Photo credit:YCI / Stefano Gattini
ROLEX SWAN 45 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Charisma crowned 2009 World Champions
No Limits 2nd & Earlybird 3rd overall, Checkmate win Corinthian Division
Stunning conditions yet again today in Argentario for the final day of racing at the Rolex Swan 45 World Championships in Cala Galera (Argentario), organised by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Circolo Nautico e della Vela dell’Argentario in partnership with Rolex.
Blue skies and 10-12 knots of wind greeted the teams on the last day of the Rolex Swan 45 Worlds. You could feel the intensity on the water with two general recalls and a third of the fleet black-flagged in the final race. Back with a vengeance were FEVER (GBR) and No Limits (NED) who finished first and second in the first race of the day, but this was not sufficient to get the British team on the podium.
In race two it was Earlybird out in front again and their first place finish secured them third overall and declared them winners of the Swan 45 Class International Circuit. Meanwhile RW Bol’s No Limits finished second overall with 33.5 points (to win the Swan 45 Class European Circuit), just 3.5 points behind new World Champions Charisma (30 points).
Owner and helmsman of Swan 45 Charisma Nico Poons said: “We started out with this team in spring 2008 and we were at the back of the fleet. Now one and a half years later I never expected we could come so far. I am very very happy. I am really thankful to the team. They have done a great job to achieve this.”
Commenting on the team’s win tactician Ray Davies (Team New Zealand) said; “We are thrilled to have won the Rolex Swan 45 Worlds. The team sailed really well and kept composure especially when we were at the back of the fleet. It’s always great to win a world championship, especially at this level. The competition was tough, particularly from No Limits and Earlybird.”
This is the fifth edition of the Swan 45 Worlds and the first time that a Corinthian trophy has been awarded. Peter de Ridder’s Swan 45 Checkmate were first in the Corinthian division followed by Iskareen (GER) in second and Mandolino (ITA) in third.
With twelve races completed, the teams were quick to credit the Race Committee.
“They were very responsive and set really good courses despite the variable winds,” commented Gabriele Benussi, tactician onboard Jeroboam-Mitsubishi (ITA). “It’s also an optimal result for the Class to have 17 teams here this year,” he added.
Provisional final results (12 races):
1. Charisma - Nico Poons (NED)
2. No Limits - RW Bol (NED)
3. Earlybird - Christian Nagel & Hendrik Brandis (GER)
4. Yasha - Yukihiro Ishida (JAP)
5. FEVER – Grant Gordon & Klaus Diederichs
The final prizegiving of the Rolex Swan 45 World Championships takes place shortly with awards for the top five teams while the new World Champion will take home the Swan 45 Gold Cup and a Rolex Submariner. -
