16, September 2014: The Rolex Swan Cup & Swan 45 World Championship was staged at Porto Cervo this year. It was created in 1980 and first sponsored by Rolex in 1984, and the 2014 edition marks the 30th anniversary of the enduring collaboration between Rolex, Nautor’s Swan and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. This biennial regatta draws a spectacular fleet of yachts from around the world with fleets in recent years regularly topping 100 yachts. Participants range from 37 to 112 feet (11 to 35 metres) in length and span the entire spectrum of the Nautor’s Swan family, from early designs by Sparkman and Stephens to hi-tech one-design craft.
The 2014 edition once again played host to the Swan 45 Rolex World Championship while the remainder of the fleet were divided into categories according to the size and age of the participating yachts. Attracting some of the most beautiful Nautor’s Swan yachts and many of the world’s top sailors, the Rolex Swan Cup provided a week of the spirited racing and gala social events for which Nautor’s Swan, Rolex and YCCS are renowned.
Overall winners in their respective divisions in the Rolex Swan Cup and Swan 45 World Championship 2014 are: Wohpe (Swan 60), Nikata (Swan Maxi), Yasha (Grand Prix), Finola (Classic) and Natalia (Swan 42). The winner of the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship – for the fourth time – is Earlybird, owned by Christian Nagel and Hendrick Brandis. At the conclusion of the event, which marks 30 years of partnership between organizers the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Nautor’s Swan and Rolex, prizes were awarded to winners in the six competing divisions together with a Rolex timepiece.
Natalia Brailoiu, at the helm of the winning Swan 42, enjoyed the week’s sailing in Sardinia: “I am very happy, we had a great week. We weren’t always first in our fleet, but we were consistent and consistency pays. We’ve been sailing with this crew for a long time, about four years, and this is the key to our success. I have complete faith in my crew and they help me a lot. We are very happy to be here in Porto Cervo, the fleet is great and the spirit of the class is fantastic. I am very proud to be able to compete at this level as a woman and I really enjoy what I do”.
Spanish hopeful and Olympic gold medal holder Francisco Sanchez Luna managed third out of 60 participants for the Swan 80 ‘Plis Play’ team who said he it was great to be back full time at the helm, and that his team had worked hard and effectively to pull off a good result at Porto Cervo.” Read more about what Francisco “Kiko” Sanchez has been up to this year on his official website found here: www.franciscosanchezluna.es
For Media Contact:
Company: Francisco Kiko Sanchez Luna,
Address: Buzon 20.125, PolÃgono Industrial Atalayas,
03114, Alicante, Spain
Website: www.franciscosanchezluna.es
Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FcGXM5rZi8
