Bronenosec on top

Gazprom Swan European Regatta continues in Cowes

Within the Gazprom Swan European Regatta this week are two major World Championships, the inaugural Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship and Swan 45 Worlds. With an official circuit already in action for 2013 including, an early season win for Bronenosec (RUS) at the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta, the Gazprom Swan 60 Worlds is the second regatta of this four event series. Vladimir Liubomirov, owner of Swan 60 Bronenosec, maintained his mastery with a first and two seconds today securing his place at the top of the scoreboard.

With entries from Germany, Russia and the UK, interest in the Gazprom Swan 60 Class is high. This emerging one design class has attracted some serious yachting players including Brad Butterworth sailing with Sir Peter Ogden on Knights of Crevichon (GBR). The British team definitely have a game plan for the remaining races and it will be interesting to see if patience in third place pays off with an overall World Championship win.

Vladimir Liubomirov, spoke about the importance of winning the first ever World Championship: “Of course winning this World Championship for me is very important as I am one of the founders of the Gazprom Swan 60 Class. To be a leader of this fleet would make me really proud. Everyone is our competition, at the moment we are so close, we have six more races and anything could happen.”

The Swan 45 fleet has inspired competitors for seven editions of the World Championship.  The crew of No Limits (NED) had all the answers again today and can relax after sailing in the ClubSwan Regatta Village safe in the knowledge that they lead VanUden (ITA) by 1 point.

Rientz Bol, on No Limits could be on his way to a World Championship title: “My main aim is to have a nice atmosphere on board racing and a good result is of course a welcome addition. We do have a chance of winning but there are a lot of things that can go wrong”.

The main Gazprom Swan European Regatta fleet racing under the Spinlock IRC rating rule has seen a shakeup in Class C this week with Chris Frost's Swan 36 having considerable boat speed in these light wind conditions. Racing with his daughter, Frost is now six points clear from second placed Swan 36 Moustique. He commented on racing the first generation Swan built by Nautor: “We had a fantastic day racing today, the first race we were away clear and in the second race our competitors were much closer to us. We took part last year in the Guernsey Rendezvous and won, it would be super to have another win but we will have to see what the rest of the racing brings us this week”.

Club Swan 42 Magical Mystery Tour leads Class A with four first places and one to discard in front of sistership Brevity. Harald Baum’s Swan 48 Elan (GER) slips into second place in Class B, two points behind Ray Mitchell’s Swan 411 Accomplice (GBR).

Nautor’s Swan will host the Swan Owner’s dinner tonight in the grounds of the Royal Yacht Squadron.