Swan American Race Week Day 1

SWAN AMERICAN RACE WEEK STARTS WITH CLOSE RACING IN IDEAL CONDITIONS

NEWPORT, RI, AUGUST 17, 1999--Close competition in ideal sailing conditions marked the opening day of Swan American Race Week off Newport yesterday. Fortytwo Swans put to sea to compete for Trident Funding trophies in two divisions.

Slate-grey skies cleared just before the starting gun sounded. As the breeze filled in and built to 20 to 24 knots, boats from 36 to 68 feet raced over two-mile windward-leeward courses on a bright, lively ocean. As the wind strengthened and the seas built, boats were surfing down the bigger waves.

"Just a perfect day," said Peter Reggio of Essex, CT, who was part of a small crew that campaigned the 68-foot cruiser Red Sky to 17th place overall in the big boat class. "You couldn't ask for better conditions. We had a whole lotta fun."

In the F Division for boats over 45 feet, Graham Smith of Seattle, Washington, sailed his Swan 48 Vellamo to a first and a second place to lead the division by just one point over local Newport sailor David Brodsky, campaigning his Swan 55, Odyssey. Brodsky won the first race of the day and was third in the second.

"This was wonderful racing," said Smith, who campaigned with the same crew with whom he won his class at Antigua Race Week this year. "The conditions were challenging and this fleet is very competitive. I was surprised at how aggressive everyone was on the start line this morning."

In G Division for boats under 45 feet, top honors went to a boat that was both local and new. Martin Jacobson of Jamestown, RI, skippered his Mark II Swan 44 Crescendo into first place with a fourth place and a first. Jacobson, who commissioned Crescendo in May, said today's race was only its fourth competition outing.

"Today was a great day," Jacobson said. "We're still learning how make her go fast but we had the benefit of good teamwork and that was enough to make the difference.

Crescendo tied for first with a sistership, Herbert Schwartz's Mark II Swan 44 Wenden from Riverside, CT, which finished third and second for five points. Crescendo's first place in the second race was enough to break the tie in her favor.

Sponsors for Swan American Race Week include, Asprey and Garrard, Ferrari, Ocean World, Trident Funding, Brewers Yacht Yards, and Sebago. For more about Race Week, check the web site at www.swanraceweek.com

Swan American Race Week 1999 - Results, Day 1, August 17, 1999

F Division (Boats over 45-feet):

 1. Vellamo, W. Graham Smith, Swan 48, Seattle, WA (2-1), 3;
 2. Odyssey, David Brodsky, Swan 55, Newport, RI (1-3), 4;
 3. Nefertiti, Bob Schwager, Swan 46, New York, NY (4-4), 8;
 4. Andiamo, Richard Rush, Swan 48, Shelter Isl, NY (10-2), 12;
 5. Neva, Robert C. Watson, Swan 56, New York, NY (6-7), 13.

G Division (boats under 45 feet):

 1. Crescendo, Martin D. Jacobson, Swan 44 Mk II, Jamestown, RI (4-1), 5;
 2. Wenden, Herbert Schwartz, Swan 44 Mk II, Riverside, CT (3-2) 5;
 3. Carpe Diem, Michael J. Fracchia, Swan 391, Miller Place, NY (1-5), 6;
 4. Alibi, Bill Breck, Swan 44 Mk I, Greenwich, CT (2-6), 8;
 5. The Ugly Duckling, Frederic Joyce, Swan S&S 44, Utica, NY (6-3) 9.