During a press conference which took place in Milan yesterday, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) revealed its 2012 sporting calendar. 2012 brings the consolidation of the Club’s initiatives in the Caribbean and through Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, additionally to the international sailing events for which the YCCS is so well known.
YCCS Press Conference - Milan, April 2012
2012 Regattas
The YCCS 2012 season kicked off with the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous held at the Club’s Virgin Gorda, BVI base in March. While the Clubhouse in Porto Cervo as well as the Blue Mediterranean Spa and the shops and restaurants of the Piazza Azzurra are already open for the season, racing off the Costa Smeralda will begin in May with the Audi Vela & Golf Trophy (11-13 May) taking place on the greens of Pevero Golf Club and aboard the Club’s Smeralda 888 craft. The Smeraldas will also be on the water for the Coppa Europa Smeralda 888 (22-24 June), the Invitational Smeralda 888 (6-8 July) and three weekends of fleet regattas dedicated to the YCCS Members Championship in August. The Trofeo Challenge Alessandro Boeris Clemen (19th May) will, as always, be a celebration of sailing among friends.
Superyacht racing, meanwhile, will begin off the Costa Smeralda with the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta (4 – 9 June) and continue in September with the two classic events organized with the support of the Club’s historic partner Rolex: the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (2 – 8 September) and the Rolex Swan Cup & Rolex Swan 45 World Championship (10-16 September).
As always, the YCCS sporting calendar also includes international one-design racing with the Audi Sardinia Cup (11 -17 June) taking place with each team composed of a TP52 and a Soto 40 boat, and the Audi European Championship Melges 32 & Audi Sailing Series (28 June- 1 July) organized in collaboration with the Club’s official automotive partner.
2012 sees the consolidation of the Club's initiatives in the Caribbean and through Audi Azzurra Sailing Team
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team
Following a successful season and a third place overall in the Audi MedCup 2011, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda‘s Audi Azzurra Sailing Team is back on the TP52 circuit in 2012 with a new yacht. Conceived by owner and YCCS Member Alberto Roemmers, together with crew members, the new design is by Marcello Botin and the hull was constructed at the King Marine shipyard in Valencia, Spain. The new Azzurra began trials off Valencia in mid-March and has just completed her first regatta at the Palma Vela in Mallorca. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team will once again be skippered by Guillermo Parada with strategist Vasco Vascotto and Francesco Bruni calling tactics.
YCCS Virgin Gorda and YCCS Marina
With YCCS Marina operational since 2010 and the new Clubhouse officially inaugurated in January 2012, the Club’s new Caribbean home is now complete. The Clubhouse, which has been designed and completed to the highest standards, offers indoor and outdoor dining, a bar on the panoramic terrace, private function room, an infinity edge pool, locker and shower facilities and an event lawn for functions. The adjacent YCCS Marina Virgin Gorda provides a range of services and is protected from surge and swell, making it an ideal base from which to explore the neighbouring Caribbean islands. In addition to the Loro Piana regatta in March, the Club will welcome the arrival in December of the Transatlantic Superyacht & Maxi Regatta , which sees a fleet of sailing giants race from Tenerife to Virgin Gorda and rounds off the YCCS 2012 season.
