The Swan Bonifacio Challenge concludes in style
by ClubSwan Racing 10 May 2025 11:31 PDT
6-10 May 2025
After four days of spirited competition and a vibrant week both on and off the water, the curtain closes on the Swan Bonifacio Challenge, the inaugural event of the 2025 Nations League by ClubSwan Racing.
Hosted for the second consecutive year in the striking port of Bonifacio, the regatta confirmed its position as one of the most spectacular and competitive events in the global one-design calendar.
A total of 31 yachts from 27 nations competed across four ClubSwan classes - ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 42, ClubSwan 36, and the newly launched ClubSwan 28. The regatta also marked a significant milestone in the Nations League's evolution, with two racecourses operating in parallel for the first time, a testament to the growth and international reach of the Swan one-design community.
Across a week of changing conditions, all fleets completed eight races. Great excitement in the ClubSwan 28s for the opening act of the season: the smallest boat ever built by Nautor Swan demonstrated a huge "fun potential" bringing her owner, often switching from a bigger boat, close the water.
Racing concluded with tight competition across all four one-design fleets. In the ClubSwan 50 class, it was an all-German podium led by Hatari (Markus Brennecke), who claimed victory with two wins and three second-place finishes. Earlybird (Hendrik Brandis) took second, followed by Olymp (Mark Bezner) in third. In the ClubSwan 42 fleet, Spain's Pez de Abril (José Maria Meseguer) dominated with four race wins, ahead of fellow Spaniard Nadir (Pedro Vaquer Comas) and Romania's Glen Ellen (Dominique Tian). The ClubSwan 36 division saw Goddess (Nikolai Burkart) take the top spot, followed by the Italian team Fra Martina (Edoardo Pavesio) and G Spot (Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio) from Monaco. In their debut Nations League appearance, the new ClubSwan 28s delivered exciting competition: Marcello (Philippe Ligot) claimed first place, followed by Grinta (Antonio Santella) and Play Bigger (Al Ramadan).
"The ClubSwan season has started in great style, with all the breeze and spectacle of the Bonifacio Strait, which never fails to provide a truly unique setting," said Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Swan. "A strong turnout confirms once again the passion our Swan owners have for sailing and for sharing memorable moments both on the water and ashore. Nautor Swan was the first shipyard to create an event dedicated to its owners with the Swan Cup, which was an instant success and remains a benchmark to this day. The ClubSwan events follow in those footsteps and are a natural complement. The ClubSwan 28, now at its third event, continues to prove itself as the fun, compact boat we had envisioned".
Bonifacio once again proved an exceptional host, with its dramatic limestone cliffs and historic charm providing a one-of-a-kind backdrop for world-class racing. The Yacht Club de Bonifacio, led by President Michel Mallaroni, delivered a flawless event with the full support of the city and its Mayor Jean Charles Orsucci.
The week was not just about racing. The Swan Bonifacio Challenge blended elite sport with signature hospitality—from the Opening Ceremony at the Bastion de l'Étendard to daily dockside gatherings, the exclusive Owners Dinner held atop the Centre Nautique, and the Crew Party at B52. Saturday's final prize-giving brought together the international Swan family to celebrate the event's champions and shared spirit of camaraderie.
Next stop: the Nations League 2025, made possible thanks to the valued support of Rolex, Henry Lloyd, and Banor, continues its journey across Europe, to the mecca of Mediterranean Yachting, in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, from June 17 to 21, where the momentum from Bonifacio will carry forward to the season's next chapter.