PORTO CERVO, SARDINIA
The 27 yachts have set out on a 30-mile race on the first day of competition at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 in Porto Cervo. With the wind blowing 15 knots from the south-west, Course No.15 takes these large sailing yachts on a long reach past Monaci and then around the islands of La Maddalena and Caprera.
There was nervous excitement this morning as to what the day had in store, with views varying widely on what kind of winds they might encounter. Anything from no wind to 27 knots was being discussed on the docks.
As tactician on board the magnificent Marie, New Zealander Chris Main bears an enormous responsibility in navigating this 54.6m Vitters ketch through the narrowest parts of the race course. Commenting this morning before racing, Main said: “I don’t know if they’re going to send us through Bomb Alley, but short tacking this boat through there could be, well, interesting…”
The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 in Porto Cervo
As the race committee announced Course No.15 on the VHF radio, Main would realise that Bomb Alley is indeed on the agenda, although provided the wind direction of 290 degrees holds steady, he might at least get to take Marie through this notorious strait without too much tacking required.
Then again, the breeze might shift, as Wally Y3K’s tactician Jesper Radich speculated. “At the moment we have a westerly gradient which would is nice, but there’s a chance of thermal effect creating a sea breeze from the south-east, and then we could end up with a transition zone between two breezes. Getting caught in the ‘no wind’ zone would be a tactical disaster.” That’s why Radich and so many other top professionals are here, to help sail these beautiful yachts quickly but safely around the spectacular but challenging coast line of northern Sardinia.
The wind in Porto Cervo has been less than favourable in the past week, although the sun and the wind appear to have returned nicely for the coming four days of racing, and right now the fleet is enjoying champagne sailing on the Costa Smeralda.
The Day One Race results for the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 in Porto Cervo:
Race Day 1
Cruising Division
YACHT
Ganesha
Unfurled
Visione
Kora 5 of Portofino
Thalima
Scorpione Dei Mari
Liara
I-SEA
Zefira
Acaia Four
Solleone
Timoneer
Saudade
Annagine
Marie
Ivanka
Django Too
Twizzle
Lady Thalima
YARD
Fitzroy Yachts
Royal Huisman
Baltic Yachts
OY Nautor AB
Southern Wind
Jongert
Southern Ocean Marine
Southern Wind
Fitzroy Yachts
Southern Wind
Nautor Swan
Vitters
Wally
J.O.M. BV The Netherlands
Vitters
Seaway
Tréhard
Royal Huisman
Southern Wind
Race Day 1
Performance Division
YACHT
Highland Fling XI
My Song
Y3K
Indio
Magic Carpet 2
Open Season
Ryokan 2
Il Sovereign
YARD
Goetz Custom Technologies
Cookson Boats
Wally
Wally
Wally
Wally
Wally
Wally
Wally Class
YACHT
Y3K
Indio
Magic Carpet 2
Open Season
Ryokan 2
Il Sovereign
The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta is an annual event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media. It opens the Mediterranean Superyacht calendar in early June and attracts some of the world’s most magnificent sailing yachts. It is hosted by the exclusive Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, located in the enchanting village of Porto Cervo, the jewel of the northern coast of Sardinia. The race programme includes four days of competitive racing and a vibrant social programme.
