Milanto's skipper collects the cup at the Swan Club awards dinner March 6th 2014

What a wonderful setting to Thursday's event : the ClubSwan Awards Dinner together with Saint Petersburg Yacht Club,was  hosted at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.

The Trans-Atlantic Winners -Skipper Valerio Bardi and most of the crew.

The Trans-Atlantic Winners -Skipper Valerio Bardi and most of the crew.

the National Maritime Museum

the National Maritime Museum

View from the museum over the water to Amsterdam

View from the museum over the water to Amsterdam

The winners of the various categories were invited to collect their cups, and this included Milanto for the Trans-Atlantic following the ARC.

Northern Baltic Cup, the Swan 60s, The trans-Atlantic, best maintained classic swan

Northern Baltic Cup, the Swan 60s, The trans-Atlantic, best maintained classic swan

Lucca Lucheschi giving the cup to Valerio

Lucca Lucheschi giving the cup to Valerio

Good to meet up with old friends, especially for this!

Magical courtyard

Magical courtyard

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Many of the owners from Europe and Russia came to the event and had a fantastic evening hosted by Enrico Cieffi, CEO of Oy Nautor Ab and Vladimir Lubomirov, Commodore of St.Petersberg YC and Gazprom Swan 60 President.

The entertainment was superb as these photos show:

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The impressive cup was donated by Asprey, London  and is now inscribed with Milanto, the second 46' to have won the Trans-Atlantic category. It has to be returned this September so Valerio's ambition to be the first to win the award twice!

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Many thanks to everyone at Nautor Swan for the delightful evening and to my friends John, John, Nick, Karl and Gianni - all played an essential part in wining!

Thanks to NautorSwan Facebook for the photos