On the emerald coast of Sardinia in the yacht club “Costa Smeralda” on 16 September concluded the first ever world championship in the yacht class ClubSwan 50. By results of competitions the team of the yacht club of Saint-Petersburg “Battleship” finished fourth.
“Our result can be considered positive, as this is only our third regatta in the class ClubSwan 50 this year, while most of the contenders for the medals of the world championship held at the five — commented the skipper of “Battleship” Vladimir Liubomirov. Probably the fourth line is exactly the result we deserve and which will become the starting point in the new season of the class.”
In addition to “Battleship,” Vladimir Lubomirov, in the event took part the other team under the Russian flag — Skorpidi. The boat, belonging to number 18 in the list of the richest Russians Forbes Dmitry Rybolovlev, ranked ninth out of a possible twelve.
For five days the participants had the opportunity to be in different weather conditions — from fickle and weak winds to strong and stable. How competitive was a struggle, clearly the statistics: in the ten races held seven different yacht came first, and only two teams have never ranked in the top 3 throughout the race. In the end, the fate of the medal places were decided in the last two races.
The first world Champions in the class ClubSwan 50 became Germans: the crew OneGroup Executive Director of Beiersdorf (Nivea brand) Heidenreich Stefan (Stefan Heidenreich) one point walked Cuordileone Leonardo Ferragamo (Leonardo Ferragamo), the owner of the shipyard Nautor’s Swan, which, in fact, produces ClubSwan racing monotypes. This victory will serve as a consolation to Heidenreich, which at the end of 2019, according to the decision of the Supervisory Board of Beiersdorf will leave after a fairly successful activities under the company’s return of lost market positions.
“I met Stephen two years ago when we launched three prototype ClubSwan 50 during the same event in Porto Cervo, — says the President of the Association of class ClubSwan 50 Philip Olen (Philippe Ouhlen). — He went with us to sea aboard Cuordileone with winds of 35 knots, came back with a smile and decided not only to join the class, but also to build a strong team of young enthusiastic German sailors. I watched as they try to achieve this result and I’m very happy for this great team. Congratulations Stephen and all the crew: it’s a deserved win, in a phenomenal way torn in the final moments of the regatta”.
In the last decisive race OneGroup won Cuordileone only one housing length thanks to brilliantly executed in the last seconds of turn over before the wind.
New ClubSwan 50 season starts in April is the traditional regatta of the class in Monaco.
