The overall leaders at the conclusion of yesterday’s racing were the Swan 90 DSK Pioneer Investment (ITA) in the Maxi class, Silveren Swaen (NED) in the Grand Prix class and Monsoon Jaguar (GBR) among the Classics. Meanwhile in the one-design fleets Earlybird (GER) occupies the top spot in the battle for the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship while Kora 4 (ITA) continues to lead in the Club Swan 42 class.

The Swan 45s completed a further three windward-leeward races, bringing them to a total of five races completed in the series. The first race, which got underway in approximately 8 knots of north north-westerly breeze which would gradually shift left over the course of the afternoon, went to Charisma (NED), owned by Nico Poons and with New Zealand sailor Ray Davies calling tactics. Tea Ekengren’s Blue Nights (FIN) which has Jochen Schuemann on tactics came in second. The second race saw Charisma take her second bullet of the day ahead of Jeroboam Ca’nova (ITA), owned by Swan 45 class President Vittorio Codecasa. The third and final race started in approximately 8 knots of wind which shifted dramatically during the first downwind leg resulting in the course being repositioned during racing. Earlybird, owned by Hendrik Brandis won the final race ahead of Vittorio Ruggero’s Talj (ITA) in second, this second bullet was sufficient to bring Brandis to the top of the overall classification ahead of Charisma and Belgium’s Samantaga-Duvel owned by Philippe Moorgat and Patrick Van Henr.

The Swan 42s completed two windward-leewards with the third race being abandoned due to the impossibility of setting the course during the wind shift that affected the Swan 45s. Enrico Scerni’s Kora 4 took her third consecutive bullet in the first race. Scerni won in this class in the 2008 edition of the Rolex Swan Cup and is certainly a strong competitor for the Rolex prize at the end of the week. Cuordileone (ITA) took second and Romania’s Natalia third. In the second race of the day it was Nautor’s Swan President Leonardo Ferragamo, with America’s Cup legend Paul Cayard calling tactics aboard his Cuordileone, who dominated. Kora 4 took second with Natalia in third. The overall classification still sees Kora in first place with a five-point delta from Natalia, Cuordileone is in third.

The Maxi class groups together the 21 largest boats in the fleet, from the 18.3 metre Swan 601s @Robas and Cuordisole to the three competing 30-metre Frers-designed Swan 100s Fantasticaaaniene (ITA), Hoppetosse (ITA) and Varsovie (USA). The class completed a 31 mile course which brought them from the start off Porto Cervo to round Spargi to starboard before doubling back to Porto Cervo. DSK Pioneer Investment was once again the fastest boat around the course in real time, a lead she retained in corrected time ahead of the Swan 112 Mystery and the Swan 90 White Lie (ITA). DSK’s win puts Salsi in first place overall, knocking Johann Killinger’s Swan 60 Emma into second place ahead of White Lie.

The Grand Prix class (24 boats under 18.29 metres) were set a 21 mile course from Porto Cervo to the Secca Tre Monti. The Swan 56 Vanish II (ITA) took line honours but slipped back to fifth place in corrected time while the top spots were taken by P.H.J. Bakker’s Swan 53 Silveren Swaen, Crilia (GER) and the Swan 56 Clem (ESP) respectively. The overall classification sees the Dutch boat lead Clem by one point which is in turn one point ahead of the Swan 53 Crilia.

Peter Simon’s Monsoon Jaguar was the fastest around the same course among the Sparkman & Stephens designed models competing in the Classic class. She also led in corrected time with two Italian boats, Giuseppe Puttini’s Shirlaf and Francesco Persio’s Dream in second and third place respectively, all three boats retain the same positions in the overall classification.

Racing is scheduled to continue this morning (Thursday 16 September) with all classes following a coastal course.

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