Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy: SW82 Grande Orazio wins the day

The XIV Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy was a parade on the water today with the Southern Wind racing fleet stretching its legs in the sun while the Rendezvous fleet followed the action. Grande Orazio won the day on corrected time after a suspenseful match race between the SW82s.

While the rest of the yachts racing at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda had a lay day, Principal Race Officer Peter Craig sent the Southern Wind fleet along a short course that started and ended off Porto Cervo passing by the Isola dei Monaci. Kiboko Tres lead the fleet with the two SW82s engaged in a hard fought match race close behind. The day’s results on corrected time saw Grande Orazio in first place followed by SW105 Kiboko Tres and SW82 Ammonite.

Massimiliano Florio, SW82 Grande Orazio’s owner, was spotted after the race chatting on the dock with SW82 Ammonite owner Marcus Blackmore. “We were neck to neck with these guys the whole time, always engaged with them, which is always fun. The weather on the course was just beautiful with the wind almost constantly at 22 to 23 knots. In a nutshell, it was short but sweet.”
 
Blackmore had mentioned that his team included all-stars and we spoke with one of them: Stacey Jackson. “I have been part of Marcus’ TP52 team since 2011. Now the boat is called Hooligan, but before that she was Azzurra and here I am at the YCCS, Azzurra’s original homeport, small world. I have done the VOR twice with team SCA and Vestas 11th Hour Racing and the Sydney Hobart twelve times now, skippering on boats like Wild Oats X but this is my first time sailing on a luxury superyacht. It’s fun to learn a different way of sailing, but we’re still racing and when we get going I forget all about the beautiful interior. I have raced in Porto Cervo several times for Melges 40 events and aboard Alfa Romeo and it’s always great to come here: good wind, brilliant food, friendly people.”

The Rendezvous fleet was joined today by the SW78 Ocean Horse, formerly All Smoke, who is cruising around the Med this summer and didn’t want to miss the chance to join the fleet. Thalima’s owner is enjoying the event to the full having raced one day as a guest aboard Kiboko Tres then following the action with guests aboard her own yacht. “I loved the day of racing, the crew was wonderful and all so tightly bonded. It was a real pleasure. Now I have two of my best girl friends aboard and we have all enjoyed getting to know the SW team and meeting the stars like Jim Schmicker and Mario Pedol.”

Work hard, play hard: the Southern Wind Official Dinner is tonight. Owners, crews and friends of the shipyard will gather at the Agriturismo La Sasima in San Pantaleo for a taste of Sardinia followed by some carefree dancing.