On the fifth and final day of racing at the Rolex Swan Cup 2004, sponsored by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the fleet was put to a tactical test in light and shifty conditions. In the end it was Roberto Ferrero’s Solenia 2 that took overall fleet honors and was awarded the Rolex Swan Cup. Individual class winners for the week were: Bugia Bianca (Swan 70) in Class A, Vertigo in Class B/Swan 45, and Solenia 2 (Swan 48) in Class C/D. Overall class winners were presented with a Rolex Submariner timepiece in steel and gold.

The northerly breeze at the start was around 4-5 knots. It remained light for most of the race and shifted to the north-east and then died almost completely so that the Race Committee was forced to shorten Classes A and C/D. In Class B, the Swan 45s started on a windward/leeward course of about 10 miles, but with the first boat only 300 metres from the finish line, the time limit ran out and the race was abandoned.

Class A sailed a course from Porto Cervo to a mark on the Golfo delle Saline, then upwind to a shortened finish at the Monaci Islands, a distance of approximately 17 miles; Class C/D were sent on a 12-mile course which took them round the Secca dei Tre Monti, then on to the same shortened finish line at Monaci.

Solenia 2 and Bugia Bianca were tied for the overall Rolex Swan Cup win, but Solenia 2 won on a tiebreak. Owner Roberto Ferrero said of his win: “The sails are good on Solenia but what is important is what is in the heart. We are all friends and this is the philosophy and the secret to Solenia 2.”

Lorenzo Bressani, helmsman onboard Solenia, added, “It was my second Swan Cup with Solenia, so to win was very special. We have a very good crew and have sailed well all week.” Tactician Tommaso Chieffi commented, “It is my third time at the Swan Cup and my first win, so I am very pleased. It could have been a disaster today with only 5 knots of breeze, but we stayed calm and our crew work was good.”

Marco Salvi, co-owner of the Swan 45 Vertigo said: “We have had a fantastic week of sailing with some very tough conditions. We race well together and it’s been a lot of fun. We have only had Vertigo since May and already this is our second win of the season. It has been great to have all the Swans present in Sardinia and see how our boat competes with the rest of the fleet.”

Massimo Dentice onboard Bugia Bianca, commented on the race: “Although we had one of our best starts of the week, the Swan 601 Island Fling took the lead. We overtook them passing Liscia di Vacca and were ahead for 15 minutes. Then the wind shifted and Island Fling overtook us again. The boat has sailed fantastically all week and I have sailed with a top crew of sailors in what has been a very well-organized regatta.”

In addition to the crowd of sailors from over 100 participating Swans, the prizegiving ceremony on the Piazza Azzurra was also attended by political and military authorities. The Rolex Swan Cup 2004 brings the regatta season organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda to a close.

Results

Class A

1. Bugia Bianca, Massimo Dentice, 1-1-(5)-1-1-2, 6 points

2. Stay Calm, Stuart Robinson, (9)-8-4-3-4-3, 22

3. Aqua Equinox, Filip Balcaen, (12)-4-1-5-9-4, 23

Class B/Swan 45

1. Vertigo, Marco Salvi/Alberto Signorini, 1-2-1-(8)-4, 8 points

2. Cuordileone, Leonardo Ferragamo, 2-(8)-2-6-1, 11

3. Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato, (11)-3-6-2-3, 14

Class C/D

1. Solenia 2, Roberto Ferraro, 1-(5)-1-1-1, 4 points

2. Eurosia, Loris Vaccari, 4-(44)-3-3-3, 13

3. Katrina, Damon Guizot, 2-4-(8)-4-4, 14