The inaugural Swan Bonifacio Challenge, part of the Nations League circuit for Swan One Design classes, concluded after five days of competitive sailing and social events. Held in Bonifacio, Corsica, the event was the second stage of the season for the ClubSwan 36 and the first for the ClubSwan 50 following a warm-up in Marina di Scarlino in April.
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The regatta was marked by the Mistral wind, which provided challenging but exhilarating conditions. The event featured three technical races on the first day, followed by a single race with wind speeds reaching 20 knots. A forced stop occurred due to winds over 25 knots, but the final day saw powerful conditions with Mistral winds around 20 knots and significant waves.
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In the ClubSwan 36 category, the Italian yacht Cuordileone emerged victorious, while the German yacht Hatari triumphed in the ClubSwan 50 class. Both crews demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating the challenging conditions.
Marcus Brennecke, owner and helmsman of Hatari, expressed his satisfaction with the win, highlighting the intense competition and the thrilling experience of sailing in Bonifacio. Diogo Cayolla, tactician on Cuordileone, also celebrated the victory, emphasizing the team's performance and the challenging conditions.
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In the ClubSwan 36 class, Cuordileone was followed by the Monegasque yacht Gspot and a team of young sailors from the Yacht Club Italiano, participating as part of the ClubSwan Academy project aimed at introducing new generations to high-level sailing.
In the ClubSwan 50 fleet, Hatari was followed by the German boat Earlybird and the Italian Cuordileone, helmed by Leonardo Ferragamo, president of Nautor Swan.
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Bonifacio's Mayor Jean Charles Orsucci praised the event, noting the city's pride in hosting such a prestigious regatta and expressing hope for future events. The next stage of the Nations League circuit, the Swan Sardinia Challenge, will take place in Alghero from June 25-29. This event promises a unique blend of sport and style, with social events and the picturesque landscape of Alghero enhancing the competition.
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Federico Michetti, Head of Sports Activities at Nautor Swan, highlighted the success of the Bonifacio event and the increasing level of competition in the Swan One Design classes. He also acknowledged the support of main partners Rolex, Randstad, Porsche Italia, Banor, and Henri Lloyd, which contributed to the event's success.
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The Swan Bonifacio Challenge demonstrated the appeal of new locations and the high level of competition in the Swan One Design circuit, setting a positive tone for the upcoming events in the 2024 season.
Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts.
Credits: Nautor Swan