2022 Argentario Sailing Week at Yacht Club Santo Stefano - Day 1
by Tessa Wiechmann 16 Jun 2022 18:23 UTC
15-19 June 2022
Dreamlike conditions for the first day of racing in Tuscany at the 21st edition of Argentario Sailing Week, the not-to-be-missed international classic yacht regatta organized by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano and by the Municipality of Monte Argentario.
Under sunny skies, a 10-15 knot westerly breeze and white-capped crystal blue seas, the Vintage Gaff class cut the start line first just after 12, followed by the Vintage Marconi fleet and third of the mark the Classic and Spirit of Tradition Yachts.
The 30 Grandes Dames from eight nations set their bows towards Porto Santo Stefano, sailing their course along the award-winning Giannella Beach to the Ancient Roman harbor of Talamone, then returning - spinnakers - flying towards the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, finally cutting the finish line in front of the Spanish Fortress built in the 18th Century overlooking the Argentario Bay.
Day 1 winners - In the Classics: Crivizza (Cattai - Rolandi), followed by Il Moro di Venezia I (Massimiliano Ferruzzi) and Ojala II (Susan Carol Holland). In the Vintage Gaff class, Marga is first (Marga Yac -hting Partners), followed by Scud (Patrizio Bertelli) and Chinook (Paolo Zannoni). Stormy Weather of Cowes (Christopher Spray) is first in Vintage Marconi, followed by Varuna of 1937 (Jens Kellinghusen) and Comet (Woodward - Fisher). In Spirit of Tradition, Midva (Davide Besana) is first, then Toi et Moi (Alessandro Maria Rinaldi) and Hanni II (Bjor Heldund) in third position.
Line honors for Chinook, the 1916 Gaff designed by Nathaniel Herreshoff, owner Paolo Zannoni, closely followed by debutante at Argentario Sailing Week Sumurun (William Fife William III-1914) owner Alain Moatti.
Back on the dock, Chinook's Captain Jonathan Greenwood - an "old hand" at Argentario Sailing Week, spoke of the importance of the regatta for the sailing community.
"The organization here has always worked so hard at putting Argentario Sailing Week together, that we owe it to them to bring as many participants as possible to this and future events. In December 2019, Sandra Ugolini and I decided to create the Vintage & Classic Yacht Club with the goal of developing a prestigious and competitive championship for vintage and classic yachts in the Mediterranean and to entice new yachts and sponsors to join the party. Argyll, Barbara, Chips, Comet, Hallowe'en, Manitou, Marga, Ojala II, Olympian, Recluta, Rowdy, Scud, Skylark, Stormy Weather, Varuna, Voscià - and of course Chinook - have already joined and will be racing in the Mediterranean Champions Cup, of which Argentario Sailing Week is one of the five stunning venues."
Among this year's debutantes, head-turning Sumurun, designed by William Fife William III and named after an exotic harem girl in a London popular opera at the beginning of the 1900s. When Sir John Murray Scott, one of the richest men in Europe, left flamboyant Baroness Victoria Josefa Dolores Catalina Sackville-West a sizable fortune, Scott's family accused her of performing hypnosis and other black arts. Upon winning the trial, Lady Victoria decided to invest part of the inheritance in the construction of the Sumurun, a gift for her husband Baron Lionel Sackville in 1914.
Elodie Mettraus, race team manager, spoke about Sumurun's first race at Argentario Sailing Week: "Alain Moatti, the yacht's owner, absolutely loves Argentario and Italy. When we showed him the classic yacht circuit, Mr. Maoatti immediately chose to take part in this regatta first off, both because of the great racing venue and of the location. It's great to be in Tuscany: we love the racing conditions with flat water and a steady thermal breeze, the warm hospitality and, of course, the food. On board we have Italian crew, in fact both our bow and mid bow are Italian girls!"
Yesterday evening, crew-members attended the welcome cocktail at the YCSS clubhouse overlooking the Gulf, enjoying local delicacies and toasting to the much loved event in Porto Santo Stefano. On Thursday morning, before the Skippers' briefing the Mayor of Monte Argentario, Franco Borghini, officially welcomed participants, assuring that the even future administrations will continue to support the event, also financially.
As always, the Grandes Dames of the Sea are moored in Pilarella, the ancient port of Porto S. Stefano, where tourists and enthusiasts can admire the yachts up close from the pier promenade.
More information at argentariosailingweek.it