In an 18-boat fleet competed in the annual Rolex Swan Cup hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Virgin Gorda’s North Sound.
“We had a fantastic race. It’s wonderful to be here in the beautiful BVI. YCCS is such a great club and the Rolex Swan regatta is a fabulous event, everybody had a great time. It’s thrilling and humbling to win against a lot of other great boats. It’s extra special to win this race back-to-back with our win in Porto Cervo in September.” said Freya’s owner Don Macpherson as he returned to dock at the YCCS Marina.
In the Grand Prix/Mini Maxi Division, Cuordileone led from day one, but a spinnaker split during the previous day left Cuordileone with just one point over Earlybird. A win on the final day, allowed her to clinch the overall victory ahead of Gibb Kane’s Swan 66 Bounty, while Earlybird took third..
As the owner and driver of the winning boat as well as Chairman of Nautor’s Swan, Leonardo Ferragamo was satisfied with the event.
“We had a fabulous week,” he said. “The racing was phenomenally good, I think this place is pretty close to paradise and the sailing and racing conditions were just perfect. The racing was fun and competitive among all the various participants. I got to drive the ClubSwan 50 and it was great to see very tight racing and the two boats just seconds apart on the finish line and of course I’m extra happy about Cuordileone’s win.”
During the award ceremony, YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo summed up the Rolex Swan regatta.
“What makes the Rolex Swan Cup events in Porto Cervo and here in the Caribbean so special — in addition to the enduring partnership between YCCS, Rolex and Nautor’s Swan — is the way the Swan family comes together,” Mr. Bonadeo said. “We have classic and new boats here, large and small yachts, world-class professional sailors and amateur crews of friends and family. But what they all have in common is their passion for these boats and for sailing and we are pleased to share that passion.”
The YCCS racing season, in its 50th anniversary, continues this week with the YCCS 50th Anniversary Regatta on Tuesday and the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous will be held on March 10-13.
After four days of racing, Don Macpherson’s Swan 90 Freya and Leonardo Ferragamo’s ClubSwan 50 Cuordileone were crowned champions of the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean 2017.
Freya, with Volvo Ocean Race veteran Kimo Worthington calling tactics, scored an impressive run of three straight wins out of four races and can now boast victory in the Swan Cup on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr. Ferragamo, at the helm of Cuordileone had a tough fight with ClubSwan 50 Earlybird. The two boats finished just four seconds apart in real time, however, it was the Italian boat with Ken Read on tactics, which took three out of four races.
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