Swans head for Key West

Four 601s to go up against one another in January

Four Swan 601s will take to the Florida waters for a week of dramatic racing at Acura Key West 2007, presented by Nautica Watches on 15-19 January. Moneypenny, Artemis, Spirit of Jethou and Cuordileone will go head to head in the Swan 601 One Design Circuit and the IRC Big Boat Class, in what will be a rematch of the Swan 601s - following Moneypenney’s victory at the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo (11-17 September 2006). Racing in the second IRC Class will also be closely watched, with Makoto Uematsu’s Club Swan 42 Esmeralda making its debut at the event.

As the ClubSwan 42 competes for the first time, this special occasion marks the partnership between the New York Yacht Club and the yacht manufacturer. In July 2005, the NYYC announced that it had selected Nautor’s Swan as its partner in creating a new international One-Design racing class. Just one year on and the unique one-design racer-cruiser has gained international recognition.

Club Swan 42 Esmeralda will face competition from a number of yachts in the IRC 2 Class. Makoto Uematsu, owner of Esmeralda,is keen to take to the water and demonstrate the quality of this new yacht: “I am looking forward to racing at Key West as the Club Swan 42 is such a comfortable model to sail, with great style. This will be the tenth time that I have taken part in the event and I will be joined by a great crew from Japan, the USA and New Zealand. In the future I hope to race against other models in our own one Design Class.”

The Club Swan 42 is racing in the IRC 2 Class this year, however the model will have its own dedicated Class at the regatta in 2008. Nautor’s Swan will continue to nurture the Club Swan 42 Class, encouraging its growth by expanding the programme through its global network of agents, service yards and by introducing the concept to premier yacht clubs worldwide.

Meanwhile, great interest in the 'Big Boat Class' is also expected and the entrants include Swan 601 Moneypenny, owned by Jim Swartz (USA). Moneypenny collected two great honours during Acura Key West 2006, securing second place overall in Class IRC-1 and first place in the inaugural US-IRC National Championships. Members of the crew who sailed Moneypenny to victory at the Rolex Swan Cup will join Mr Swartz onboard and include Dee Smith, Kimo Worthington and Mark Rudiger in the after guard.
Swartz is keen to take part in some competitive racing: “Key West is such a terrific venue and everyone is looking forward to the start of a new year and Key West is fun. The competition looks particularly tough this year with a number of new IRC entries, several TP52s, Hap Fauth’s Belle Mente and the CM60s Hissar and Numbers. It will also be a thrill to have the four 601s on the line again. I can honestly say the one class racing we had in Sardinia was the most fun ever; I really look forward to more incredibly close racing.”

Leonardo Ferragamo will be joined by a strong crew onboard Courdileone, including America’s Cup sailor and recent Melges World Champion 2006, Nicolas Celon. Sir Peter Ogden’s Spirit of Jethou will also comprise a strong team of sailors with Stuart Branson as crew boss. Olympic Gold medallist and America’s Cup legend, Russell Coutts, will call tactics on board Tobjorn Tonquist’s Artemis.

Hans Bauer, sailing manager onboard Artemis, is determined to take first place in the Swan 601 Class: “It’s great to have Russell Coutts onboard. He’s a true sportsman and it doesn’t matter if we are behind the fleet or way ahead as he is always focused on how we can gain some boat lengths. Artemis had close fights in the Rolex Swan Cup and we were second then. This time we are going for revenge. We plan to take the start, be first around the windward- and leeward mark and first to finish - In every race!”

Visitors to Acura Key West will have the opportunity to view the new Club Swan 42 and Swan 601 as Nautor’s Swan is holding a 'Nautor’s Swan One Design Class Open House' during event. On Wednesday 17 January, the final race day, the three models will be located at Conch Harbour Marina.