After three days of racing, the seventh edition of the Perini Navi Cup drew to a close today. The event, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, had gathered 21 yachts from the Perini Navi fleet in Porto Cervo. Overall leader in the Cruiser Racer division was the 50-metre Silencio, while The Maltese Falcon triumphed among the Corinthians Spirit yachts and overall.
The final day of the Perini Navi Cup saw the fleet face a coastal course of approximately 14 miles, accompanied initially by a breeze of 12 - 14 knots from the west. The Perini ships headed south to circumnavigate the islands of Mortorio and Soffi before returning north to a buoy off the coast of Porto Cervo and the finish line of a course that was shortened due to strengthening winds, reaching speeds of 27 knots.
Seahawk, the last boat to start in the Cruiser Racer division under the staggered start formula (which sees individual departures every 3 minutes), immediately accelerated today, leaving her rivals behind after rounding Soffi, and crossing the finish line with twenty minutes to spare, thereby clinching the victory of the day. Despite this excellent performance Seahawk placed second overall, while consistency was rewarded for the 50-metre Silencio - second in today's race - who with two wins out of three races run, was the overall winner in the Cruiser Racer class. Third place of the day and third place in the overall classification went to the 43-metre Victoria A.
In the Corinthians Spirit class The Maltese Falcon, the 88-metre flagship of the fleet, took pole position in the overall standings with three wins out of three, seven points ahead of Tamsen, in fifth place today but second overall. The battle on the water was for the second place of the day: Blush managed to outdistance Spirit of C's to finish second, but didn't manage to claim a podium place as Spirit of C's went on to take third place overall.
YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo declared, "This has been a unique edition, the characteristic Costa Smeralda weather conditions allowed us to complete the full racing schedule with three consecutive days of competition, allowing the Perini Navi yachts to perform at their best. I would like to thank our friends Lamberto Tacoli and Edoardo Tabacchi for this collaboration which has allowed us, in all seven editions, including this one, to organise a highly successful event - the perfect blend of spectacle on the water and ashore. Thanks to the owners and all the sailors who gathered in Porto Cervo over the past few days and thank you to the International Jury, the Race Committee and the staff for their essential and invaluable work."
"I would like to thank everyone who took part in this edition of the Perini Navi Cup, " commented Lamberto Tacoli, President and CEO of Perini Navi, "owners, captains, crews, partners and friends."
On their return to the docks owners, crews and guests took part in the prize giving ceremony in the Piazza Azzurra and went on to attend a grand gala evening at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, celebrating the great Perini Navi family with music, artists and fireworks.
The next sporting event for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will be the final of the Audi Italian Sailing League from 27 to 30 September.