Small, but perfectly formed

Sardinia Rolex Cup to take place mid-June

The Sardinia Rolex Cup 2008, valid as the ISAF Offshore Team World Championship, will take place in Porto Cervo from 14-21 June. Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), the regatta has taken place biennially since its inauguration in 1972 and this year reaches it 16th running.

With racing due to start in just over four weeks the first official entries to have been accepted include national teams from Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia while a further two team entries are currently being finalised. As always, each team will be comprised of three yachts: a Farr 40, a Swan 45 and a Transpac 52. After four days of windward-leeward racing, with the possibility of an islands race midweek, each boat’s score will be combined to make up the team total. Victory, along with the Sardinia Cup Challenge Trophy and the Rolex Offshore Team World Championship Trophy, will go to the team with the lowest series points score.

The Sardinia Rolex Cup consistently attracts top international owners and crews and this year will be no exception: Vincenzo Onorato, who claimed the Sardinia Rolex Cup as part of Team Sardegna in 2006, has already signed up for Team Italy aboard his Farr 40. He will be joined by Riccardo Simoneschi aboard the TP52 Audi Q8 and Danilo Salsi on his Swan 45 DSK making for an all-YCCS team.

Team Italy is certainly one to watch with Onorato’s Mascalzone Latine recently having achieved the unique feat of winning three Farr 40 World Championships back-to- back. Germany and Spain, however, are also past winners of the Sardinia Rolex Cup. Team Russia, on the other hand, is a newcomer to the event and with everything boiling down to skill, tactics and teamwork, may just provide some surprises.

Additional entries are currently being accepted.