International 5.5 Metre Class - Scandinavian Gold Cup

Porto Cervo, 22 September 2023. The second day of competition at the Scandinavian Gold Cup - an event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International 5.5 Metre Class - saw only one race completed due to the weather conditions. British team Jean Genie was the winner of the day, securing their place in the remainder of the competition alongside yesterday’s winner, New Moon III.

Racing started on schedule today at 12 noon on a course positioned just off the entrance to the port of Porto Cervo, with the windward marks sitting at the Passo delle Bisce.  

The fleet of nine participating boats started in a 12-knot westerly wind that gradually diminished to such an extent that the Race Committee was forced to cancel the race with one leg remaining. The leader at that point had been British team Girls on Film, with Louise Morton at the helm. 

Andrew Mills, on board Girls on Film: "In the first race we started really well, we had good speed which allowed us to round the first windward mark with a comfortable lead. Unfortunately, towards the end of the last leg, the wind dropped and the Race Committee rightly decided to cancel the race. We are very happy with our performance, however, even though we had several difficulties in the second race, it was definitely a learning opportunity."

The teams then waited on the water for around two hours until, as predicted, the Mistral wind filled in, blowing at approximately 16 to 18 knots. Competition got underway again at around 2.45 p.m., in conditions that were very different from the earlier light breeze. 

The team on Jean Genie, who had been right on the heels of the Girls on Film crew in the first race of the day, excelled in the second race, leading from start to finish. Helmsman Peter Morton, alongside Ruairidh Scott and Olympic sailor Andrew Palfrey, left little room for manoeuvre to Aspire, skippered by double Olympic medallist Mateusz Kusznierewicz, who chased the British team throughout the race. Third across the line was the New Moon III team (BAH 25, with Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger and Peter Vlasov). 

Peter Morton helmsman of Jean Genie: "At the start of the first race, which was then cancelled, we had the feeling that the crews on the left might have had the better side, but we managed to round the windward mark in second place. Unfortunately the wind dropped dramatically and so the race was cancelled. The Scandinavian Gold Cup format doesn't allow you to shorten the course, so we are somewhat restricted in that sense. The second race was the one with ideal conditions for us. The forecasts were correct, the Mistral wind arrived, reaching 16-18 knots, with almost perfect sailing conditions."

Only the winners of the first three races will continue in the competition to attempt to claim the prestigious Scandinavian Gold Cup. At the moment the winning teams are New Moon III and Jean Genie, and the wait is on to crown the winner of the third race.

In the Hankø Evolution Cup, Joker (FRA 50, Adrien Polaillon, Eric Polaillon, Jean-Baptiste Polaillon) chalked up a second win, and in the Royal Kaag Classic Cup, Cibele (ITA 72, Fabrizio Cavazza, Vittorio Zaoli, Duccio Colombi) also remains in the lead.

The weather forecast for tomorrow, 23rd  September indicates a Mistral wind of 19 to 26 knots. The start of racing has therefore been brought forward by two hours, with the first starting signal now scheduled for 10 a.m.

Racing can be followed on the YCCS Instagram account. For further information, results, entry list, programme, news, photos, please visit the section dedicated to the event, or contact the Press Office.