Winners decided

A report from the final day of racing at Rolex Capri Sailing Week

The fourth and final day of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Capri in collaboration with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with Rolex as title sponsor, saw the competing fleet set out accompanied by bright sunshine and a 5 to 6 knot breeze from approximately 250°, increasing to 10 knots. The Race Committee set a windward-leeward course of approximately 8 nautical miles for the Farr 40 and Swan 45 divisions, while the Mini Maxi and Comet divisions also sailed approximately 8 nautical miles around the marks positioned in the Gulf of Naples.

In the Farr 40 fleet Jim Richardson's Barking Mad (USA), overall leader since Day Two, won the series by a clear margin over Massimo Stefano Leporati's Kismet (ITA) and Massimo Mezzaroma's Nerone (ITA). The 16 competing boats completed one windward-leeward race today, bringing them to a total of seven regattas for the event. Several of the former America's Cup tacticians competing in this division showed their worth today as Finland's Siragusawa, owned by Olli-Pekka Lumijarvi and with Dee Smith calling tactics, took their first victory of the series ahead of Marco Rodolfi's TWT (ITA) with tactician Tiziano Nava. Alessandro Barnaba's Fiamma (ITA), with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics, took third place.

Two-time Farr 40 World Champion (1998, 2004) Jim Richardson was delighted with his victory: "The week's racing went terrific for us. We had come off of a couple of bad results back in the winter series in the United States, so to come here and do well was a bit of redemption. After the first day we were in second and then after that we got into the lead and we stayed there - so I think we sailed very well. We sailed conservatively and we didn't take a lot of risks." Commenting on his relatively new team and plans for the season: "We have the America's Cup going on and there are all sorts of other distractions and it's difficult to get the same people all the time so we had a lot of new people on the boat this time. We had Bouwe Bekking, I've only sailed with him a few times but he's a terrific sailor and he's a wonderful, wonderful person to boot - he's going to be in Porto Cervo with me as well."

The final outcome of the series for the Swan 45 division was decided in today's race with Carlo Perrone's Atlantica Racing (ITA) building on yesterday's fine lead to take overall victory. Dick Weismann's Vixen (USA) took second place while Paolo Scerni's Kora 3 (ITA) came in third. This division had everything to play for as the top three competitors were separated by just one point going into today's race. Charles Swingland's Piper at the Gates of Dawn (GBR) took first place ahead of Danilo Salsi's DSK Comifin (ITA) and US entry Vixen.

"It has been a great sailing week concluded with an overall victory", commented winning owner Carlo Perrone. "I am very happy about our performance as we have participated in every edition of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week in the Swan 45 division and today we celebrate our first victory. We can see how the class is growing fast and the level of competition is becoming more professional. 15 boats participated in this edition which represents a significant proportion of the Class worldwide. We are now looking forward to the World Championships in Cowes (GBR)."

Overall victory in the Min Maxi division went to Massimo Violati's Ops 5 (ITA) over Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II (ITA) and Antonello Morino's Sei Tu 2 respectively. Atalanta II (ITA) dominated once again in today's regatta bringing the Italian team to a total of four consecutive firsts. Eight points gained after disqualification in the first race of the series, however, meant that Violati's second place of today was sufficient to secure an overall win. Sei Tu 2 came in third on corrected time in today's regatta and in the overall classification.

" Atalanta II's OCS in the first race favored us with good chances to win," commented Fabio Rispoli, Skipper of OPS 5. " Atalanta II is very fast and is a hard boat to beat. We sailed conservatively and focused on competing against the second or third boat in the ranking instead of challenging the first and fastest one. This was less risky and allowed us to take a better position. Racing among buoys was very challenging. It gave us the chance of a close and technical competition with plenty of action and tactical decisions to make."

Maurizio Biscardi's Libertine claimed first place in the Comet division over last year's winner Nur, owned by Guido Morisco. Alberto Franchella's Aria TX Active, with a crew composed of members of the Italian Airforce, took third.

"It brings us great satisfaction to win this prize," said Biscardi. "We came here with a boat just out of the shipyard and with a totally new crew who had sailed only two regattas before this event and we definitely out-performed any expectations. I have to compliment my crew's work and especially our helmsman, Sergey Chevtson, who did an excellent job and shared a lot of his experience with all of us these days."

Today's race saw Aria TX active take her first win of the series on corrected time. Libertine came in second and Nur third.

At the closing Prize Giving Ceremony, held in Marina Grande, the winners of each division were awarded with Rolex Trophies and a Rolex Submariner Timepiece. The Giorgio Natale Special Trophy for the best classified YCC or YCCS member was awarded to Massimo Violati.

The Rolex Capri Sailing Week represents the first leg of the Farr 40 European circuit that will conclude at the Rolex Baltic Week in Neustadt, Germany before the top event of the Class, the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship (29 August-1 September) in Copenhagen.

"The Worlds will be great," said Dee Smith, tactician on the Finnish boat Siragusawa
. "I've sailed in Copenhagen before and it's a real tricky place. It's also a beautiful city and I'm sure they'll put on a fantastic event. Hopefully we'll be sailing fast and getting off the starting line." When asked his opinion of competing here in Capri, Smith said: "I think it has been a fantastic experience to come down here for the Finns. It's important to get an all around experience with different conditions - it makes it easier to get familiar with your boat. Competing here in a fleet of sixteen boats, who are all very good, gave us the chance to test our level. We can improve in every event."

Rolex Capri Sailing Week 2007 - Final Results (top three)

Farr 40
Position. Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points
1. Barking Mad, USA, Jim Richardson, 32 (8- 3- 2- 2- 4- 6- 7)
2. Kismet, ITA, Massimo Stefano Leporati, 41 (3- 8- 7- 7- 7- 4- 5)
3. Nerone, ITA, Massimo Mezzaroma, 43 (7- 17- 1- 5- 1- 2- 10)

Swan 45
Position. Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points
1. Atlantica Racing, ITA, Carlo Perrone, 17 (1- 7- 5- 4)
2. Vixen, USA, Dick Weismann, 23 (5- 9- 6- 3)
3. Kora 3, ITA, Paolo Scerni 24 (7- 4- 3- 10)

Mini-Maxi
Position. Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points
1. OPS 5, ITA, Violati Massimo, 10 (1- 2- 3- 2- 2)
2. Atalanta II, Puri Negri Carlo, 12 (8- 1- 1- 1- 1)
3. Sei Tu 2, ITA, Morina Antonello, 17 (3- 4- 4- 3- 3)

Comet S
Position. Yacht Name, Country, Owner, Points
1. Libertine, ITA, Biscardi Maurizio, 9 (1- 1- 1- 4- 2)
2. Nur, ITA, Morisco Guido, 13 (3- 3- 3- 1- 3)
3. Aria Tx Active, ITA, Franchella Alberto, 23 (2- 9- 5- 6- 1)