A close encounter to the end at ClubSwan Racing's crucial season decider
by ClubSwan Racing 27 Oct 17:36 PDT
23-27 October 2024
The Swan One Design Worlds came to a dramatic conclusion in Palma de Mallorca, with the world champions in three ClubSwan Racing classes crowned — two by a single point — and the season-long Nations League contest ultimately decided.
ClubSwan 36 world title decided on final day
Boats from Brazil, Germany and Spain took the top spots as World Champions, with Haakon Lorentzen's Mamao (BRA) claiming the ClubSwan 36 title after overhauling overnight leader and three-time race winner Black Battalion, with Edoardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone third.
"I am feeling great, it is our second time," said a smiling Lorentzen, who said the key to their success was "never giving up and fighting to the finish." He added: "I was 68 when I won my first World Championship, and now I am 70 and have won my second. I can't wait for the 2025 season!"
ClubSwan 50 top five could not have been any closer
Mark Bezner's Olymp (GER) claimed the ultra-close ClubSwan 50 World Champion title by a single point from Raquel and Graeme Peterson's Moonlight, with last year's winner, Leonardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone, taking the final place on the podium. The level of competition was highlighted by the fact that the top five boats in the 12-strong class were each only a point apart.
On taking the World Champion title a delighted Bezner said: "It's outstanding and a great reward for our team. We're a new team and the first day was a bit rough but today we had two great starts - we like challenging conditions, we do a bit better.
"I have only been with ClubSwan Racing for four years, having never raced a regatta before, so you can imagine how I feel."
An all-Spanish affair in the ClubSwan 42 fleet
Perhaps appropriately given the Bay of Palma arena, the similarly tight competition for the ClubSwan 42 world title was an all-Spanish affair, with Pedro Vaquer Comas' Nadir edging out Jose Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril— again by a single point. Adriano Majolino's Canopo, the 2024 Rolex Swan Cup winner with two race victories on her Palma card, was also only a point adrift in third.
Back ashore Comas said: "We're feeling very good, it has been a very competitive event for everyone. The 42 class is very strong at the moment and this is the second time we have won the Worlds so we will enjoy it. The team has been together 10 years so I am very proud."
The teams in the Swan One Design Worlds experienced varied conditions throughout the week, providing a suitable challenge of their skills across the wind range, as well as a rather different challenge for the experienced race management team at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, host for the crucial ClubSwan Racing regatta.
The Nations League outcome in the balance right up to the Palma final
It was an equally close-run affair in the 2024 The Nations League ClubSwan 50 series with Moonlight — despite a strong performance in Palma and victory in the recent Rolex Swan Cup — ending the season as runner-up to Marcus Brennecke's Hatari, with the German yacht adding to her winning streak.
"It is disappointing to have lost the World Championship, but Olymp deserved it," said Brennecke. "On the other hand winning the Nations League title for the fifth time in a row shows that we are sailing well. But it is so competitive and everyone can win — that is the beauty of ClubSwan Racing. So a great class and a great season — we are looking forward to next year!"
Despite their third-place finish in the Swan One Design Worlds, Cuordileone was able to secure the overall season ClubSwan 36 Nations League title. Edoardo Ferragamo said: "It was a very beautiful season even if the weather wasn't the easiest, but we managed to keep the team strong to the end, so we are happy with that."
A similar tale unfolded in the ClubSwan 42 class, where earlier performances in the season secured the overall title for Jose Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril.
Meseguer said: "We are very happy obviously as the Nations League is a very important trophy. The highlight for me is that we have been able to hit our targets through the season. We have so many new people who are coming in and they are improving a lot — so everyone is trying very hard to get better and it is a lot of fun."
On the water and off, a memorable event
While most of the attention has been focused on the action on the water, as ever the shoreside made its own contribution to the ClubSwan Racing atmosphere.
A major highlight of the social scene was the Owners' Evening which was held in the historic and famed location of the 300-year-old Gordiola glass blowing factory, whose architecture is inspired by the Castle of Perpignan, and is a candidate for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Summing up the season at the celebratory Prize-Giving on Sunday evening, Nautor Group President Leonardo Ferragamo said: "This event marks the conclusion of a Nations League season which has seen friendly and competitive racing merged with the lifestyle and friendship at the heart of the Swan family experience.
"As ever the Real Club Náutico de Palma has been the perfect host allowing us to celebrate the season to date which has been full of so many special events."
Head of Sport Activities Federico Michetti added: "This has been another exceptional year for ClubSwan Racing and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the owners, their friends, partners and crews who have done so much to make it so special.
"We have all been privileged to have been able to compete is so many welcoming venues, here now in Palma de Mallorca, and earlier in the season in Scarlino, Bonifacio, Alghero and Porto Cervo. Their contribution has been fantastic, as has the ongoing support of our partners Rolex, Porsche, Randstad, Henri Lloyd and Banor. Together we have made it happen."
A final curtain call awaits before 2025 arrives
With the Nations League, World Championships and overall season standings settled, ClubSwan Racing has a final curtain call to conclude its season with the new ClubSwan 28 class — who made their competitive debut at the Rolex Swan Cup — gathering for the Swan Sardinia Challenge - ClubSwan 28 in Villasimius.
Racing between October 30 and November 2 in the spectacular waters of southeast Sardinia, and with the warm welcome of Marina di Villasimius, the competitive fleet will feature entries representing France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and the USA.
The Regione Sardegna, with the support of Lega Navale Italiana Villasimius, Yacht Club Villasimius and Marina di Villasimius will provide a warm end-of-season welcome.