| USA. U.S. Teams ready for International Rolex Maxi and Swan competitions |
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| Friday, 01 September 2006 | |
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Barby MacGowan: In September, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) will close out its 2006 racing season in unparalleled style as it hosts two unique regattas, each boasting record fleets, on the emerald waters off the Italian island of Sardinia. Porto Cervo harbour in the stunning resort area of Costa Smeralda will be bustling with activity as 52 of the world’s largest and fastest yachts contest the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup from September 3-9 and 116 high-performance Swans race for the Rolex Swan Cup from September 11-17. Both events will see over a dozen nations represented, including a strong field of U.S. entries. Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup On the starting line at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be yachts upward of 60 feet in length, divided into five divisions -- Racing, Cruising, Mini Maxi, Wally and Spirit of Tradition. This biggest-ever gathering of Maxi yachts has been lured by the challenging daily racing schedule complemented by memorable social events scheduled at the YCCS's clubhouse and adjacent Piazza Azzura. Making a first-time appearance at the Maxi event will be Clay Deutsch (Newport, R.I.), who has shipped his Swan 68 Chippewa to compete in the Mini Maxi division. The Mini Maxi division, recently introduced by the International Maxi Association to accommodate yachts from 59 to 78.4 feet racing under IMS/ORC rules, will host 23 competitors and offer dual scoring for boats such as Chippewa that also sail with an IRC rating. "We've sailed in the Rolex Swan Cup over the last three editions, but because of work conflicts this year, I was going to miss three days of racing if we signed up," said Deutsch, a management consultant who works in Boston, Mass. "I love going to Sardinia, and just as my crew and I were deliberating what to do, we got the notice for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. We looked into it and got lucky, because there was this Mini Maxi division. When before I thought it was inappropriate for a boat like mine to take part, I'm now pleasantly surprised how this is unfolding. There will still be the big maxis like Morning Glory (the MaxZ86 owned by Germany's Hasso Plattner), but there will be lots of smaller guys like us there, too." Deutsch added that his strategic priority is to focus on the other Swan in his division: the 70-foot Flying Dragon. "We always dream to be the best of the Swans competing, but generally we're just very excited. The Mediterranean scene is really a treat for U.S. sailors, and it's always good to try a different competition." The Cruising Maxis, outfitted more for comfort than for grand-prix racing, will feature two American competitors: property developer Harry Macklowe (New York, N.Y.) on his 112-foot Unfurled and Hollywood producer Arne Glimcher on his 121-foot Ghost. Last year at this event, Macklowe and Glimcher finished first and second, respectively, in Cruising Class A. The 79-foot Allsmoke, however, may be the boat to watch most closely. Owner Gunter Herz (GBR) is going for a repeat of his team's performance last year, when Allsmoke won Cruising Division's overall honors on handicap. American Ken Read (Newport, R.I.), a veteran offshore sailor and multiple world champion, will be driving. Displaying beauty to delight both spectators and photographers will be the veteran and reproduction classic yachts in the Spirit of Tradition division, including Adela, the 180-foot schooner owned by U.S. entrepreneur George Lindemann (Palm Beach, Fla.), who was the class winner in 2005, and Keturah the 94-foot sloop sailed by Llwyd Ecclestone (Palm Beach, Fla.). No U.S. contenders are entered in the Racing Division for the most technologically advanced yachts or the Wally Division for Wally-manufactured yachts; however, familiar names competing include Bob Oatley (AUS) on the 98-foot Wild Oats XI, Neville Crichton (NZL) on the 98-foot Alfa Romeo, Claus Peter Offen (GER) on the 98-foot Y3K and Mike Sanderson (NZL) on the 70-foot Volvo Ocean Race winner ABN AMRO. "We are delighted to welcome such a spectacular fleet to the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2006," said YCCS Commodore Gianfranco Alberini. "The event embodies yacht racing at its very best, and with an entry list of this calibre and the world-class regatta course here, we are sure to see a week of intense competition." Rolex Swan Cup The rocky granite outcrops and small islands of the La Maddalena archipelago will make a stunning backdrop to the myriad of colorful spinnakers that unfold when the Rolex Swan Cup fleet begins racing. For Swan owners who are passionate about their boats and lifestyle, this 14th biennial rally is a reunion offering exciting racing off the Sardinian coast as well as a social program that entices non-racing Swans to attend as well. The regatta attracts the entire spectrum of elegant Swan craft from the Finnish Nautor shipyard together with many of sailing’s top sportsmen to the waters off Porto Cervo. The fleet will be divided into four divisions: Grand Prix, Classic, Swan 601 and Swan 45. Each division will race for individual honors, with additional prizes presented based on criteria established by the organizers, including recognition for owner-driven yachts. Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will welcome a strong contingent of New York Yacht Club members, including Bill Kardash (Annapolis, Md.) on his Swan 44 Aura, with U.S. Naval Academy Director of Offshore Sailing Jahn Tihansky serving as tactician. In the Swan 45 class, Dick Weismann (New York, N.Y.) will skipper Vixen, while Massimo Ferragamo (New York, N.Y.), the 2006 Swan 45 World Champion, will skipper Bellicosa. Also in the Swan 45 class, Alexander Roepers (Newport, R.I.) will skipper Plenty and Andrew and Melissa Fisher (Greenwich, Ct.) will sail on Bandit, with Melissa on the helm. Neal Finnegan (Cohasset, Mass.) will skipper his Swan 56 Clover III and Frank Savage (New York, N.Y.) will steer his Swan 56 Lolita, while Stuart Townsend (Chicago, Ill.) drives Virago, a Swan 100. Hoping to defend his class title and status as top owner/driver among all classes will be Joseph F. Huber (Wynnewood, Pa.) representing Corinthian Yacht Club in Philadelphia on Reef Points, his Swan 44. St. Francis Yacht Club will have two members in Sardinia: Tomek Ulatowski (Mill Valley, Calif.) at the helm of the Swan 77 Varsovia and James Swartz (Park City, Utah) driving the Swan 601 Moneypenny, with notable California sailors Kimo Worthington (San Francisco), Dee Smith (Novato) and Mark Rudiger (Grass Valley) aboard. Peoquot Yacht Club will be represented by Bill Douglass (Stamford, Conn.) on his Swan 45 Goombay Smash. Michael Shlen (Palos Verde, Calif.) will skipper the Swan 45 Top Class. "The Rolex Swan Cup is always an exhilarating event." commented YCCS Commodore Gianfranco Alberini. "The combination of this stunning fleet of cruiser-racers and the friendly, convivial atmosphere among the owners makes for a highly enjoyable event. Once out on the water though, it’s all about the racing and we can look forward to some close-fought races." For more details on these events, please visit www.yccs.it. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 01 September 2006 ) |
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