Swan Tuscany Challenge, Cuordileone and Vitamina are the winners in Scarlino
In evidenzaMonotipiaSwan 36Swan 50Vela 30 Maggio 2021 Zerogradinord 0
Scarlino – The tension was palpable on the quayside this morning, as crews made their final preparations for the decisive day of one-design racing in the Swan Tuscany Challenge. After three days and nine races, the regatta rankings were still surprisingly open, especially inthe newer ClubSwan 36 fleet.In the ClubSwan 50 class, the tussle for the top spot boiled down to a duel between Marcus Brennecke’s Hatariand Leonardo Ferragamo’s Cuordileone. Third place was still up for grabsat the start of the day, which wasscheduled for two races in the same calm seas and 8-10 knot breeze as the fleet has enjoyed so far.
The start proved to be the key moment of each race, and Ferragamo’s Cuordileonewas faultless. “It wasn’t easy because the wind was shifting a lot –pressure too,” said tactician Manu Weiller. “We had two very good starts, managing to do what we wanted to do: stay right for the first race and left on the second.”Leonardo Ferragamo saidthe key had been consistency throughout the regatta, adding:“We are very excited, happy and satisfied,because we worked hard for this result. We will have to fight veryhard to maintain this position –it’s not going to be easy. There is a continuous evolution from all the teams, and this racing is really fabulous.”
Aftercoming so close to victory, Hatariwas outsailed, but not outclassed. Brennecke’s boat made two mid-order finishes to come in second overall with big smiles on their faces. “We are happy,” said Brennecke holding a well-earned beer. “Cuordileonesailed better than we did,and they deserved to win. It was very tight racing and after lockdown, it was just great to be out on the water again.”
Thirdplace overall was taken by Stefan Heidenreich’s ONEGroup, which has posted some strong finishes throughout the regatta, including one bullet and three seconds. The team leapfrogged Ulika, which struggled to find form on the final day. “Yesterday was disappointing for us, so we knew what we had to do today,” said Heidenreich. “We had had difficulty sailing a straight line downwind, but it all came together today. We showed we can do it!”
In the ClubSwan 36 class, the podium positionscame right down to the last leg of the last race, as leaders Vitamina and G-Spot were neck-and-neck on points going into it. Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s boat had the better start, but one of the day’s many small windshifts suddenly favoured the other side of the course, and Vitamina were ahead by the top mark. “We made up some places downwind, but we couldn’t do enough,” said trimmer Alessandro Franci. Andrea Lacorte, owner of Vitamina, paid tribute to his crew after the nail-biting victory. “The feeling is just one: we’re very happy about the regatta. We were consistent, with only three wins in the 11 racesand I have to commend my crew – I’m very happy with them. We were all very tensebefore the last race, but fully concentrated on keeping G-Spotclose to us.”
The day’s winner in the CS36 class was Fra Martina, whoshowed flashes of their early performance by posting a bullet and a second place. Along with Lorenzo Mondo’s Farstar, whotook overall third place, this will be a boat to watch as the season progresses.The overriding sense on the quay when the boats came back in today was one ofdelight to see the start of ClubSwanracing again.
The teams are already looking forward to the second event in the Nation’s League, the Swan Sardinia Challenge from 22 to 26 June. “It was more light wind work here in Scarlino, but that is really the best conditions to start the season. It’s challenging for all the teams because this is a new class, so everyday you discover something new,” said main trimmer Giulio Desiderato on CS36 Sease. “It’s fun, and this is how it should be,” said Polina Lyubomirova, owner of the CS50 Bronenosec. “It makes the regattalike a club of people who are into the same thing. That’s what Swan is really succeeding at.” Bringing the four-day regatta to a close, sponsor Marina di Scarlinopresented prizes to the winning teams. They were accompanied by the Livorno Naval Academy’smarching band, whose members gave a virtuoso performance that culminated in the Italian national anthem.
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