maxi yacht rolex cup porto cervo

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Porto Cervo, 14 September 2024  – The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is one of the most impressive events in the international yachting calendar and synonymous with excellence. Both the regatta and its organizer, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), have been partnered by Rolex since the mid-1980s. Indeed, the YCCS and Rolex are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their close cooperation this year. A partnership of such longevity is rare in sport and lies at the heart of the event’s continuing evolution and ability to maintain the highest of standards. The 2024 edition, organized in collaboration with the International Maxi Association, tested the patience of the crews and the determination of the race committee. Both were rewarded with a spectacular conclusion.

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: Continuing to Deliver

Three of the event’s five racing days were lost to extreme winds, as strong north westerlies funnelled through the strait between Sardinia and Corsica. So it was with huge relief that the final day dawned clear and blue with more favourable westerly breeze. All competing teams richly deserve to be applauded for maintaining focus during such a challenging week, with those emerging victorious deserving the greatest plaudits. Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 from The Netherlands secured the first ever Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship, while Proteus entered by George and Christina Sakellaris topped Maxi 2, winning on countback. Aldo Parisotto’s Oscar 3 held on in Maxi 3, with Riccardo di Michele’s H2O lifting from third to first in Maxi 4. In terms of age, little separates the 35 metre (115 foot) Moat and the 43.6m (143ft) Svea launched in 2016 and 2017 respectively, but there is a world of difference in design and styling between the Swan Maxi and the J Class. In the end, it was Svea, redolent of a bygone era that secured Super Maxi by virtue of winning the last race of the series. Gaetana’s victory in Maxi Multihull was more emphatic.

For Joost Schuijff winning a world title at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Leopard 3, originally launched in 2007, is a remarkable achievement. After stepping ashore, he was quick to point to the amount of preparation it had taken ahead of the event to bring the crew together and iron out any problems with the yacht’s set up :

“ It is like a dream come true to win the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship. Once here we worked hard to not make any mistakes. We had no issues with our sails or the other equipment on the boat, which is so important. In the end, we were capable of fighting for every second, keeping on the wind and at speed. ”

Up against some much newer competition in the Maxi 1 division and racing for the world championship, the pressure was on. Two fourth places, in the windward/leeward racing earlier in the week, left the Leopard in touching distance, but needing a stellar result to overhaul a pair of smaller Maxis: Wendy Schmidt’s Deep Blue and Django HF, which had revelled in the lively short course conditions. With two former Rolex World Sailors of the Year, Ed Baird (2007) and Mike Sanderson (2006), in the afterguard of the Dutch Maxi, there was no shortage of tactical nous. The 42.5 nautical mile course set by the YCCS Race Committee, was a balance of beating, reaching and pure downwind sailing, deftly examining each boat’s prowess on different points of sail, and each crew’s ability to extract optimal performance on all parts of the course.

Deep Blue’s attempt to defend their position at the top of the standings blew up on the first beat, as gear failure left the American yacht unable to turn downwind after the first mark. By the time the problem was resolved the rest of the Maxi 1 fleet was well on its way to the island of Soffi, the most southernmost point on the course. Leopard 3 spent much of the race fighting off the attentions of Galateia and V, a pair of Wallycentos. On the long beat up through the spectacular archipelago, to round the island of Maddalena, Leopard hung on. So too did Scallywag. The 30.5m/100ft ocean racer from Hong Kong kept tabs on those ahead, eventually moving into second on the water as the leaders reached the rocky outpost of Monaci. The chasing pack must have done wonders for the Leopard’s speed as the crew strove to stay in front.

Scallywag did manage to get the lead at the very end, finishing 24 seconds ahead. The result on the water, though, was not the most significant. Corrected time would determine the new world champion. Leopard’s concerted effort to stay in front paid off. Beating the 26m (80ft) My Song into second by just over a minute on time correction was enough to secure the race win and, more importantly, the world title by three points from Django HF.

Marking a partnership of 40 years has been a special moment for both the YCCS and Rolex. Driven by the pursuit of perfection, and a passion to support the evolution and development of the sport, the longstanding relationship benefits from considerable mutual respect. YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati had this to say :

“ This 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was undoubtedly complex, but all credit must go to the entire YCCS organization for giving it their all. Congratulations to the winners in their respective classes and thank you on behalf of the YCCS to all the participants who helped make the event, as well as our partner Rolex, with whom we are celebrating 40 years of collaboration. ”

Watching proceedings from the water, was Quanhai Li, President of World Sailing, the federation responsible for all parts of the yachting fraternity :

“ The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Maxi class are part of the World Sailing family. It has been great to see highly skilled sailors racing these impressive boats in such an exceptional environment with excellent organisation provided by the YCCS and IMA. ”

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup takes place in one of the world’s most impressive sailing environments. The emerald waters, rocky outcrops and islets of north-east Sardinia’s Maddalena Archipelago offer an exceptional arena for yacht racing, with varied conditions and testing courses. The fleet of 44 yachts, measuring from 18.29m (60ft) to more than 43.6m (143ft) in length, crewed by the world’s leading professional sailors, were a sublime combination of power, speed and elegance. Despite the difficult circumstances presented by the weather, the event showed why its reputation is so deserved and, that in the hands of an organization determined to deliver the best for the participants, its future is assured.

About Rolex An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise  Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Perpetual watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.

The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 600 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.

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Virginie Chevailler

MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP - ROLEX IMA MAXI 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Leopard 3 is the first Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Champion

(photo: IMA / Studio Borlenghi)

H20 edges ahead of Wallyño and Fra Diavolo after the Maxi 4 start

Pier luigi loro piana and his crew wrestle their clubswan 80 my song downwind, velsheda chases svea into bomb alley on day 5 of maxi yacht rolex cup, strong mistral delays racing at maxi yacht rolex cup 2024 in porto cervo, the largest maxis on the outer dock in porto cervo, awaiting the maxi yacht rolex cup start, tomorrow september 9.

(photo: IMA / J. Boyd)

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - including Rolex IMA Maxi 1 Worlds - will take place in Porto Cervo from September 8 to 14

(photo: Rolex / C. Borlenghi)

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39 years ago the International Maxi Association was started as a small gathering of maxi yacht owners wishing to bring more co-ordination to their sailing. Since then it has grown both in the size of its membership and its remit, to become an organization with much wider influence and endorsed by World Sailing to organize World Championships and to manage maxi racing globally. The IMA’s overall aim is to encourage greater participation in maxi racing around the world. To this end, the Association has become increasingly involved in all the regattas with significant maxi participation. Another of the IMA’s major responsibilities is to encourage the highest standards of race management, safety and measurement for both inshore and offshore maxi yacht events. For maxi regattas the IMA assists with the standardization of entry and the writing of notice of races and sailing instructions. The Association can also assist with race management and support and endorse events that are held to its high standards. For 2021 as well as all our usual events and our Mediterranean Maxi Inshore and Offshore Championships, we are adding a new regatta run by the Yacht Club Italiano as a season opener in Portofino at the end of April. We are also supporting the famous Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii and the Aegean 600. Our flagship event, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, we trust will be able to proceed this September in Porto Cervo in near normal conditions. Here and at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez we will be joined by the J Class, a class formally affiliated with the IMA, as we await news of their next World Championship. The IMA’s membership remains healthy – a trend we hope will continue. We need maxi owners to support us so that we can support them! We remain extremely grateful for the generous long term and loyal support from our main sponsor Rolex and are pleased to welcome Credit Suisse as a further sponsor. We also thank the marine clothing company Code 0 for kitting out the IMA team in smart new gear. As usual I thank my hard-working and dedicated staff. Throughout the pandemic we have met weekly on Zoom but are greatly looking forward to seeing each other in person, as well as all maxi owner and sailors in the forthcoming season. We wish you an excellent season ahead.

February 2021 Andrew McIrvine IMA Secretary General

International Maxi Association Legal Headquarters: c/o BfB Société Fiduciaire Bourquin frères et Béran SA - 26, Rue de la Corraterie - 1204 Genève - Switzerland

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At the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Strong Winds Are Always a Factor

This year a 100-foot class will earn a Maxi World Championship title for the first time, but gale winds forced the big boats to stay in the harbor as racing began.

By Kimball Livingston

They don’t call it Bomb Alley for nothing. The name comes from the winds that whip through a narrow passage between the Maddalena Archipelago and Sardinia, part of the course for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup . For the 2024 races that began this week, there was enough wind, with gusts up to 54 knots, to suspend some sailing.

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a fixture of Mediterranean sailing since 1985, races out of Porto Cervo, Sardinia, on the northeastern face of the island. For the first time, racing this year includes a Maxi World Championship title for the winner among 10 boats 80 to 100 feet long, vying among a total fleet of about 40. Competition wraps up Saturday. Superlatives apply.

Bomb Alley is a racecourse classic, a birthplace of legends. Winds are squeezed to high velocities in the narrows. The same winds in strategic places are blocked by this islet or that, robbing the sails of power. A boat might drift into a calm, but demons are waiting to knock that boat flat if the crew eases out of the calm spot unprepared for the blast. Thus, Bomb Alley.

Murray Jones, an important player in New Zealand’s America’s Cup victories, called this “a fantastic place to sail; beautiful; challenging.” The veteran Ken Read, who has won multiple world championships, called it “a top racing venue on the planet with the best big boats and the best big-boat sailors, the elite of the elite, bobbing and weaving through spectacular islands and outcroppings. Get your name on the Rolex Maxis trophy and you’ve done something in our sport.”

About those islands and outcroppings, however. Navigators are charged with guiding the boats, cutting corners close, but not too close. They know the beauty, but also the worries. It is not unknown for teams to navigate the rocks ahead of race week, to build their own charts of hazards and depths.

In mild weather, it might be reassuring that underwater rocks show through clear waters. Not this week. Add wind and whitecaps, and the sea turns dark, inscrutable. The ante on getting it right goes up. A boat under full sail might be closing fast on a turning mark — or hazard — perhaps with another boat also bearing down hard. Did we mention adrenaline?

Murray this week shared the tactician’s role aboard the 100-foot Galateia with the American Tom Whidden, a tactician who has won the America’s Cup three times, but reminds people that “I’ve also lost it twice.” Those two are typical of the level of professional sailors who showed up for this event. They were supporting Galateia’s owner-driver David Leuschen at the center of it all.

The experience of driving is intense. Drivers control a machine 100 feet long and 140 feet high that blows spray left and right while they balance on a fine line between the sail power overhead and the keel’s counterweight below, with 25 people working for them on deck and the boat alive in their hands.

“I don’t see the point of racing these wonderful yachts if you don’t helm them yourself” said Andrea Recordati of Milan and a second-generation member of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the host of the event. His 100-foot Bullitt (he’s a movie fan) won the Rolex Middle Sea Race last year, whetting his appetite to keep improving the Wally Cento he bought in 2021. As the new commodore of the yacht club, he would not have expected to have the fleet sit out the first two days of racing in a gale, but it happened. History had its own way of writing a wrinkle into “celebrating the 40th anniversary of our partnership with Rolex.”

When the sun sets Saturday on Italy and the racing is finished, everyone will have a story. No one, however, will have memories more clear than the tacticians, whose job was to analyze every move and direct where to aim the boat while allowing for wind shifts, competitors that might be blocking and when the navigator says way or no way. And then, in less time than it takes to read that, they’ve moved three spaces.

Who are these people?

One is the American Ed Baird. Among his many achievements, Baird sealed his hero status in 2007, steering the Alinghi as if it could be on rails, defending the America’s Cup for Switzerland. He came to the 2024 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup as tactician for ICAP Leopard 3. The boat has a lot of moving parts.

“There is a small backup motor that runs all the time, powering the hydraulic ram that cants the keel from side to side, for stability,” Baird said. “It also keeps two daggerboards active, so there is a lot of machinery moving around.”

Deployed, a daggerboard — a fin — provides lateral resistance and limits sideways slip when the boat is sailing upwind. Downwind, daggerboards become resistance and up they come, out of the way.

Most of the boats have fewer moving parts. Leopard’s configuration, including water ballast, is best suited to long-distance racing. Using water ballast in the short races that are a component of Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup would mean transferring the water from side to side on multiple maneuvers, which probably burns too much time to pay off.

However, whether dashing across the Atlantic or around the rocks of the Maddalena Archipelago, Leopard’s powered winches are important to making the machinery manageable. Forget about humans frantically spinning handles on winches that move the sails.

Powered winches are standard in this fleet, and they are finding their way onto smaller race boats, too.

Power assist goes a long way toward making a 100-foot boat raceable, but, “Don’t kid yourself,” Baird said. “You still need 22 big, strong, smart people working together in combat mode.”

Jochen Schümann, in his role as tactician on the Wally yacht Magic Carpet Cubed, compared himself to “the conductor of an orchestra, giving direction.” As a four-time Olympian with three gold medals for Germany, his path follows a familiar pattern.

He sailed a small boat. He mastered the art of reading wind and current. He developed what sailors call a feel for speed until he could close his eyes and know instinctively what the boat was telling him. He learned the arts of maneuvering for advantage in a fleet with rapidly changing dynamics. Those are the skills a sailor builds over a lifetime and they translate to a 100-foot boat at Porto Cervo.

Perhaps the owner of a 100-foot boat has spent a lifetime building the wealth to play the game, but then it takes a team, and every player is a star.

Maxis Through the Years

Big boats have raced against each other for as long as there have been big boats, but the organizing efforts that led to the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup began with a different set of acronyms.

1980 The term Maxi was coined for a group of yachts, each about 70 feet long, handicapped under a formula known as the International Offshore Rule. As Class A, they raced a series of short and long races out of Porto Cervo, fixing Sardinia as the go-to location for the annual championship of the newly formed International Class A Yachting Association. The first winner was the American businessman Jim Kilroy’s Kialoa IV. Awards were presented by the Aga Khan, a founder of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

1984 Rolex entered the picture at Porto Cervo as sponsor of the Rolex Swan Cup, open to the popular line of boats from the premier Finnish builder

1985 Rolex sponsored the first Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

1997-99 Larry Ellison, a founder of the Oracle Corporation, won with Sayonara before switching his focus to chasing the America’s Cup.

2001 With handicap formulas changing, Class A became history and the yachting association was reinvented as the International Maxi Association .

2013 The international sport was now managed by World Sailing. Two world-title events were allotted annually to the I.M.A., and the modern era began. The first sanctioned World Championship mixed dedicated race boats with holiday cruisers, exposing a need for separation.

2014 I.M.A. leadership created the Maxi 72 class for 72-foot boats, to support fair racing. Enthusiasm was high. The class win went to Alegre and skipper Andy Soriano, defeating past winners Bella Mente and Ran. For Soriano, having slipped to the runner-up spot two years in a row, the new format delivered a satisfying win. “The level of competition has been raised more than any of us could have imagined,” he said.

2015 The World Championship title was awarded to the Maxi 72 class. The American Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente took the title by one point over Robertissima III. Maxi 72s continued Worlds title racing in 2016 and 2017. By 2018, too many of the boats had been modified beyond the parameters of Maxi 72s. They continued to be competitive individually, but not as a class.

2017 The grandest fleet of big boats, the J Class , assembled six boats, enough to qualify for a Worlds title. Racing was in Newport, R.I., the home of so many America’s Cup matches. In the 2017 Worlds fleet, only Velsheda, launched in 1933, was original. The other five boats were replicas built of modern materials under class requirements to match the lines of one of the original Js. Harold Goddijn won with Lionheart, developed from a naval architect study for Ranger, the winner of the 1937 America’s Cup.

2024 The Maxi World Championship title was awarded in a blustery week with sailors hoping for a sunny reprieve to wrap it up.

An earlier version of a picture caption with this article misstated the location of a team member on a boat. It was the bow, not the stern.

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THIS IS PORTO CERVO

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Highly competitive coastal race in Porto Cervo

Every year in September the best yachts, sailed by some of the best sailors in the world, meet in Porto Cervo, because here they have the opportunity to measure themselves against peers in a highly competitive sporting context. Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of longstanding partner Rolex and in collaboration with the international Maxi Association, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an unmissable event.

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Best Of The Best

An impressive fleet of boats, with a minimum length of 60 feet, at the cutting edge of yacht design and construction are taking part, with internationally renowned sailors on board. The race is set on coastal courses around the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago and along the infamous "Bomb Alley" strait between the islands and Sardinia. To make the race even more competitive a sort of handicap is assigned to each boat and scores are then styled based on compensated time.

Back On Land

While a competitive aspect of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is undoubtedly at the utmost importance, the event is also a favourite with owners and crews thanks to the special program back on land, including the renowned owners dinner offered by partner Rolex. In addition conveniences like the skippers briefing or a welcome cocktail are offered by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Last but not least the spectacular setting is just one of the reasons many maxi owners return to Porto Cervo year after year.

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Rolex Swan Maxi Cup – Porto Cervo, Sardinia , Sept 2024

There simply cannot be a more glamorous yacht race…

Based in the heart pf the Mediterranean, the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia provides a stunning setting and a tremendous variety of challenging conditions for the Swan Maxi Cup. The regatta is an eagerly anticipated event attracting large fleets of majestic Swan Maxi yachts to Porto Cervo.

What is the Swan Maxi Cup?

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup brings together some of the world’s largest, most elegant and powerful yachts to race together in the enchanting and enthralling waters off the coast of Sardinia. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, will be celebrating its over 30 years of this amazing event, and is one of the most iconic regattas in the international yachting calendar. Combining unparalleled glamour and dramatic sailing it is a truly spectacular event.

Where is the Swan Maxi Cup?

Based in the Mediterranean in the port of Porto Cervo in Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda provides a stunning setting and variety of challenging conditions for the Maxi Rolex Cup. This glamorous event is hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in their glorious clubhouse and marina in Porto Cervo.

Which classes of yachts compete in the Swan Maxi Cup?

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Why should I take part in the Swan Maxi Cup?

There are three main reasons to compete in the Swan Maxi Cup in Porto Cervo. First, there are always other Swan 601s competing – and whilst no longer a one design, they all remain very closely matched under ORC. Close racing in spectacular settings. Second, racing in the same event as Wally Centos, J Class and the largest Swans ever built is as thrilling as sailing ever gets. Third, it is the most glamourous and exclusive regatta anywhere in the World. Come and join with our Swan 601!

The Swan Maxi Cup? It’s the dream regatta – the setting, the yachts, the crews… and the party! KD, Swan owner

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, will be celebrating its 31st edition this year, and is one of the most iconic regattas in the international yachting calendar. Porto Cervo offers unparalleled glamour and dramatic sailing making this a truly spectacular event.

How can I compete in the Swan Maxi Cup?

It’s simple; charter a Swan from us. Our Swan 601 is available for race charter in Porto Cervo and is the perfect Mini Maxi for the changeable conditions of Sardinia during the Swan Maxi Cup. Fast yet quick to learn for any new crew, she is a boat you can jump on and be competitive after only a few days training onboard. We can arrange a video tour and explanation of the boat systems before your arrival, shortening your learning curve as much as possible!

Where can I charter a yacht for the Swan Maxi Cup?

Right here. Our Swan 601 is available to race charter for the Swan Maxi Cup in Porto Cervo. We will organise to have the yacht ready and waiting at the dock for you and your crew. We will organise berthing for the event and for training days beforehand/ We will organise a race skipper and tactician if you would like. We will organise a crew house and ground transport. We will even book restaurants… if you like.

33rd Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concludes in Porto Cervo

Porto Cervo, 9 September 2023 // Published by the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup here

The 33rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Rolex and in collaboration with the International Maxi Association, concluded today in Porto Cervo.  For the last day of racing the Race Committee had moved the start forward to 11 a.m., with the intention of having all classes complete a coastal race of approximately 21 miles, circumnavigating the islands of Mortoriotto and Soffi in a clockwise direction. All classes, with the exception of the Maxi C, the last in the starting sequence, got off to a steady start in about 6 to 7 knots of north-westerly wind, which soon began to fade. The Race Committee was left with no choice but to hoist the AP flag for the Maxi C class and stop racing for all other classes. After about an hour of waiting for any thermal breeze to fill in, at 1 p.m. the Race Committee announced that there would be no new start, thus declaring the 33rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup closed. In the Maxi A Class, David Leuschen and Chris Flowers’ WallyCento Galateia won with a clear lead over Leopard 3 and Bullitt, which must be credited with an excellent comeback after retiring on the first race day. Yesterday, due to a calculation error, Bullitt was wrongly classified as having finished in second place. On his return to the dock, David Leuschen commented: “It has been an exceptional week, the key factors for our success have been our consistency, nothing but second- and third-place finishes, and our starts, probably the best we have ever had in a regatta. Winning the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an extraordinary achievement, for us it’s like the Holy Grail, so we feel very good.” Bella Mente, with 2 wins and 3 second places is the winner of the Maxi B Class, 3 points ahead of Proteus, the initial class leader, and 6 ahead of Pepe Cannonball in third. Owner Hap Fauth, who is also Team Principal of American Magic, the New York Yacht Club’s challenger for the 37th America’s Cup, was delighted with the victory: “I fell very attached to the regattas held here in Porto Cervo, this victory has a special meaning for me, because the years are going by and I’m not a kid anymore. This is the fourth time we have won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, our first was in 2012, followed by victories in 2015 and 2016. This year we were confident that we had a competitive boat and we lived up to those expectations, but it wasn’t a piece of cake, by day four we were tied with Proteus, an excellent team.” 

A packed prize-giving ceremony saw trophies awarded to the top three finishers in the six classes, as well as prizes such as Maxi Yacht Line Honours, which went to Roberto Lacorte’s FlyingNikka, for the boat with the best real time in the coastal races. The Perpetual Trophy in memory of Commodore Alberini was presented to YCCS member Pier Luigi Loro Piana, owner and helmsman of My Song. The Paolo Massarini ORC Challenge Trophy, meanwhile, went to Claus-Peter Offen for Y3K’s victory in the Supermaxi class. YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck commented: “I would like to thank all the owners and sailors who make this event unique in terms of the standard of the crews and the technological level of the boats, ranging from the majestic J Class yachts to the Multihulls, taking part in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup for the first time this year. It has been a fantastic week, the participants have been able to put themselves to the test in the most varied weather conditions, which have ranged from sustained winds to light breezes. Thanks to our partner Rolex for their continued support, to the International Maxi Association for their cooperation, to the Race Committee and to our staff ashore and at sea for contributing to the success of this 33rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.”

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda used MarkSetBot robotic buoys for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, which maintain their position thanks to an electric motor combined with a GPS system, eliminating the need for anchors on the seabed. In its drive to make its events ever-more sustainable, the YCCS obtained Gold Clean Regattas certification from Sailors for the Sea for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

The 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will take place from 8th to 14th September 2024. The next regattas on the YCCS calendar will be dedicated to the International 5.5 Metre Class: first the Scandinavian Gold Cup, running from 20th to 24th September, followed by the World Championship from 24th to 29th September. For further information,  results ,  entry list ,  programme ,  news ,  photos , please visit the  YCCS website , the  section dedicated to the event , or contact the  Press Office .

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• The Rolex Swan Cup Is One of Sailing’s Most Illustrious Races. Here’s What It’s Like to Attend.

The five-day, invitation-only event is the most coveted among Swan owners. This year did not disappoint.

Tonya russell, tonya russell's most recent stories.

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The Rolex Swan Cup is one of multiple events held each year for Nautor Swan owners. Costa Smeralda’s superyacht marina is packed with Swans bearing the familiar arrow on their hulls. Green Rolex flags fly on the masts, flapping in the breeze, and even the superyachts in the area are upstaged by the packs of Swans racing against each other, many with billowed black sails, around the area’s stunning waters.

“Every day the boats go all around the islands on different courses, which depend on wind conditions,” Federico Michetti, head of sports activities at Nautor Swan , told Robb Report at the event. “They are scored based on position, so if there are 15 boats and yours is first, you get one point. Last place gets 15.” The lowest scorer by the end of the week is the overall winner. 

The boat classes range from Maxi yachts to the historic S&S Classic group to multiple One Designs—boats with the same hull configurations and weight that make racing a game of skill rather than superior technology. “In the one-class, the sailors are what differentiate the winners from everyone else,” says Michetti.

Fashion magnate Leonardo Ferragamo, who purchased the yard in 1988, has transformed Nautor Swan into the luxury cruising/racing brand in the sailing world. As president, he expanded the brand across multiple segments (from the custom 131-foot Custom Maxi to the recent Nautor 28) while also enhancing both the luxury and technical components of the fleet. It launched its first hybrid yacht in June.

Ferragamo was also tireless in establishing a Swan race circuit with an average of six to eight annual events in different yacht clubs, typically in glamorous locations. This year, 101 Swans of all sizes from 30 countries made the trek to Porto Cervo, hailing from different European countries, California, and Japan.

Ferragamo also races his hunter-green Swan 50 Cuordileon e. “When choosing my first yacht, I decided to buy a Swan, specifically because I wanted to take part in the Swan Cup,” he tells Robb Report . 

The event has improved every year, Ferragamo says, thanks to the participation of Rolex, which has long sponsored sail-racing events around the world. “We’ve been able to bring three marvelous brands, Rolex, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and Nautor Swan into one event,” he says.

The Rolex Swan Cup is by invitation only for Swan owners, attracting more than 700 sailors and a few hundred loved ones as well as many race-sponsor clients. In the mornings, owners and their crews buzzed around the docks, readying giant, high-tech sails, tying off lines, and loading gear. Many teams were easily identifiable in what amounted to colored uniforms, donning matching UV shirts in ocean blue or bright yellow. A few local yachties watched the preparations, almost meditatively, from their decks, enjoying fresh cornettos and espresso.

Californian Don Macpherson comes to Sardinia every two years to race in the cup. His racing career started as soon as his 90-foot Freya was launched 12 years ago. He originally had a professional captain, but with the help of a crew that now includes his children, he chases grand prizes by skippering the boat himself. Macpherson also races in the Caribbean (where he’s headed after Sardinia) but considers the Swan Cup the “premier” racing experience. “There is no place better to sail than Porto Cervo,” he tells Robb Report . “The club here does a fantastic job organizing events.”

Freya , easily identifiable by its yellow sails, has come a long way in the last decade. “In the first race, we came in dead last,” Macpherson recalls. “Then we did better and better.” His boat won the Maxi Class Group 1 Division A in 2016, 2022 and also this year.

Fellow Californian Al Ramadan hopes to have a similar record one day. He is the newest ClubSwan member, but he wasn’t able to sail his Swan 28 until a week before the race, since it had just been delivered to Italy from the factory. His shakedown cruise was from the mainland to Sardinia, with a five-person crew aboard. Like many sailors, Ramadan had always been attracted to Swans. He was determined to own one and race it someday.

From the outside, Ramadan notes, the Nautor Swan community can look pretentious, unapproachable. But in Sardinia, he had an entirely different experience. “I went to the parties, and they were very glamorous, but Swan is a wonderful, helpful community that I’m proud to be a part of,” he says. In other words, he was instantly adopted into the club.

But the second post-race party, hosted by Rolex, was the place to let loose, dance, and enjoy Sardinian pasta specialties made in front of you. With more than 1,000 people in attendance, the space was packed with dancing, singing sailors who were lip-synching to American Top 40 hits on large video screens.

This year’s winners, in different classes, included Freya, Sea Quill, Isabella, Mascalzone Latino XXXIII, Katima, From Now On, Moonlight, Ulika, Canopo, Fra Martina , and Marcello.

“The Rolex Swan Cup is not just a race,” says Michetti. “It’s a lifestyle, a state of mind, and all these guys coming from all around the world enjoy being part of the Swan family. That part always amazes me.”

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Video: Highlights from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo

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By Katia Damborsky   11 September 2018

Between 2-8 September, Sardinia’s Porto Cervo saw exhilarating action from two international regatta events.

Last week, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championship commenced on the northern coast of Sardinia at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

A fleet of yachts took to the water to compete in thrilling races around the coastline of Porto Cervo, exhibiting quality performance and expert precision.

Yachts sliced through the water head-to-head through Bomb Alley, one of the most favoured locations for racing, and rounded the island of Spargi before heading back towards La Maddalena Archipelago.

In each class respectively, Momo, Topaz, Grande Horace, Lyra, Supernikka and H20 took home first place trophies.

One of the most remarkable victories came from the Wally 77 Lyra, whose scorline comprised five wins and two seconds, despite this being the first time her owner-driver has competed in a regatta.

A fleet of yachts took to the water to compete in thrilling races around the coastline of Porto Cervo

This year marks the 29th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, which hosted 41 yachts classified according to their technical abilities competing to take home various titles.

Now, between 9-16 September, a fleet of 115 Swan yachts will gather in Porto Cervo to celebrate the 20th edition of the Rolex Swan Cup.

A gem of the Mediterranean, Porto Cervo has long established its reputation as a superior destination for luxury yacht charters and regattas. Home to a fine selection of superyachts available for charter, Porto Cervo blends authentic Italian culture with the buzz of refined glamour and luxury.

You can view all luxury yachts available for charter in the Mediterranean or in Porto Cervo specifically.

Alternatively, find out more about regatta charters .

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22 Sep A great deal to celebrate at Rolex Swan Cup 2024

The 2024 edition of the Rolex Swan Cup proved to be a multiple celebration of all things Swan, taking in the exceptional racing between the 101 yachts gathered in Porto Cervo, the recognition of a long-standing partnership, and the simple pleasure of a shared camaraderie that is at the core of the Swan family experience.

From the first gathering in 1980 to the 22nd this year, the biennial Rolex Swan Cup has gone from strength to strength in no small part thanks to the enduring collaboration between Rolex, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), and Nautor Swan.

It was a relationship that was celebrated by Nautor Group President Leonardo Ferragamo in his speech on Friday at the Rolex Dinner Party: “Tonight we mark 40 years of the partnership with Rolex, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Nautor Swan. It is amazing what has happened. We have seen this event evolving every two years, a combination between a great yacht club, the major watch making brand in the world, and Nautor Swan, working together with the same vision, to improve time after time. It’s unique and amazing.”

Out on the water

Rolex Swan Cup 2024 delivered a variety of wind and weather conditions over five days of racing off Sardinia’s scenic and spectacular northern coast, offering something for everyone as the week progressed, with the wind only not appearing on a single day.

With the large fleet divided into two groups, the level playing field for all was maintained across the divisions and classes.

Group 1 was home to the Rating classes, which were split into three divisions: Maxi, Swan and Sparkman & Stephens, with each further divided into classes.

The Swan 60 CR Sea Quill showed her style in the Mini Maxi Class with four straight race wins, and the Swan 90 Freya followed suit with four bullets in the Maxis. “I’m as happy as I have ever been in my life,” said owner Donald Macpherson . “It has been a fantastic week. We have a great team and we’ve been able to keep the same guys around most of the time. It was a team effort.

“The Rolex Swan Cup here in Porto Cervo is a premier event in a premier location for sailing. Everybody here has the same thing in common.”

Matters were more mixed in the S&S Classics with a different winner in each of the four races. At the end of the day Frank Winter’s German flagged Swan 36 Isabella took the title by a single point in a closely contested class.

In S&S Racing the competition was also close but rather clearer cut with Vincenzo Onorato’s Swan 38 (1974) Mod Mascalazone Latino XXXIII’s three wins putting her on top.

It was a similar outcome in the large Swan Cruiser class with the Swan 54 Katima (GER) able to discard a 2nd place and finish top with a 1-1-1 scoreline. Three bullets was also the straightforward ingredient that put Argentina’s Fernando Chain and his Swan 45 Mod From Now On at the top of the Swan Grand Prix table.

Meanwhile Group 2 featured the racing focused Swan One Design models with classes ranging from the new ClubSwan 28 to the ClubSwan 50, as well as the Swan 42 contingent.

The always highly competitive ClubSwan 50 saw the top three a single point apart, with Raquel and Graeme Peterson’s Moonlight edging the contest thanks to a 3rd place in the last of seven races to finish on 22 points, with Mark and Louis Bezner’s Olymp and Marcus Brennecke’s Hatari both on 23.

Italian entries claimed the top spot in three of the classes, with Adriano Majolino’s Canopo winning every race but one in the ClubSwan 42 fleet, Edoardo and Vanni Pavesio’s Fra Martina staying consistent to win the competitive ClubSwan 36 class, and Stefano Masi taking the Swan 45 title by a single point with Ulika . Majolino also claimed the Swan OD Grand Prix title with Canopo .

Meanwhile, in what proved a closely fought contest among the ClubSwan 28s, Phillipe Ligot’s Marcello took the title but only on countback from Giulio Gatti’s Anya Race .

A special event, a special award

This year’s Rolex Swan Cup saw the inaugural presentation of the Fabio Gallia Trophy, awarded in memory of the life and values of the banker who passed away earlier this year.

The first ever recipient of the Fabio Gallia Trophy was Marco Trombetti, the CEO of Translated and the skipper of the Swan 65 Translated 9 which recently completed the Ocean Globe Race. He said: “Completing a round-the-world trip was challenging both physically and psychologically. Two elements gave me the strength to face it: the support of Fabio Gallia, who was a model of optimism and humanity, and the extraordinary story of the Swan 65.”

The Trophy, designed by Piero Lissoni, embodies the values of Resilience, Perseverance, Integrity, Courage, Teamwork, Vision, Leadership and Humanity.

Nautor Group President Leonardo Ferragamo said: “I’m sure this trophy will honor many people who try their hand at sailing and achieve extraordinary things where precisely these characteristics prevail. It will not only be a way of honoring the people who most deserve it, but also a way of conferring these values beneath the gaze of so many people so that they can be a model for them and for the upcoming generations.”

And other mentions for the Swan family

The appeal of the Rolex Swan Cup is truly global, with entries arriving from the far corners of the planet. The Rolex Dinner Party recognised this with an award for the Farthest Travelled Swan — which went to the S&S Swan 65 Eve , sailed from Australia by Steve Cappell and Fraser Welch. They had also celebrated with a second place in their first race in the S&S Classic class.

Another entry whose presence was celebrated was the Swan 82 Stella , whose Finnish owner Robert Stauber gave the well-regarded racing boat a second lease of life with a full refit over last winter. He was awarded with the Best Presented Swan trophy.

Meanwhile, Melanie and Peter Kohloff’s Swan 47 CB Matilda was awarded the Spirit of Swan prize .

“ Matilda was built for the New York Yacht Club with a centreboard,” said Peter Kohloff, husband of owner-driver Melanie . “She is pretty fast, perhaps faster than the keel boat, and we have kept her in her original condition with Dacron sails, the original mast, and the old motor — so not up to date, but still competitive.”

The Kohloffs — whose son Paul won a Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in a Nacra 17 — sail with four other couples, all long-time friends — a real sailing family.

One other crew also able to celebrate the Rolex Swan Cup atmosphere was the Randstad Sailing Team who raced aboard the Swan 80 Kalima . Their guests were able to experience the thrill of full-on racing all provided by ClubSwan Racing, with the legendary racer Paul Cayard as skipper.

And with thanks to

At the conclusion of the Rolex Swan Cup, Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Group , paid tribute to the high standards at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, adding: “And to all the people here instead of thanks I would like to send you all a big hug. To the owners of course, and also the professional sailors who bring so much to this event.

“Even more important for this event is the passion and camaraderie on the pontoons and all around. This is part of the Swan journey and you are all welcome to come on the next part of the journey.”

ClubSwan Racing, as organiser of the season-long The Swan One Design Nations League series, which includes Rolex Swan Cup, would also like to highlight the essential support provided by their main partners Rolex, Randstad, Porsche, Henri Lloyd, Ferragamo and Banor.

GROUP 1 Division A Maxi Class 1. Freya, Swan 90, Donald Macpherson

Mini Maxi 1. Sea Quill, Swan 60 CR, Andrea Fornaro

Division B S&S Classic 1. Isabella, Swan 36, Frank Winter

S&S Racing 1. Mascalazone Latino XXXIII, Swan 38, Vincenzo Onorato

Division C Swan Crusier 1. Katima, Swan 54, Jan Opländer

Swan Grand Prix 1. From Now On, Swan 45, Fernando Chain 

GROUP 2 ClubSwan 28 1. Marcello, Phillippe Ligot

ClubSwan 36 1. Fra Martina, Edorado & Vanni Pavesio

ClubSwan 42 1. Canopo, Adriano Majolino

Swan 45 1. Ulika, Stefano Masi

ClubSwan 50 1. Moonlight, Raquel and Graeme Peterson

Class Swan OD Grand Prix 1. Canopo, Swan 42 Club, Adriano Majolino

Full results here.

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North-Easterly breeze for first day of racing at 22nd Rolex Swan Cup

17 September 2024 - Porto Cervo, Italy -  The 22nd Rolex Swan Cup - which marks the 40th anniversary of the longstanding partnership between the YCCS and Rolex , founded in 1984 with the third edition of the Swan Cup – got underway today with a northeasterly wind blowing from 12 to 18 knots, allowing the Nautor Swan fleet to complete all scheduled races as planned.

The Race Committee prudently delayed the start to 2:30 p.m. CEST, keeping the fleet on the docks as they waited for a storm front with potentially gusty winds to pass. For Group 1, reserved for Swans racing in compensated time, three very similar coastal courses were set, but with varying lengths based on the performance characteristics of the boats: 24 miles for the Swan Maxi Division A, 15 miles for the Swan S&S Division B, and 19 miles for the Swan Division C. 

All divisions rounded a windward offset mark, then embarked on an upwind leg leaving the Monaci island to port, before turning downwind through the Gulf of Arzachena as far as the Secca di Tre Monti shoal and returning to Porto Cervo. The Swan Maxi Division A stretched out to round the island of Mortoriotto and finished off the Gulf of Pevero. The Swan Division C, meanwhile, had a longer downwind run to a mark in the Gulf of Saline, and returned to Porto Cervo via the Passo delle Bisce strait after leaving the Secca di Tre Monti shoal to port.

The various courses brought the fleet back to Porto Cervo in tight formation, and ensured crews were kept busy with frequent sail changes and intense, close-quarters battles.

The winners of the day were:

Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 80 Umiko ; Maxi Cruiser, Swan 90 Freya ; Mini Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 60 Sea Quill ; Mini Maxi Cruiser, Swan 65 Marlin II ; S&S Racing, Swan 48 Elan ; S&S Classic, Swan 47 Matilda ; Swan Grand Prix, Swan 45 From Now O n ; Swan Cruiser, Swan 54 Katima .

Ettore Botticini, mainsail trimmer on Sea Quill : ‘We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of our boat compared to our closest rivals in the division, which is not a given. We did a lot of complex manoeuvres for a team as young as ours, made up of a lot of dinghy sailors flanked by professionals such as Andrea Fornaro and Lorenzo De Felice. We are just at the beginning of the Rolex Swan Cup, but we are off to the best possible start. In the next few days we’ll welcome on board the reigning Wingfoil world champion, Maddalena Spanu, an athlete from the YCCS Young Azzurra sporting programme, which I was also previously a member of.”

Cesare Barabino, an ILCA 7 athlete from the Young Azzurra programme, will be hosted on YCCS member Luigi Stoppani's Swan 48 Mia from tomorrow.

On the second regatta course, dedicated to windward-leeward races for the Swan One Design classes, two races were held with the first start sounded for the ClubSwan 50 boats at 2.30 p.m., followed by the ClubSwan 42s, Swan 45s and ClubSwan 36 boats. The newly launched ClubSwan 28 class will make its racing debut on Thursday 19 September, as scheduled. Two races were held today in gusty winds of 15 to 18 knots and choppy seas, putting crews and helmsmen alike to the test.

ClubSwan 36, Black Seal ; ClubSwan 42, Canopo ; Swan 45, Ulika 45; ClubSwan 50, Olymp .

Forging ahead on day one were the ClubSwan 36 Black Seal, with a first and a second place, the 42 Canopo with two bullets, the 45 Ulika with a second and a first, closely followed by Ex Officio , just one point behind with a first and a third today. In the ClubSwan 50 fleet, Olymp , with 3-time Olympic gold medallist Jochen Schuemann on tactics, was a clear winner: ‘It was never 100% clear whether the best pressure was on the right or left, because of the dark clouds, it was very challenging but at the same time with a lot of tactical opportunities, because the wind was shifting in direction and in strength quite a bit. I think overall we managed better than others to stay in the pressure and get the last shift for the top windward mark. We are more than happy.”

Racing continues tomorrow, Wednesday, 18 September, at 12 noon CEST, with a coastal race for all classes but the ClubSwan 36s, who will complete windward-leewards. The forecast is for lighter winds, between 7 and 11 knots, moving from northeast to easterly.

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The One Ocean MBA's Conference and Regatta has concluded in Porto Cervo

Yesterday, the event's final day, saw the Conference Why Future Leaders Need to Face Sustainability Challenges . Held at the Colonna Resort, the conference was organised jointly by the SDA Bocconi and by the One Ocean Foundation (OOF) thanks to the partnership between these two institutions. Speakers were Andrea Illy, President of illycaffè, and the One Ocean Ambassadors Paul Rose , the explorer, and Maria Cristina Finucci , the artist who founded the Garbage Patch State in 2013. Maurizio Dallocchio , Full Professor of Corporate Finance at the Università Bocconi and Past Dean of the SDA Bocconi School of Management, moderated. Representing the SDA Bocconi School of Management there were Dean Giuseppe Soda and Federico Pippo Lecturer of Corporate Finance and the MBA Sport Club Coordinator at the SDA Bocconi School of Management. Also in attendance were Riccardo Bonadeo, the YCCS Commodore and Executive Vice President of the OOF, and Jan Pachner, Secretary General both the YCCS and the OOF.

Giuseppe Soda , Dean of SDA Bocconi, had these words: "I think that this event offers an excellent opportunity for learning because it gives some of the world's students from top business schools an occasion for networking. Many of the participants will probably be in top positions in the future and they will have to make decisions that will have to do with environmental sustainability. We have to remember that 'There is no Planet B' and I really believe that events like the One Ocean MBA's Conference and Regatta can offer a framework for making responsible and informed decisions in the participants' private and professional lives."

Riccardo Bonadeo , Commodore of the YCCS and Executive Vice President of the One Ocean Foundation said: "My congratulations go to the winners of this event and to everyone who participated. I hope that you enjoyed the YCCS hospitality. I think that the location for this event, held for the first time in Costa Smeralda, shows just how important this mission is for us and proves that it's fundamental to promote a culture of environmental sustainability. There is no better audience that the youths who were here for this event, the potential tomorrow's leaders. I want to thank the SDA Bocconi Business School for supporting the One Ocean Foundation right from the start, ever since the Forum organized in 2017. We are now working together to make a new generation aware of the urgency of protecting our planet."

After the opening greetings, Maria Cristina Finucci spoke at the Conference about her personal professional experience and about her most recent work including the installation titled HELP. She underlined how communicating through emotions is key to sensitise people regarding pollution and environmental themes.

Paul Rose , the explorer famous for his work with National Geographic, spoke about his passion for nature and how through his profession he has put that passion to work for science. "When I was young I thought that the ocean's water could wash away anything as if by magic," he said referring to a time when pollution in the oceans had a different awareness."But today we are all more or less aware of pollution and its consequences, we hear talk every day about environmental and ecological disasters and we all are more attuned to the problem. Change is happening, for example the fighting illegal fishing or the establishment of protected marine areas. Personally, I'm an optimist and I think that the changes that are being implemented to preserve nature will help future generations to form an innovative and not old-fashioned outlook towards nature and that outlook will help them make strategic decisions in the years to come."

Andrea Illy, President of illycaffè, presented his company's "Virtuosagricoltura" project that aims at reducing its CO2 emissions. "This project's goal is to make our company completely carbon free. Step by step within the year 2020 we will develop this research project which we will implement in 2021. We are fooling around with the resources that the planet has given us and it's now time to look for avant-garde solutions that will allow us to make healthy products that are good both for the planet and for the end consumer."

"Knowledge generates change" were the words that the Conference's moderator, the Professor Maurizio Dallocchio, used to close the talks as he underlined the fundamental role that information plays in decision making. In this case, in decision making that has an impact on environmental sustainability.

The MBA's Conference & Regatta is an event that was created 16 years ago on the initiative of the SDA Bocconi School of Management's Sailing Club. Up to today 4,000 students and alumni of Master in Business Administration programmes have participated. The event is also supported by main partner Audi who expresses once again their support for the One Ocean Foundation and sustainability, and the YCCS, with whom they have been collaborating for over ten years. This event also saw SLAM participating as Technical Partner.

At the 2019 edition of this event there were 26 business schools including the Cambridge Judge Business School, the Chicago Booth School of Business, the Columbia Business School, the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, the Cranfield School of Management, the ESADE Business School, the GOETHE Business School, the Harvard Business School, HEC, the HKUST Business School, IE Business School, IESE Business School, INSEAD, KELLOGG - WHU, the London Business School, the Manchester Business School, the MIP School of Management, the MIT SLOAN School of Management, the Rotterdam School of Management, the SAUDER School of Business, the SKOLKOVO Moscow School of Management, TUCK School of Business, the Warwick Business School, the WHARTON School of the University of Pennsylvania, YALE School of Management and the SDA BOCCONI School of Management.

Source & Credits: SDA Bocconi School of Management & YCCS

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Rolex Swan Cup 2024

The Swan fleet coming out of the Passo delle Bisce strait with storm clouds gathering

The ClubSwan 50 fleet racing, Rolex Swan Cup 2024

Beating the rain squalls at Rolex Swan Cup

Porto Cervo, 18 September 2024. Day two of the Rolex Swan Cup on the waters off Porto Cervo was marked by unstable weather conditions, managed skilfully by the Race Committee to fit in a coastal race for all classes, with the exception of the ClubSwan 36 class which completed a windward-leeward race, abandoning a second due to a squall that brought with it unpredictable and shifting winds. The coastal race was slightly shortened for Swan Divisions A and C and the One Design Classes for the same reason, while the course was reduced more significantly for Division B, the Swan Sparkman & Stephens yachts.  

The forecast light winds of 6 to 10 knots from east-northeast rotating to east-southeast proved accurate, and at 1:30 p.m. CEST the Race Committee sent the fleet on a tactically interesting coastal course: after rounding an offset mark 1.5 miles from the course, followed by a reaching run to a second mark, the fleet headed downwind towards the Secca di Tre Monti shoal, with the option of either passing outside the tricky Passo delle Bisce or going through it. Leaving the Secca di Tre Monti mark to starboard, the Swans headed upwind to round the Isola dei Monaci islet and return to Porto Cervo. For the Swan Sparkman & Stevens class, the finish line was moved up to the Secca di Tre Monti shoal. 

Winners of the today’s race were:

Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 82 Kallima- Randstad; Maxi Cruiser, Swan 90 Freya; Mini Maxi Grand Prix, Swan 60 Sea Quill; Mini Maxi Cruiser, Swan 65 Marlin II; S&S Racing, Swan 38 Mascalzone Latino; S&S Classic, Swan 36 Isabella; Swan Grand Prix, Swan 45 From Now On; Swan Cruiser, Swan 54 Katima.

The Swan 82 Kallima – Randstad Sailing Team, with Paul Cayard at the helm, Tommaso Chieffi on tactics, and trimmer Federico Michetti, sailed particularly well to place second in the Swan Maxi A division by just 16 seconds behind Freya, and claimed the win in the Grand Prix subclass. Equally well sailed was Andrea Fornaro’s 60 CR Sea Quill in the Swan Mini Maxi A’s, demonstrating excellent speed and cleanly executed manoeuvres. Sea Quill also hosted 17-year-old Maddalena Spanu on aboard, an athlete from the Young Azzurra sports programme run by the YCCS and reigning Wingfoil World Champion.

Francesco Mongelli, navigator on the Swan 90 Freya: “Today’s victory was down to the crew’s excellent manoeuvres, with perfect sail changes on a very well prepared boat. This helped us make up for some errors in strategy and we came first in compensated time again, which was not at all easy today with the rainstorms that made both the intensity and direction of the wind unstable.”

With today’s first place, the modified Argentinian Swan 45 From Now On remains firmly in the lead in the Grand Prix subclass of Swan Division C. In the Swan C Cruising subclass, the German Swan 54 Katima also clinched a second win to hold the lead, with the Swan 53CB Bedouin from Australia hot on their heels with two second place finishes.

In Division B S&S Classic the Swan 47 CB Matilda retains the lead in the provisional ranking thanks to a second place added to yesterday’s win. In Division B S&S Racing the provisional classification sees the German Swan 48 Elan hold onto the lead, just one point ahead of Mascalzone Latino.

There was a second victory for German boat Olymp in the ClubSwan class too, now boasting a comfortable lead in the provisional ranking. Second place of the day went to Vitamina, whose mainsail trimmer, Alberto Bolzan explained: “For Vitamina it was a good day, second place on a day with such unpredictable winds due to the squalls around the race course is no mean feat. The very light breeze was shifting all over the place, sticking close to the coast and skimming the rocks below Capo Ferro, which we know well, paid off. From tomorrow we’ll be back on windward-leeward courses and we’re determined to continue as we did today.”

With a clean run of three consecutive victories, the ClubSwan 42 Canopo extended their lead, while in the Swan 45 group Ulika tops the provisional ranking.

Black Seal retains the provisional lead In the ClubSwan 36 class, followed closely by winner of the day Fra Martina, just two points behind.

Once back ashore, crews were treated to the customary post-race refreshments along with a lively rock concert by the Swan Bandits – a band made up of Swan sailors – embodying the true camaraderie and friendly spirit that permeates the Rolex Swan Cup. 

Racing continues tomorrow at 12 noon CEST with windward-leeward racing for the One Design Division – where the brand new ClubSwan 28 will make its debut. All other divisions will be set a coastal course.

Nautor Swan owners will gather tomorrow evening at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s restaurant for the Owner’s Dinner.

For further information,  results , the  entry list ,  programme ,  photos 

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