WIND NIL, RACING NIL

September 11, 2008 by www.regattanews.com | 0 comments

Flat calm left a flat mood at the third day of the Rolex Swan Cup 2008. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Race Committee finally called a halt to the waiting at 1230, after a patient but fruitless delay to see if forecast light winds would arrive soon enough and stabilize sufficiently for the scheduled Long Island Race to be held. The breeze did not play ball and racing was abandoned for the day.

Flat calm left a flat mood at the third day of the Rolex Swan Cup 2008. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Race Committee finally called a halt to the waiting at 1230, after a patient but fruitless delay to see if forecast light winds would arrive soon enough and stabilize sufficiently for the scheduled Long Island Race to be held. The breeze did not play ball and racing was abandoned for the day.

Racing will recommence tomorrow with all four Divisions undertaking the Long Island Race. The start has been brought forward to 1000 and the wind is predicted to be between 6 and 9 knots at this time, but it will build throughout the day as a west northwesterly flow takes hold. Crews are looking at a classic transition to the fabled Mistral. Winds should increase steadily tomorrow and may well peak in the Straits of Bonifacio, separating Sardinia from Corsica, in the early 20s. So participants are in for an interesting and potentially exciting day. The outlook for Saturday is for the westerly gradient to remain, with true Mistral potentiality. Average wind speed 20 knots, gusts of 25 – 40 knots in the Straits. Not a good day for the beach according to the resident meteorologist.

With tomorrow originally scheduled as a layday for three of the Divisions, the regatta organizers have adjusted the programme. Nautor’s Swan brought forward its Open House to this afternoon, and interested owners and crews have been able to take advantage of an opportunity to see inside examples of the Club Swan 42, the Swan 53, the Swan 66 FD and Swan 66 S, plus a truly rare chance to see inside two of the bigger yacht yachts here this week, the Swan 90 and Swan 100.
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CURRENT PROVISIONAL STANDINGS – Top 3 boats

Swan Maxi (2 races)

Boat Name Owner Nation R1 R2 Pts Place

FAVONIUS Roel Pieper BVI 1 1 2 1
SPIRIT OF JETHOU Peter Ogden GBR 2 2 4 2
GINGER Leslie Green ITA 3 4 7 3


Swan 45 (5 races)

Boat Name Owner Nation R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts Place

EARLYBIRD Hedrik Brandis GER 3 1 1 5 5 15 1
ULIKA Andrea Masi ITA 5 3 3 1 4 16 2
ATLANTICA RACING Carlo Perroni ITA 9 5 8 7 1 30 3


Swan 42 (4 races)
Boat Name Owner Nation R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts Place

KORA Enrico Scerni AIT 1 1 2 2 6 1
INTERLODGE Austin Fragomen USA 3 3 3 1 10 2
CUOR DI LEONE Leonardo Ferragamo ITA 2 2 4 4 12 3


Classic (2 races)
Boat Name Owner Nation R1 R2 Pts Place

ZEN John Bainbridge GBR 1 1 2 1
DREAM Francesco Persio ITA 3 3 6 3
CLEM Jaime Olazabal Fourquet ESP 2 7 9 3