Tuesday 9th, first race day

Twenty-one nations started the regatta at the 2014 Rolex Swan Cup: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Malta, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the USA.so it is a time to meet up with old friends and get to know many new ones.

Leonardo Ferragamo, Chairman of Nautor's Swan, never misses the Rolex Swan Cup: "This event truly embodies the spirit of Swan and it is the perfect showcase of what this iconic brand stands for – excellence, passion, prestige. The Rolex Swan Cup is the top event for us and the benchmark for all other Swan regattas worldwide. Nautor's Swan offers a vast racing programme, and it is the brand that boasts the highest number of events dedicated to its owners. In Porto Cervo we are expecting a fantastic fleet of Swans, a great gathering of owners from the ClubSwan family, and of course a notable line-up of top level sailors, from seasoned America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veterans to young upcoming talents."

Most of the Swan owners who compete in the Rolex Swan Cup are already planning their winter season, which this year will include the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Virgin Gorda (BVI). Combining perfect sailing conditions with a full social programme, the second edition of this event will take place from 3-7 March 2015.So get in touch!

Friends and enemies !  Valerio and Nicola at one of the crew parties

Kit on and ready 

Ready for the Rolex Swan Cup

Beautiful day ,getting ready to go out and do some training.

Rolex Swan Cup - tough life

A perfect place to start.........relaxation before the regatta

The crews quarters

View to the port from the terrace

The pool

For an idea of the week's weather forecast you can check . The winds look light so some skilful navigation to going to be essential.

Looking forward to the seeing all the team who will arrive between today and tomorrow.

Lots of wind this week

Luckily the sun has been shining but it has gusted up to 35 knots which has been a challenge -especially when eating spaghetti outside..... it seems to empty the wines glasses faster too!

enjoy a few photos -favourite spot so far for our intrepid friends -Isola Piana -well duh!

Of course when it was really blustery there wasn't an iphone in sight -so nothing to show for our trouble -except a pit stop in Portisco to get help from the sail repair shop!!

Preparing the table for supper at Porto Taverna

The view overlooking Isola Tavolara 

Lavezzi

Isola Piana/Lavezzi  Magic

Driving into Bonifacio , Corsica.....and turning round smartish -not a welcoming place.

A drink in Porto Vecchio, Corsica

Bright lights ...... small city! P.Vecchio

PLeaving Portisco

Be in the know in Golfo degli Aranci, Sardegna

So let's start with the place to eat! The restaurant, which serves wonderful fish overlooks  the bay. They are part of the growing Slow Food movement, serve and promote 4 special ingredients: mozzarella, saffron, lemons and fresh anchovies. So find the time to visit the drunken oyster a.k.a L'Ostrica Ubriaca . Ask for Francesco. He is really helpful.... I even managed to rent a car through him too!

L'Ostrica Ubriaca Restaurant   Via Libertà, 10

Beside that do visit the following places if you need to stock up on food before sailing further up the coast. The butcher has been on this site for generations , the fishmongers, La Perla,  and small supermarket which have good quality local produce so you are really helping out the community if you spend your money there. In the same street there is a cash machine outside the bank and a chemist.

If you tie up with your dingy in the NW smallest port Via dei Caduti and Via Libertà are just 1 +2 streets behind the sea front [to the right of the yellow dot on the map below]. We found everyone to be really friendly so will certainly be coming back.

The Macelleria Via Libertà 71

The mini supermarket

Pescheria La Perla,  Via Dei Caduti 61 - tel: 0789 46240

This little town is about a 15min. drive to Olbia [ 25mins to the airport] so a good place to anchor and wait for guests to arrive. The beaches and the clear water  are exceptional. Try and sail round to the Golfo di Marinella N.W of here if you have time, or walk up to the summit of Capo Figari for a great view of the Sardinian coastline.