Event An all-time classic
The Rolex Swan Cup has been going great guns for six decades and it’s the enduring appeal of the event that puts it in a class of its own
Ever since its inception almost 60 years ago, Nautor Swan has been a boatbuilder that others seek to emulate, thanks to its well earned reputation for high build quality and attention to detail combined with yacht design from some of the very best names in the business. At the same time, a large part of
the appeal of owning a Swan is that it allows you to participate in the excellent programme of regattas, gatherings and other events staged by ClubSwan Racing, the competitive division of Nautor Swan. The ClubSwan Racing circuit is
very well established and successful. The depth of its programme, the level of competition, and the degree of friendship and camaraderie these events foster, are all widely known. The Rolex Swan Cup, which has
been held every two years since 1980 at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, is the highlight of the calendar. In what must be one of the longest- running sponsorship partnerships in the history of any sport, Rolex has been a partner since 1984. It’s a relationship that was
celebrated by Nautor Swan president Leonardo Ferragamo in his speech at this year’s Rolex Swan Cup owners’ dinner: ‘Tonight we mark 40 years of the partnership between Rolex, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Nautor Swan,’ he said. ‘It is
Above: the spectacular topography of theMaddalena Archipelago in north Sardinia is a dramatic setting for the coastal passage races that comprise one key element of the Rolex Swan Cup
amazing what has happened. We have seen this event evolving every two years, a close collaboration between a great yacht club, one of the major watch-making brands in the world and Nautor Swan, working together with the same vision, to improve time after time. ‘It's a unique and amazing cooperation and it is time to thank you and so many people before you for being part of this extraordinary journey,’ he added. The 2024 edition of the Rolex
Swan Cup attracted more than 100 yachts, ranging from a beautifully maintained Swan 36 – the yard’s first ever model – through to 100ft superyachts, as well as the radical foiling ClubSwan 36 and the new diminutive ClubSwan 28. It’s also a gathering point for
a remarkably large and diverse number of the most successful and celebrated sailors in the sport of sailing, including American legend Paul Cayard. ‘The Rolex Swan Cup is one of the most significant regattas in yachting,’ he says. ‘It has the distinction of uniting three outstanding partners, all of whom are driven by a desire to encourage progress and innovation, while respecting heritage and tradition.’ Five-time Olympicmedallist Robert
Schiedt is equally enthusiastic, saying: ‘The Rolex Swan Cup is an
exceptional event that sailors of all backgrounds aspire to be a part of. The new one-design classes create incredibly close racing and add lustre to an already impressive fleet, sailing in one of themost remarkable environments.’ Porto Cervo is a legendary regatta destination on Sardinia’s north- eastern coast and competing here is a once in a lifetime bucket list item for most boat owners. However, it’s a different matter for Swan owners, who have the opportunity to regularly enjoy this exclusive, yet low key and friendly destination that was created by the Aga Khan just a year after Nautor Swan first started building yachts close to the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. Unlike many Mediterranean destinations, the Maddalena archipelago off the coast of Porto Cervo has reliable winds for fair but challenging racing, amid captivating scenery on island-studded, clear emerald green waters. The Rolex Swan Cup’s five days of racing are contested over a mixture of passage races on challenging coastal courses and shorter, quick-fire windward/leeward racetracks. The event always attracts crews
of all ages and many nationalities, including many boats with women in key roles. It’s an inclusive approach that has a positive effect on the
SEAHORSE 71 �
CLUBSWAN RACING/STUDIO BORLENGHI
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