britain (with 43 entries), The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France and Spain. With top class sailors participating onboard some 27 different Swan models, the regatta promises to deliver an exceptional week of close competition with a social programme for all to enjoy.

Andy Green, former British America's Cup Helmsman and tactician aboard Swan 45 Nemo of Cowes, is amongst those looking forward to the event. Green commented ahead of the regatta: "One of the great attractions of the Rolex Swan Europeans is the high level of competition and the huge diversity of Swans that take part. I am looking forward to racing in the Swan 45 Class - it looks like there will be a very healthy fleet of them. The one-design racing is a big attraction for those Swan owners who want to experience top competition in level boats, which are more racer than cruiser."

Grant Gordon, joint owner of Swan 45 Fever (GBR) along with Klaus Diederichs, will be amongst the hot competition in the ten strong Swan 45 Class. Gordon, who has recruited America's Cup Sailor Chris Law as tactician, commented on his team's preparation for the event: "The Fever team have had a busy winter season, since returning from the Swan 45 Gold Cup in Capri. We are very exited about the opportunity of racing against the rest of the Swan 45 fleet that will be in Cowes. For sure the competition will be fierce!"

A huge range of Swans are entered in Classes A and B, spanning the Nautor's Swan portfolio from the traditional Sparkman & Stephens models to the innovative German Frers designs such as the new Swan 46 Lowly Worm (GBR) owned by John Dean. Colin Buffin, owner of Swan 44 Junkanoo is among those entered in this Class. Buffin who first raced Junkanoo at the Rolex Swan Cup 2004 in Sardinia, sees the Rolex Swan Europeans as an entirely different challenge: "The Rolex Swan European Regatta will be much more challenging given the more variable weather and tides. It is great to race against other Swans as the racing is more closely matched than at other open events. I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and rivalries from previous events."

Talking of friends and rivalries, Buffin's fellow crew member from the Rolex Swan Cup, Lindsay Stuart, will be racing against him at this regatta, this time aboard his own Swan 40, Kymah. Stuart commented: "We thought Cork Week was great fun, but the Rolex Swan Europeans is even better. There's an even bigger sense of community there, you can enter the races from any level of experience and the 'après sail' is fantastic. It's a nice time to be in Cowes before it gets too busy and I'm looking forward to beating Colin!"

Friends and members of ClubSwan will have the opportunity to meet at the numerous social events organised during the regatta. The Rolex Opening Reception and Rolex Owner's Dinner, both at the Royal Yacht Squadron, will set the tone and ensure that evening socialising is as enjoyable and entertaining as the racing. The ClubSwan Dinner at Osborne House will be one of the highlights of the week, with Swan owners relaxing in the beautiful setting of this historic stately home, while the Rolex Swan European Regatta Party on the penultimate evening of the regatta will be an excellent opportunity for crews to relax and enjoy a fun evening together before the competitive final day of racing.

The regatta commences on 19 June with two days of registration and inspections followed by the Opening Reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron on 20 June. Racing will commence on 21 June with Classes A and B racing a maximum of seven races, whilst Class C (Swan 45s) will race a maximum of 15 windward/leeward races. Following an action-packed week of racing and socialising the regatta will conclude with the final prizegiving on 25 June.

Entries:

Yacht Name	Sail no.	Model	Owner
KUUTAR	GBR1672T	38	A AND A WHITE
BOEBES	5814NED	39	J J SEEGERS
CHRISTINA	GBR8710T	40	SEGEL/OUNDJIAN
SWARTE SWAEN	NED5300	40	A DOETS
HALUAN	GBR 8232	40	PAUL STONEHAM
KYMAH	GBR7260T	40	LINDSAY STUART
MOUSTIQUE	GBR2463	41	ALAN MAJOR/MIKE SPEAR
PHILIPPIDES	GBR2503	41	RICHARD BALDING
BREAKOUT	GBR1715T	42	S J LIEBMANN
SELENE	GBR976	44	MARK JEPHCOTT
FEVER	GBR945R	45	DIEDERICHS / GORDON
CRACKERJACK	GBR6R	45	KEITH MILLER
MCFLY	GBR7745R	45	TONY MACK
PIPER AT THE G.OF D	GBR9050	45	CHARLES SWINGLAND
SAMANTAGA	NED7282	45	P VAN HEURCK/P MOORGAT
CHARISMA		45	N POONS
HAWK	GBR6945R	45	NIGEL BRAMWELL
MURKA 2	GBR92R	45	MISCHA MODRATOV
NEMO OF COWES	GBR17R	45	LAMBILLIOTTE
AXELLE 5	FRA29745	45	PATRICE FONTAINE
VRIJHEID	NED6888	46	JOOST KUIPER
RAROTONGA	GER3767	46	WERNER LEMMEL
LOWLY WORM	GBR4639R	46	JOHN DEAN
SLEEPER	GBR486	47	MR AND MRS LAYFIELD
SILVEREN SWAEN	NED246	48	P H J BAKKER
ELAN	GER1950	48	HARALD BAUM
JACOBITE	GBR48R	48	STEPHEN JAMES
BARRACUDA	BEL1300	51	SERGE VASSART
NORTHERN CHILD	GBR5951T	51	JULIAN SINCOCK
MAGICAL	GBR1385R	56	MR AND MRS E LEASK
ZINGALA	GBR56R	56	FRANK MOUNTAIN
ANNABEL J	GBR9113T	68	DICK HICKTON
STAY CALM	GBR70R	70	STUART ROBINSON
COOSI FUN TUTTE	GBR3942R	371	DAVID PITT
DELNIC	F9210	391	LOUIS ROUSSELIN
GLADEYE	GBR8238T	391	HDSA
EL TIBURON	GBR5411R	411	ANDREW ARMSTRONG
IF	FRA2510	411	N TOURNADRE
GRAIN DE SOLEIL	FRA8981	441	E AND N SVILARICH
MENENES	3181C	441	A SCHIRMER/D RANCE
TALANA II	GER3855	441	DR C G NAGEL
YELLOWDRAMA	GBR1250	557	S MATTHEWS
SPIRIT OF JETHOU	GBR2601R	601	PETER OGDEN
ISLAND FLING	GBR88R	601	P F WINKELMANN
ARTEMIS	SWE10601	601	TORBJORN TORNQVIST
CUOR DI LEONE		601	L FERRAGAMO
DJAMBO	NED5900	38/1	REM C SCHUIT
FLYING NELEB	ESP1574	39R	F G GERMAN
PERSEVERANCE	GBR4115R	42/037	JOHN OLDRIDGE
REINDEER		43 (1969)	J and M MEREDITH
JUNKANOO	GBR1622R	44 MK II	COLIN BUFFIN
MORIJU	GER4894	44 MK II	B MICHLER
MOONDANCE	2198C	44 TALL RIG	J MCINTYRE
TAROK VI	DEN6888	46 MK I	ERIK BERTH
AKARANA	GBR746R	46 MK II	GRAHAM DEEGAN
MASQUERADE	GBR531	46 MK II	ROGER MOTSON
FIRECRACKER	GBR1106	46/1	O VON DER HEIDE POULSEN
BLACK TIE	43500	47 CB	GAVIN HOWE
VALHALLA	GBR54OOT	55 Yawl	NICK ORME
BANJAARD	GBR19R	FRERS 36	JOHN FALLA
ICON		N/S	IAIN MACINNES
CARTE BLANCHE	K879	OLD 36	JEM TETLEY
FLYOVER	1464C	S & S 36	JOHN WILSON
ODETTE OF HAMBLE	GBR2881	S & S 37	NIGEL PHILPOTT
CIMAROON	GBR3850	S & S 38	JAMES BULL
ROSY PELICAN	K4881	S & S 44	MILLARD & GARTHWAITE