100 Swans

Strong competition lining up for September's Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo

With little under a month until the 15th Rolex Swan Cup, preparations are in full swing with over 100 entries already confirmed. Swan owners and international sailors from around the globe are readying themselves for a week of intense racing over 8-14 September in Porto Cervo. The biennial regatta is hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and offers some of the best sailing and social activity around.

Entries from over 15 countries will compete in a number of classes, including: Club Swan 42, Swan 45, Swan Maxi and Classics. And, with the regatta forming the final event in both Swan Maxi and Club Swan 42 Mediterranean circuits, it promises to be a thrilling occasion and impressive sailing spectacle.

A wide range of performance cruising and racing models will compete from the smallest yacht registered, the Finnish Swan 371 Rosinante to the largest, the Spanish Swan 112 Highland Breeze. For over half of the fleet, it will be their first experience at Nautor’s Swan’s flagship event.

The biggest yachts in the fleet will compete in the Maxi class, open to yachts over 18m in length and racing under IRC handicap. The class will include the one-design Swan 601s and counts as the fourth and final event in the inaugural Swan Maxi Class circuit. The Swan 601 Spirit of Jethou (GBR) goes into this regatta with a one-point advantage over the Swan 80 Favonius (BVI), having won two of the previous events. A strong performance from either could wrap up the title.

Some of the toughest racing is expected to be found within the two one-design classes. Twenty three Swan 45s are already confirmed, with entrants having the added pressure of racing for the 2008 Gold Cup. Current World Champion, Alex Roepers will be hoping for a repeat performance of 2007 after steering Plenty (USA) to Gold Cup victory in waters off Cowes. Roepers believes the team have a good chance of defending the title.
“It’s always a close contest in Swan 45 class and I’m looking forward to the challenge," Roepers said. "We won the last Gold Cup in Cowes and this will be our third championship event. We haven’t competed in the Mediterranean Circuit as much as some of the others in the class but I feel that we have a strong team in place this year and every chance of a top three finish.”

Plenty will face strong opposition from some well known names in the class, including current International and Mediterranean circuit leader WISC (GBR), a class winner at Rolex Capri Sailing Week in May; the 2006 Rolex Swan Cup class winner DSK Comifin (ITA) and 2007 Gold Cup runner up Fever (USA).

The Rolex Swan Cup will also welcome the Club Swan 42 class to the regatta for the first time. The eight-boat line up represents six nations and includes two from the USA and Italy, and one from each of France, Greece, Lithuania and The Netherlands. Kora 4 (ITA), the Italian Club Swan 42 owned by Paolo Scerni, has enjoyed a good run of form of late, taking class honours at the Trofeo Aurora in Portofino and Giraglia Rolex Cup. Scerni is a regular on the Club Swan 42 circuit and this will be his fifth consecutive appearance at this event.

“The Rolex Swan Cup is always a great event that captures the true spirit of Swan," said Scerni. "Since our first Rolex Swan Cup in 2000 the racing has become more intense and we’ve gone from sailing a Swan 80 to a Club Swan 42. The Club Swan 42 Class is fast and challenging and I’m looking forward to racing against the USA contingent. We’ve enjoyed some good form recently and hope to repeat the performance in Porto Cervo. We plan to head out to Sardinia in the weeks leading up to the event to familiarise ourselves with the waters and get some practice in.”

In addition to racing on his Club Swan 42 Scerni has recently taken delivery of a new Swan 90 FD and plans to bring the yacht down for the event. The intention is to prepare the yacht for racing in next season’s Swan Maxi Class and will be in Porto Cervo not to compete, but to make the most of the stunning cruising grounds on offer. “It will be great to see her out on the water at her first Swan regatta," he continued. "We will test the boat in the winter before joining the other over 60 footers in the Swan Maxi Class next year.”

The Club Swan 42 Cuordileone (ITA) owned by Nautor’s Swan President Leonardo Ferragamo has also enjoyed some success since its launch last year, bursting onto the racing scene in September 2007 and winning its class at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez on the model’s Mediterranean debut. It then went on to win the first event in the European Circuit, the Primo Cup, edging victory over Kora 4.

The fourth class will be the Classic Class, aimed at boats under 18m and raced under the unique Nautor’s Swan Rating system also based on IRC but which credits boats for adherence to the original design.

The full programme of shoreside activity will begin on Monday with a welcome cocktail party. The following race days will include prize giving ceremonies and glamorous socials throughout the week, including the Owners’ Dinner hosted by Rolex on Friday and Rolex Crew Party on Saturday. The final prizegiving is scheduled for 6.00pm on the final Sunday at the close of the week.