An enthralling final day on the water saw the Swan One Design Worlds 2022, hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, draw to a conclusion, though not without elements of excitement.
But as one of the competitors put it, referring to the Hollywood saying, without some drama there’s never a good ending.
Lighter winds greeted the World Championship contenders in the ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 50 fleets as they set out for the deciding two races.
ClubSwan 50: Cuordileone stays cool to seal victory
Having headed out on the final day just a point ahead of some determined rivals the crew of Cuordileone, helmed by Leonardo Ferragamo, could have been forgiven a few nerves. Not a bit of it.
Delivering a bullet in the first race opened some clear water to Hendrik Brandis’ persistent challenger Earlybird and a third place in the second and final contest sealed victory in the ClubSwan 50 class.
A clearly delighted Leonardo Ferragamo said: “Being World Champion is very emotional, and it was fought for very hard right up to the very last minute. That’s why one-design racing is so incredible, with the boats so close together right to the end. This is my very first World Championship and I am very happy.”
Federico Michetti, Head of Sport Activities at ClubSwan Racing, added: “It’s an amazing feeling to be World Champion. It’s been an incredible week with unbelievable champagne sailing conditions, and to finish by winning the World title is something quite unique. I am very proud of the team.”
Louis Balcaen’s Balthasar produced an identical 3-1 scoreline and was able to move to within a point of second placed Earlybird in the battle for podium places.
Defending World Champion Marcus Brennecke’s team on Hatari delivered a second place in each race but could not close the gap down and finished in fourth overall.
ClubSwan 36: Unexpected race result leaves Mamao with it all to do
In the ClubSwan 36 fleet a penultimate race win by Lorenzo Mondo’s Farstar, and an equally notable seventh place by long-time class leader Mamao, saw the top four boats go into their final race only separated by a single point with Farstar on pole.
But in a situation seemingly designed to show her resilience, Haakon Lorentzen’s Brazil-flagged Mamao bounced right back to take only her second race win of the regatta – finishing level on 33 points with Farstar and the winner on countback.
A delighted Lorentzen said: “Yes we are World Champions, for the first time in my life! It feels very good. I was wanting to win it, but it is a hard class and we had to win the last race. We managed it and it is incredible!
“The conditions have been fantastic, we have loved the event, and now we will love it for ever! We are looking forward to the next one.”
Tactician Ross MacDonald added: “The first race was difficult for us, and we were probably a bit too conservative and in the end we did too many tacks and ended up in seventh place, so that gave us a bit of excitement for the last race – but like they say in Hollywood, without the drama there’s never a good ending.”
Edoardo Ferragamo’s Cuordileone claimed the final podium place with Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G Spot falling out of contention for a top-three finish.
ClubSwan 42: Local fans can cheer Nadir’s clear win
Having given herself a bit to do on the final day to confirm her leading position, Pedro Vaquer’s Nadir delivered in style, posting a 1-2 scoreline to take the ClubSwan 42 class by a clear 12 points, giving local Spanish fans much to cheer about.
Speaking back ashore Vaquer said: “We are very happy. We had prepared for the Worlds, we had trained, and everything worked out very well for us although the numbers don’t perhaps show how close it was on the water!”
And he added: “The conditions have been great, and Valencia has been a very good place to race.”
Massimo De Campo’s Selene-Alifax secured second place while another boat representing Spain at the regatta, Jose Maria Meseguer’s Pez De Abril, pulled out the stops with results of 2-3 to get on the podium, displacing Pit Finis’ Dralion who had started the final day in a clear third place.
In the Best-Placed Nations standings at the Swan One Design Worlds, Italy and Germany are tied at the top with 28 points each thanks to the heroics of Cuordileone and Drifter Sail, and Earlybird and Hatari, for their respective countries. Nadir and the ClubSwan 42 Pez De Abril helped Spain into third place.
6 July 2022
Big wind, big waves and great racing on the opening day of the Swan One Design Worlds 2022
The Swan One Design Worlds 2022, hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, got underway in some style today with three races for each competing class delivering dramatic and exhilarating racing in brisk conditions off Valencia, Spain.
Following storms overnight the ClubSwan Racing fleet had to contend with a steady but shifting breeze that increased during the afternoon from 12-13 knots up to 20 knots amid two-metre waves, setting a true test for the crews who are a mix of amateur and professional sailors.
With tight racing the order of the day around windward-leeward courses, smart tactical calls could make all the difference to the final outcome of any given race.
ClubSwan 42: Spain in the lead
When the spray settled it was perhaps appropriate that the ClubSwan 42 class was led by two yachts representing Spain for the first time this year. Nadir topped the class, with owner Pedro Vaquer helming her to two race wins in a 1-3-1 scoreline ahead of Jose Maria Meseguer’s Pez De Abril, four points behind.
Back on the dock Vaquer said: “Today’s races were very difficult because there was wind but above all there were many waves and, in those conditions, it is difficult to steer the boat.
“Our goal is to win but I think that any boat of this fleet of nine can win the championship. So we have started very well but we still have a way to go.”
And he added: “We are very proud to represent Spain in this international fleet. There are three Spanish boats here on this occasion and every time one of us wins, we are all happy.”
Massimo De Campo’s Italian-flagged Selene-Alifax was on the third step of the first-day podium just a point behind Pez De Abril having taken the win in race two.
ClubSwan 50: three races, three different winners
Equally closely contested, the 16-strong ClubSwan 50 class produced three different winners across the day.
The Leonardo Ferragamo-helmed Cuordileone ended the day’s racing in pole position posting results of 3-3-1, a point ahead of defending class World Champion Marcus Brennecke’s Hatari who won the first race.
Earlybird – like Hatari flying the flag for Germany – was in third place closely pursued by Belgium’s Balthasar. Owner and helm Louis Balcaen said: “Today we had epic sailing conditions up to 20 knots, awesome, in warm weather and plenty of breeze.
“You can see at the marks that the level is getting higher and higher all the time, it is getting closer and closer, and we had a penalty at the top mark, so we made our lives a little bit difficult today, but we managed to win the second race which was nice.“
ClubSwan 36: Brazil edges ahead
Meanwhile, the first day leader in the highly-competitive ClubSwan 36 fleet was also the one that had traveled the furthest to be in Valencia – Mamao all the way from Brazil.
A 1-2-3 scoreline saw her finish two points ahead of the hard-charging British yacht Black Seal, which won the Swan Sardinia Challenge back in June, with Richard Thompson’s crew taking the last two race victories.
Mamao’s owner Haakon Lorentzen said: “It was very good, and we won the day today. We are having fun and it is great to be back international sailing. We are here to do as well as we can.
“The team is from a yacht club in Rio de Janeiro, and we have been sailing together for many years, and they are great sailors.“
The celebratory prize-giving ashore, with daily awards sponsored by Garmin, was held at the host club the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, with all the race teams able to celebrate a successful opening day of the Swan One Design Worlds.
Among the ClubSwan Racing 2022, One Design circuit partners present in Valencia is Rolex, who once again fulfills the vital role of timekeeper. As a now long-standing partner of the ClubSwan Racing One Design circuit, Rolex plays a central part in the ongoing success of the ClubSwan Racing project.
4 July 2022
Swan One Design Worlds 2022 in Valencia to Deliver a True Test of Talent
The historic Spanish port city of Valencia takes its turn in the spotlight this week with the arrival of one of the undoubted highlights of the ClubSwan Racing season, the Swan One Design Worlds 2022.
With the high-profile title of World Champion 2022 there to be earned in three one-design classes – ClubSwan 36, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 50 – the competitive regatta will provide the arena for a clash of the titans.
Hosted by the renowned and exclusive Real Club Náutico de Valencia, the Swan One Design Worlds will bring together the diverse Nautor’s Swan family, as ever combining top ranked professional racers, and passionate and enthusiastic Corinthian sailors.
“The Swan One Design Worlds is a major test of talent that showcases the competitive and varied community that is at the heart of the ClubSwan Racing experience,” said Federico Michetti, Head of Sport Activities at ClubSwan Racing.
“The city of Valencia and the Real Club Náutico de Valencia have warmly welcomed the ClubSwan family which, for the first time this year, includes boats representing Switzerland, Spain and France in the closely contested Nations League.”
A family affair
One entry flying the flag for France is Raving Swan, racing in the nine-strong ClubSwan 42 class which is making its first collective appearance on the ClubSwan Racing circuit in 2022.
Under a rule voted in by the owners all yachts in the ClubSwan 42 class have agreed to give special importance to crew who are either female, under 26, or direct family members, in a bid to enhance the class’ Corinthian spirit.
In Raving Swan‘s case owner Jerome Stubler races alongside sons Hugo and Oscar as well as family friends and his wife Nathalie and daughter at the Copa del Rey every year with a largely Corinthian crew. Nevertheless, the Raving Swan team put in a consistent performance in 2021 to win the ClubSwan 42 World Championship on their debut.
“We’ve got a lot to live up to after last year, but we are looking forward to the challenge and renewing our friendly rivalry with the other 42s,” said Stubler.
“The ClubSwan Racing team are experts at putting on top-line racing, and the shoreside events add to the whole experience – we can’t wait,” he added.
Also racing in the class is the German flagged Dralion, with owner Peter Finis racing with his wife Petra, and Italy’s Canopo whose new owner Adriano Majolino is delighted to be making his ClubSwan 42 debut.
The largest class at the Worlds
The 16-strong ClubSwan 50 class – the largest at the Worlds – is welcoming new owner Enis Ersu at the helm of Xai Vision, and the first appearance this year of Spanish entry Tenaz.
“It’s great to be back racing and wonderful to be competing on home waters here in Valencia,” said Tenaz owner Pablo Garriga. “ClubSwan Racing is exhilarating and competitive, and we will have our work cut out in such a talented fleet,” added Garriga, who is a committed racing sailor and Commodore of the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona.
Ultra-competitive 36s
Meanwhile the ultra-competitive ClubSwan 36 fleet will include Italy’s Far Star, making her first appearance in 2022, and Turkish entry Facing Future, with owner Mehmet Taki looking to consign his 2021 Worlds result to history.
“We knew the ClubSwan 36 class was going to be fun, and very, very competitive, which we had confirmed at last year’s Worlds when we were bottom of the leaderboard with Bracing Breeze,” said Taki.
“But we have worked hard, learned some lessons, and we were able to earn a place on the podium at the Tuscany Challenge back in April, so we are heading to Valencia in good spirits and looking forward to a great regatta.”
Immediately before the Swan One Design Worlds the Real Club Náutico de Valencia is hosting the high-profile SM La Reina Trophy regatta, which offers a great opportunity to fine-tune race crews, one which has been taken up by Worlds entries including Tenaz and the ClubSwan 42 Spirit of Nerina.
As host club the RCNV will also be the venue for many of the shoreside events during the Swan One Design Worlds.
RCNV President Marisa Arlandis said: “The whole team at the Real Club Náutico de Valencia is looking forward to welcoming the many owners and crews taking part in the Swan One Design Worlds.
“We know that enjoying the regatta on land is just as important as the challenging racing on the water, and we are working hard and are confident we will exceed all expectations.”
And leading off the highly anticipated shoreside events at The Swan One Design Worlds is the Opening Ceremony and Cocktail Party on Tuesday 5 July – with wine provided by ClubSwan Racing Sparkling Partner Ferrari Trento – following a practice race earlier in the day.
One of the undoubted highlights of the entire event is the Owners’ Dinner on Friday 8 July which is being held at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias – The City of Arts and Sciences – an awe-inspiring cultural and architectural complex designed by the acclaimed Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava.
The following evening sees the Crew Party and Prize-Giving Ceremony, again with Ferrari Trento Sparkling wines.
All the shoreside events are hosted by RCNV, and BMW will offer a courtesy car service for guests throughout the event.
The Swan One Design Worlds will see four days of racing take place from Wednesday 6 July to Saturday 9 July, with 10 races scheduled.