From 11-18 September, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda hosted the Rolex Swan Cup regatta. This year, 125 boats from the Swan family were in attendance.
It was the biggest sailing event in the history of not only the legendary Nautor's Swan, but also the renowned Yacht Club of Porto Cervo.
The fleet was divided into 6 starting groups.
Tsaar Peter crew also included Mikhail Kondratyev, PROyachting CEO and experienced yachtsman, and Tommaso Chieffi, repeated European and world champion. «Under his belt he participated in several Cups of America» and Olympic Games.
The team was composed of experienced Russian yachtsmen participating in Russian and international regattas. The racing team included Oleg Krivov, Victor Filippov, Victor Zakharov, Alexander Ekimov, Evgeny Egorov, Roman Konstantinov, Pavel Savenko, Andrey Konogorov. Experienced Italian yachtsman Paolo Persi del Marmo was appointed Team Navigator.
During the week of regatta the crews tried their skills in very different weather conditions: there were both low wind and strong - up to 35 knots in gusts.
«It was the debut, but important regatta for our team, - says Ekaterina Skudina. - It was the first time we raced in the Grand Prix, and of the 15 crew there were 12 Russian sailors. And I am doubly pleased that we were able to win, although it should be noted that the competitors were very strong».
«I enjoy racing in Sardinia very much: beautiful landscapes, high level of participation, excellent wind conditions - all this makes the racing unforgettable. However, there is no room for complacency, racing close to the islands, there is always the risk of running aground or hitting a rock. The team has to be very attentive and to execute the maneuvers very accurately. In my opinion, our team coped perfectly with the set tasks», - says Mikhail Kondratyev.
Rolex Swan Cup 2016 took place in a special year for the shipyard - this year Nautor Swan celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
The shipyard has taken a fresh approach to design with the help of Juan Kouyoumdjian, the celebrated naval architect from Argentina, who has designed the Rambler 88, the Volvo Ocean Race ABN AMRO, Ericsson, Telefonica and many other high speed yachts.
In addition to Swan's atypical appearance, the yacht has excellent racing characteristics.
«This past regatta featured a great experience for renowned American yachtsman Ken Read, multiple America's Cup campaigner» and skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing. On the Swan 50 CUORDILEONE, yard owner Leonardo Ferragamo, he has led his crew to the finish of all races with confidence.
There is no doubt that in the near future the Swan 50 class will attract dozens of boats in one-design racing, which promises a thrilling battle for the world's leading racers.
The Swan Cup is a traditional regatta organised by the Nautor Swan yard for Swan boat owners around the world. On even years the regatta takes place in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, and on odd years in the British Virgin Islands.
