Event
Utterly perfect
A beautiful fleet of fast modern offshore one designs, a glorious venue, close racing and one of the friendliest groups of competitive sailors you will find anywhere... Oh yes, and the weather was good too
Gifted amateurs rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in sailing on the ClubSwan circuit, creating a uniquely sporting atmosphere. And what better venue to stage the grand finale of the ClubSwan 2021 racing year than the stunning Mediterranean town of St Tropez, on the French Riviera.
A record turnout of 41 yachts from 18 different nations assembled for this year’s Swan One Design Worlds, from 13 to 17 October. The fleet comprised 10 ClubSwan36s, seven CS42s, eight Swan 45s and 16 ClubSwan 50s.
The lure of being crowned World Champion in St Tropez drew several new boats into the fleet, including the CS50, Django. Well-known on the IRC/ORC circuit, owner Giovanni Lombardi was keen to have a go at the big prize. Looking to defend their 2020 titles were Marcus Brennecke’s CS50 Hatari, Lennard van Oeveren’s 45 Motions, and Andrea Lacorte’s CS36 Vitamina. There were also three new entrants in the Swan 45 class, Ex Officio, From Now On and Blue Sky. After four successful events already this year the top boats were: G-Spot, the CS36 sailed by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio; Natalia Brailoiu’s CS42 Natalia; Stefano Masi’s Swan 45 Ulika; and Brennecke’s CS50 Hatari. Nautor Group Chairman Leonardo Ferragamo, who sails the ClubSwan 50 Cuordileone, spoke emotionally about bringing the Swan
74 SEAHORSE
One Design Worlds to St Tropez. ‘Sometimes it is very exciting when you reach your dreams. But when you reach dreams that were not in your mind, that means you have gone beyond the dreams.’
Day 1 - light airs delay start Unfortunately, light airs limited the first day’s sailing to just one race. Although the tension as the crews prepared was palpable, with just the slightest breath of a SE breeze over the gulf, a delay was inevitable. Being the final event of the season, and a World Championship to boot, teams were still tinkering with their setups right up to the last minute. Finally, at 1330 the yachts streamed out to begin pacing the start line. With their powerful sail plans and relatively light displacement all the Swan one- design classes can sail in winds from a mere five knots, although it makes for some tricky, technical sailing. In the CS36 class the helmsman
of ThirtySix, Edoardo Ferragamo summed it up, ‘You have to be very patient when the wind is unstable. Maybe some moment you have a strong gust, then five minutes later no wind at all.’ The winning CS36 was Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-Spot, closely followed by the Loro Piana brothers’ yacht Sease. ‘The race was tough because of the wind switching a lot,’ said Franco Loro Piana. ‘It was all about following the big shifts and chasing for pressure.’
Above: the Swan One Design World Champion- ships were blessed with a high turnout of talented crews, fierce but friendly competition in all four classes and a wide range of weather conditions that tested the teams’ tactical skills as well as their boat- handling prowess
In the CS42 class, Natalia crossed the line first after winning the start. ‘It was tricky deciding where to start,’ said tactician Federico Martin Armenanzas Quiroz, ‘It was shifting to the left but the pressure was on the right.’
In the eight-strong Swan 45 class it was Lennard van Oeveren’s Motions that took first, followed by class debutants From Now On and Blue Sky. In the CS50s, Hatari won the race. ‘We tried to stay relaxed,’ said owner Marcus Brennecke, ‘and were lucky to be the second boat at the pin end. With a left shift it looked good, then we tacked immediately and crossed the field.’
Day 2 - perfect conditions Thankfully, day two provided a much needed 12-15kt westerly breeze. Crews assembled early for an 1100 start while the race committee set the twin courses. Although wind shifts of 20-30 degrees kept them guessing, there was time to schedule two starts for the full fleet. First away, the CS36s favoured the right-hand side of the course, tacking NW until just off Sainte Maxime. Then came the 42s, where a more southerly course led them closer to St Tropez. Whereas on day one, the yacht that won the start often led to the finish, there were more tactical decisions to make today as yachts hunted the pressure and called the shifts. In the 36s, G-Spot maintained
CLUBSWAN RACING/STUDIO BORLENGHI
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