Scarlino Swan One Design: close racing at its finest

Verdicts in all three classes at Scarlino Swan One Design will go down to the wire following a captivating third day of racing at the second event of The Nations Trophy Mediterranean League 2019. Today’s two races were conducted under the competition’s most robust conditions, wind speeds averaging 18-23 knots, presenting the 24-strong fleet with a fresh set of challenges. Seven races over three days have now been completed, with the final decisive action scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 4 May.
 
Following today’s races, the following yachts lead the standings:
ClubSwan 50: Niramo (Germany)
Swan 45: Porron IX (Spain)
ClubSwan 42: Mela (Italy)

ClubSwan 50 
Heading into day three, five different yachts had claimed the regatta’s five races with a number of crews struggling for consistency. Racing in this class is ruthless. Slack starts, sluggish mark roundings, slow sail changes and tactical indecision are punished mercilessly by talented crews comprising some of the world’s leading tacticians. Across the racing there are no discards meaning a single bad race can have a profound impact on the overall standings.

Today’s ClubSwan 50 action literally blew the classification wide open. Race six heralded a new winner. Sönke Meier Sawatzki’s Niramo (Germany) controlling her opposition from the first upwind leg to finish 20 seconds ahead of Stella Maris (Austria), triumphant in yesterday’s final race. Niramo followed that performance with a second place ensuring she was top performer of today. A momentous day which sees her move into first place in the standings.

Niramo tactician Bouwe Bekking admitted that the stronger conditions favoured the crew. “We have struggled more in the light winds but made two good starts today and were very consistent. Our owner is from Kiel and is used to sailing in the strong breeze plus we have five guys onboard who have sailed the Volvo. Everyone in this class can win - it says something about how good the level is.”

Having never finished lower than fourth, Cuordileone (Italy) had been the most consistent of the fleet. However today a seventh and a tenth have compromised her position in the standings. She now sits in third. Likewise Mathilde (Switzerland), second this morning, could only muster two eighth places dropping to fourth. Earlybird (Germany), winner of today’s second race, is Niramo’s closest challenger. However, as today proved, expect the unexpected tomorrow.

Current Leaderboard (after seven races)
1. Niramo, Germany, 28 points
2. Earlybird, Germany, 29 points
3. Cuordileone, Italy, 32 points

Swan 45
Following a second and a first today, Luis Senis’s Porron IX (Spain) extends her advantage to seven points going into tomorrow’s final races. The World Champion has not had it entirely her own way given the excellent form of closest rivals Motions (Netherlands) and Blue Nights (Finland). Perhaps today, Paolo Leonardi’s Swing Cube (Italy), who registered both a first and a last place, best summarised a manic day on the racecourse. “It could have been a great day,” reflected Leonardi. “We basically led the first race the entire time. Unfortunately, we made a big mistake in the second race at the first mark when we were second. Tomorrow depends on the weather, if the wind is above 18 knots we can play our role.”

Current Leaderboard (after seven races) 
1. Porron IX (Spain), 13 points
2. Blue Nights (Finland), 20 points
3. Motions (Netherlands), 23 points

ClubSwan 42
In a seven-strong competition, just five points separated the top five in standings this morning. Andrea Rossi’s Mela responded best to the conditions registering a third and a first. The leading three yachts are all Italian with Far Star, winner of The Nations Trophy Mediterranean League opener in Monaco, claiming today’s first race. However, Natalia Brailoiu’s Natalia (Romania) in fourth place is only two points off the leader, has great pedigree, and can count on the expertise of Roberto Bermúdez de Castro. “The racing is very close, yesterday especially was incredible,” explained the Spanish tactician. “Even on the finish lines it is sometimes hard to tell who crosses before who. We are happy as we wanted to arrive here with possibility of winning on the final day.”

Current Leaderboard (after seven races) 
1. Mela (Italy), 20 points
2. Far Star (Italy), 21 points
3. Fantaghiro’ (Italy), 22 points
Tomorrow, Saturday 4 May, marks the final day of racing, organised by the Club Nautico Scarlino, where the Class winners at Scarlino Swan One Design will be confirmed.

Following an intense day of action on the water, this evening's Owners’ Dinner, partnered by Banor, is the social highlight of the event and provides a welcome opportunity to relax. Supported by Marevivo, Scarlino Swan One Design is Nautor’s Swan’s first sustainable regatta, a topic which will be a key theme of the evening. Sustainability is an essential aspect of the organisation and development of Nautor’s Swan events going forward. To support its mission Nautor's Swan has established partnerships with companies who are as passionate and committed to this long-term initiative. Partners like Banor, an international wealth management group focused on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors and among the signatories of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) with the aim of fostering a greater awareness of sustainability. Banor is honoured to support Nautor's Swan, sustainability in sailing and to offer this evening’s Dinner.