Following her success in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the splendid Swan 80 sailing yacht Plis Play has won this year’s Swan Mediterranean Challenge trophy. Having placed 6th overall at the 2012 Rolex Swan Cup which took place in September in Porto Cervo, the Spanish Plis Play superyacht helmed by Vicente Garcia Torres, has become the first placed Swan in the record 83-strong international fleet which sailed 606 nautical miles round Sicily.

Swan 80 sailing yacht Plis Play - Photo credit: Kurt Arrigo - Rolex 2012

This year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race was one of pure dedication due to light winds. The competitors desperately searched for breeze as the fleet expanded and compressed. Swan 80 luxury yacht Plis Play was the highest placed Swan, finishing in 6 days and 4 hours, securing an impressive 8th place overall and finishing within 24 hours of Esimit Europa 2 yacht who took line honours.

Second place in the Swan Mediterranean Challenge was awarded to the British Swan 56 yacht Noonmark VI, racing as part of Class 3 in the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Starting and finishing in Malta, the race takes in some beautiful sights including the deep azure waters of Sicily and the Strait of Messina, as well as the islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. The most outstanding feature is the active Stromboli volcano as a course mark.

The prestigious Swan Challenge trophies designed by Asprey are awarded to the best placed Swan competition in the most important offshore races around the world. The Swan Transatlantic Challenge is the next trophy to be contested.