Following the conclusion of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup last Saturday, the docks in front of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were immediately buzzing with the arrival of 170 Nautor Swan yachts, a record number, gathered in Porto Cervo for the 23rd edition of the Rolex Swan Cup, organized by the YCCS in collaboration with Nautor Swan and Rolex. Such a significant attendance, the maximum allowed, was reached to celebrate a special occasion: the 60th anniversary of the Finnish shipyard's founding.
To commemorate the anniversary, the "Dance of the Swans" took place yesterday, a spectacular event that saw the 170 Swans "dance under sail" in a circle around the island of Monaci, one of the most iconic passages of coastal racing in the La Maddalena Archipelago. It was a unique spectacle, with images destined to remain in yachting history and dedicated to the memory of Carlo Borlenghi, the extraordinary, world-renowned sailing photographer who recently passed away.
The regattas of a competition that is increasingly captivating enthusiasts around the world will begin today.
The yachts on display offer a comprehensive representation of Nautor Swan's history, from 1966 to the present. Leading the way is Tarantella, the Swan 36-001 designed by Sparkman & Stephens, which launched the shipyard's production in Pietarsaari, Finland. Restored for its sixtieth anniversary, Tarantella brings to Porto Cervo the starting point of a story that, at the other end of the fleet, is represented by the two Swan 128s Be Cool and Raijin, along with the brand-new Swan 80 Elvi, all designed by star architect Germán Frers.
Standing out from the past and present are Giuseppe Puttini's Shirlaf, a 1976 Sparkman & Stephens Swan 65 that this year celebrates half a century since its launch and returns to racing in Porto Cervo after competing last week in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, as well as Lunz am Meer, a Swan 651 owned by YCCS member Riccardo Genghini. The large fleet of historic Swans also includes Translated 9, owned by Marco Trombetti and Isabelle Andrieu, another S&S Swan 65 with a remarkable history: launched in 1974 as ADC Accutrac, she was sailed by British skipper Clare Francis to fifth place in the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race and, after her recent return to ocean racing, is currently competing in the 2027 Ocean Globe Race.
