Yacht Club Costa Smeralda on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Photo By: Carlo Borlenghi, regattanews.com
Taking place from 11th to 15th March, the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean 2013 is held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s new clubhouse on Virgin Gorda in the sailing paradise of the British Virgin Islands. The inaugural edition of the Caribbean Swan regatta is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in collaboration with Nautor’s Swan. For years Gaastra International Sportswear is a partner of both. The first edition of the regatta for ClubSwan members kicks off with a Swan fleet of 21 entrants representing eight countries. Four days of racing, commencing on Tuesday 12 March, are scheduled in the island archipelago’s alluring waters, renowned for providing ideal sailing conditions.
Among the entrants, in 2012 launched 2,000th Swan yacht of the Finish yacht building company, the Swan 90 Freya (USA). Largest entrant is the 30.38m Swan 100 ‘Varsovie’ and four Sparkman & Stephens designed Swans are also set to compete in – the Swan 44 ‘Hokusai’ (FIN), Swan 57 ‘Lianda’ (BEL), Swan 65 „Creuza de ma“ (USA) and the Swan 57 „Swan Lake“. The week’s best performers will be rewarded during the final prizegiving, held on Friday 15 March, where the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean Trophy will be presented. Based on the concept of the Swan Cup Porto Cervo rich-in-tradition, held at Italy’s Emerald Coast since 1980, the Swan’s Caribbean Cup is intended to be held biennially – in alternate years to the Swan Cup at Porto Cervo. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Marina and Clubhouse on Virgin Gorda in the protected waters of the North Sound opened in January 2013. YCCS Marina Virgin Gonda, the premier superyacht hub in the Caribbean, boasts 38 slips for yachts up to 100 meters in length and 9 meters of draft. This state-of-the-art superyacht marina features extensive on-board provisioning services as well as crew facilities and on-site customs clearance. The marina is an ideal base for cruising the Virgin Island and the great arc of the Leeward and Windward Islands as St. Barths, St. Martin, Antigua or Montserrat while enjoying YCCS’ comfort and expertise of more than 40 years.