The Italian Swan 80, Berenice, is celebrating an excellent end to the year after taking line honours in the 2010 ARC, with a passage of just over 14 days to cross the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. Berenice also had a competitive placing in the Maxi Class at September’s Rolex Swan Cup, proving the Swan 80 model is becoming synonymous with fast ocean-going performance yachting.
Swan 80 Sailing Yacht Berenice receives Line Honours at the ARC 2010 - Photo Credit Nick Martin
Leading 294 entries into the ARC’s finish line is a superb achievement especially considering the unusual and challenging metrological conditions experienced by the fleet this year which brought sustained periods of gale force winds.
The Swan 80’s performance orientated hull with T shaped bulb keel and deep balanced rudder ensure responsive manoeuvrability in big sea conditions. The hull is foam-cored and carbon-fibre reinforced in construction using the pre-preg lay up. This ensures a stiff laminate with excellent strength and fatigue properties so important for peace of mind in off shore racing.
Berenice’s owner, Marco Rodolfi, enjoyed a high profile ARC finish streaming into Rodney Bay under full main and spinnaker from the North West corner of the island. The Swan 80 pulled out a lead to the line once the trade winds established themselves in the latter stages of the crossing. With a main sail of 188 metres squared Berenice is a veritable powerhouse once sailing adding to the performance orientation of this model.
Rodolfi was particularly pleased to come through this year’s challenging ARC without any major boat damage. Commenting on his win over the water Rodolfi said, ‘we had some tough conditions, with 6 hours of 35 to 40 knots early on in the trip, but the last three days have been fantastic downwind sailing. We are all very pleased to be here in Saint Lucia‘
An armada of the local boats made the trip out greet the Italian Swan crew in Rodney Bay and were welcomed onto the dock with gifts of local produce and ice cold rum punches. The Swan speedsters will now have a much deserved rest and will look forward to enjoying the warm hospitality of this Caribbean island as the rest of the ARC fleet flood in to join them.
