Thursday, August 29, 2013

Perini Navi Cup 2013: Day 1 Update


The magnificent fleet of Perini Navi yachts took to the waters off Porto Cervo today for the first day of racing of the Perini Navi Cup 2013. The fifth edition of the event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, is open to yachts designed and built by the renowned Italian shipyard and will run through to Saturday 31st August. The first race of the event was dominated on the water by the performance cruising sloop P2 which crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead while the 50m (164ft) Silencio went on to claim victory in corrected time.

Light winds of around 8kts kept the fleet moving along a coastal course of approximately 13 miles that saw them cross the starting line off Porto Cervo with a course set for the Secca Tre Monti rock. After rounding the rock the sailing superyachts headed upwind to round the Secca delle Bisce before racing to the finish off the Gulf of Pevero.

P2, a 38m (124ft) sloop stormed around the course well ahead of the other competitors. Captain Jonathan Kline was pleased with the P2’s performance and commented: "This is our first Perini Navi Cup with P2 and we found the conditions we expected, light winds but excellent for P2. We knew we would be able to pass most of the fleet in the first leg but then we would have to extend significantly to maintain the lead. I don’t know yet how we did, we finished quite far ahead of most of the boats but I don’t know if it was enough to take first place."


America’s Cup sailor Dawn Riley was pleased with the teamwork aboard Silencio, "We won today, well done to all! I am the tactician on board and the entire crew did really well today, they were perfect. This is my third Perini Navi Cup and you have to know how to sail these boats, everything is so big. The owner said he wanted to get just one podium finish so I guess we did that! I just hope we can keep it up now."

Third place went to the 52m (170ft) Tamsen, racing in the event with a crew of almost 60 friends and family members.

Lets see what surprises racing brings tomorrow when the yacht line for a start at 11am with light to moderate easterly winds.


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