The Nations League, an international high-level circuit reserved for Swan One Design yachts, is preparing for the first edition of the Swan Bonifacio Challenge, scheduled in Corsica from May 28th to June 1st.
SWAN BONIFACIO CHALLENGE: THE NATIONS LEAGUE LANDS IN CORSICA
The event, featuring 20 yachts between ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 36, marks a significant moment for the region and for ClubSwan Racing, and for being the first event of the season for the prestigious ClubSwan 50 class.
21 countries are represented at the Swan Bonifacio Challenge, many of them European, but also including Australia and New Zealand. There are eight nationalities of owners in the fleet for this second event of 2024 (Austria, Egypt, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Monaco, The Netherlands), bringing the Nations League to an undisputed international level where the spirit of friendship and fair play is right there to see at every event.
“The city of Bonifacio, with the support of The Collectivité de Corse is Proud to host this event co organized by the Yacht Club of Bonifacio” comments Michel Mallaroni, Director of Bonifacio Marina and President of the Yacht Club Bonifacio. "It is a great honor to welcome such a high-level fleet to our natural harbor, composed of outstanding owners and a veritable parterre-de-rois in terms of sailors and sailing enthusiasts. It is a dream we cannot wait to see come true."
Exciting Racing
For the ClubSwan 36 class, this is the second event of the circuit. The Monegasque Gspot, winner of the first event in Scarlino, is closely followed by the Hungarian Black Battalion, which has shown to be in good form early in the season. The competition will be tight and full of excitement. It will also be the second race for the young sailors of the ClubSwan Academy: aboard two ClubSwan 36s will be the young Dutch sailors of DutchSail, representing the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club with a crew all under 26 years old. This is also the second experience for the group of young sailors from the Yacht Club Italiano, coming from the Olympic classes, representing the oldest yacht club in Italy. The project is supported by Nautor Swan and ClubSwan Racing to expand the participation of young sailors in competitive circuits like The Nations League - Swan One Design.
"We are proud to be part of the ClubSwan Racing Academy,” said Gian Maria Celle, Sailing School Director at YCI. “Even more so because the project was born with us for this season. The first event was exceptional, and we learned a lot. We can’t wait to see what this second event has in store."
For the CS50 class, the Swan Bonifacio Challenge is the first event of the circuit. During the warm-up held in Scarlino, the two British-flagged yachts, Perhonen and Django, demonstrated their value, promising an open and unpredictable competition. "Racing in the Bonifacio Straits is always an incredible experience,” commented Vasco Vascotto, tactician of Django. “The combination of winds and currents makes every race unique and challenging. We started quite well in the warm-up; the level seems to have risen compared to last year, but we are ready to do even better in the next event". Django’s owner, Giovanni Stronati, will race this time for Yacht Club Bonifacio, to honor the host of this event.
Enchanting Venue
Bonifacio, with its breathtaking scenery and warm hospitality, is the perfect setting for this high-level event. The program includes four days of windward/leeward races, characterized by high competition mixed with the usual gentlemen’s spirit, that is within the Nations League regattas.
Giovanni Pomati, Nautor Group CEO, stated: "It is always nice to discover new locations, and we are sure that Bonifacio will not disappoint our owners, who are accustomed to uniquely beautiful venues with splendid racing conditions from previous editions. After all, those who choose to participate in the Nations League appreciate the elegance, reliability and performance, qualities proper of Swan DNA”.
At ClubSwan Racing events, great emphasis is always placed on the social aspect. The usual daily awards, which reward the best boat of the day, will be offered by Henri Lloyd, B&G and the city of Bonifacio, Garmin, and Quantum Sails. But the grand soirée is scheduled for the evening before the start of the races; on Tuesday, May 28, the Swan Bonifacio Challenge Opening Ceremony will officially open the event, followed by a dinner at the Bastion de l’Etendard, on the ancient city walls.
The Swan Bonifacio Challenge begins tomorrow and promises to be unforgettable, with ClubSwan Racing exploring Corsica to celebrate sailing excellence and the beauty of Bonifacio. All of this is made possible thanks to the support of our main partners Rolex, Randstad, Porsche Italia and Banor, who will contribute to the success of the circuit.
Text by: ClubSwan Racing Communications; pics by: ClubSwan Racing Communications and Studio Borlenghi