Wolf's winning way

Glynn Williams and crew show the way round the course to take the first Swan 45 Northern European Area championship

Glynn Williams' Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (WISC) won all three races today in the last day of racing in the Swan 45 Northern European Area Championship to take the overall championship title. WISC dominated the leaderboard by winning every race but one during this two-day regatta, despite fierce competition from the other six boats in the fleet.

Williams has shown extraordinary success in the four months that the boat has been on the water, with a win at Cork Week and now the Area Championship. Having raced himself in the British team for the Commodore's Cup and owned a number of racing boats including a IC45, Williams has made an impressive impact on the Swan 45 Class in its first Area Championship in the UK.

"I am thrilled with our clean sweep today, sailing was much easier than yesterday as there was a bit more wind, giving us lots of speed. It was so close out there today, and we found ourselves in a couple of sticky situations, but managed to get out of trouble when it really mattered and that is what makes this one design racing exciting!" commented Williams.

It was obvious from the start that WISC's boat handling and team work was superior to the rest of the fleet, as she always managed to gain advantage of every situation, despite the variable conditions on both days. "I have sailed with this crew for a couple of years and know them all very well. We came into this regatta determined to win and have worked very hard to ensure we had all the ingredients to do so - it was worth it!" added Williams.

In only 6-8 knots of wind this morning, the Race Committee, set a shorter course for the first of the three windward/leeward races. It was Leonardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone, who looked to dash WISC's hopes of a clean sweep in the first race, as the Italian boat led the fleet to the windward mark, however a decision to go with the tide and not the breeze resulted in a move from first to last in a matter of minutes, giving WISC the space to win the first race. America's Cup sailor and Cuordileone's navigator, Mark Chisnell described just how competitive it was on the water: "I can't believe how close the racing has been - it has been full on each day! Everyone has been bow to bow, you make one tiny mistake and you've instantly lost three or four places, as we found out today."

The high level of competition continued in the second race with Keith Miller's Crackerjack applying serious pressure to leader, WISC, but the real battle was being fought between overall second and third placed boats, Amnesia and McFly. Demonstrating how closely matched these Swan 45's are, Tony Mack's McFly and Graham de Zille's Amnesia, collided while rounding the leeward mark. All crews and boats were safe and racing continued, but the incident left McFly at a disadvantage resulting in a last place for the second race. The America's Cup and Whitbread sailor, Andrew Cape who is Navigator on Amnesia highlighted the pressure felt by each boat in this fleet: "No doubt there is good competition within this class, with racing really tight. At the leeward mark there were six boats all vying for position - short legs and short races are always going to be really close."

Although WISC did not need to win the final race, pride took over and it proved to be yet another closely fought contest between all seven boats. Ferragamo's Cuordileone made all the running with an outstanding start, but suffered against WISC's ability to edge way from the fleet. Ian Budgen, GBR Challenge sailor and crewmember on Cuordileone, commented on the success of the Swan 45: "The Swan 45 is a very good boat. Nautor has got the difficult balance right between the luxury expected of every Swan and the racing designs needed for a true performance boat. When you compare this boat to other's in the marina here at Cowes, you instantly see how sharp it is.

"This regatta had a lot of competitive people sailing on each boat with experience in America's Cup and Admiral's Cup across the fleet and everybody wants to win. There was a lot of good humour but also a reasonable amount of pressure to do well - that's why we love it!", he concluded.

The owners and crew's of the Swan 45 Class will be presented with their trophies at the official prizegiving on Saturday 28th June at the Royal Yacht Squadron. The event will be a special occasion, as it will also mark the opening of Nautor's largest European event, the Swan European Regatta.

Based in Cowes Yacht Haven, the 55 Swan yachts battling it out in the Solent, will come from as far a field as Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, the USA and even Russia!

Enrico Chieffi, Nautor's Swan Marketing Director is clearly looking forward to the event: "Yet again the great support for this event shows what an important part the Swan European's plays within the racing calendar for all our Swan owners. This year will see added excitement with the event running back to back with the Swan 45 Northern European Area Championship - it will be a great chance for us all to see a great mix of Swans sailing in a great week of racing!"

The week will also see an action packed social calendar, which has become the hallmark of every Nautor event including the Isle of Wight Council Civic Reception, the Bvlgari Owners Dinner, Talisker Crew Party and Opening and Final Prize giving Reception at the Royal Yacht Squadron.

FINAL RESULTS
SAIL NO.1 BOAT Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6
Total
GBR 45R WISC 1 1 3 1 1 1 8
GBR 17R AMNESIA 4 3 2 4 4 3 20
GBR 7745R MCFLY 3 5 1 3 7 5 24

GBR 6R CRACKERJACK 2 4 4 7 2 7 26

ITA 14545 CUORDILEONE 7 2 5 6 5 2
27
GBR 945R FEVER 6 6 7 2 3 6 32

GBR 9050 ALVINE II 5 7 6 5 6 4
33