News

Swan 60 Bronenosec has won the Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit for a second consecutive year. Vladimir Liubomirov’s team is relishing a clean sweep for 2014 having won all three events in the circuit series, sitting on top with a clear 6 points in their favour.  The team representing Saint Petersburg Yacht Club, Russia won the Nord Stream Race, 2014 Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship held in conjunction with Copa del Rey MAPFRE and were the top Swan 60 at the Rolex Swan Cup.

The double Gazprom Swan 60 World Champion, Vladimir Liubomirov also Gazprom Swan 60 Class President, is celebrating after taking victory in the action packed circuit. 

“Starting the Gazprom Swan 60 circuit on home waters in Saint Petersburg, Russia was a fantastic way to kick off 2014 and with two new top Russian sailors on the team we had some welcomed fresh enthusiasm.  Our hat trick at the Nord Stream Race finishing first into Germany really jump started the team’s zest for glory again.  The second edition of our Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship produced some of my best ever racing experiences; the tight one-design fleet surprised us yet again on the quality of competition.  Our biggest concern was during the final event, the Rolex Swan Cup, when we experienced a series of breakages all in one race.  The team worked cohesively to keep us in first position into the finish without a main sail!”

Spirit of Europe has also excelled in consistency throughout the 2014 circuit taking a highly coveted second at the World Championship this year which puts her in second place overall.  Tim Kröger, Spirit of Europe, reflected on his excellent second overall for 2014. “The circuit has been an interesting scenario for my team this year as I have raced with a range of crews at the different events which has not hindered our results.  The Swan 60 is such a high performing one-design to sail when she is set up in optimum race mode and tuned properly, that it is possible to race with different crews across the series and deliver competitive results.  It has been a positive angle to our racing introducing new skilled sailors to the Gazprom Swan 60 scene for 2014."

Renowned yacht racing names involved with the Gazprom Swan 60 circuit continues to grow since the conception of the class in 2012.  USA’S Olympic gold medallist Carl Buchanan and pro sailor Jack Slattery were new comers to the fleet this year.  New Russian racers for Bronenosec included pro Anton Sergeev from the 470 and 49er dinghy classes with experience in the Russian national match racing team.

The youth contingent is expanding with the Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge already taking line honours during World Championship racing.  Youth racer, Nicolay Kovalenko who has experience in the TP52, Melges 24 and RC44 fleets, also graduated to race with Bronenosec for the first time this year.  The German Offshore Challenge, racing with current Star Class World Champion Robert Stanjek, is also offering opportunities for young sailors to develop yacht racing skills in the company of seriously talented racers.

Circuit champion, Vladimir Liubomirov, is pleased with the new entries to the fleet each year and the impact this has upon the class.  “The addition of Mr Fan from China racing his new Swan 60 Windward really shook up the scoreboard at the first two events.  USA’s Petite Flamme also had a big impact in the final results at the Rolex Swan Cup.  We are all now looking ahead to the 2015 Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit."

2014 Gazprom Swan 60 Circuit Results