News

Seven teams from five nations and three continents have been confirmed for the 2014 Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship. This will be the second World Championship for the Gazprom Swan 60 Class after the inaugural event held last year. Having just completed 750 miles through the Baltic racing in the annual Nord Stream Race, the teams are now preparing for this summer’s event in Palma, Spain.

Running in conjunction with the 33 Copa del Rey MAPFRE from the 2–9 August, the Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship marks the Gazprom Swan 60 circuit’s second event of the year. Copa del Rey MAPFRE is the largest regatta in Spain organised by the Real Club Nautico de Palma offering 60 years’ experience in regatta organisation. The World Championship will follow a shorter course style including six days of racing with one day featuring a longer coastal course around the Bay.

This is an important regatta for defenders of the current Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship title, the Gazprom sponsored Russian team racing their Swan 60 Bronenosec. After winning all 3 legs of the Nord Stream Race the team from Saint Petersburg Yacht Club are looking to replicate their success again in the Mediterranean. Vladimir Liubomirov will again be skippering Swan 60 Bronenosec at the World Championship, “we are assessing our contenders for the 2014 title and paying close attention to Mr Fan’s Swan 60 Windward, this new entry to the circuit from China has serious potential to put together a strong series in Palma. I feel that consistency is key for 6 days of fleet racing, the legs are shorter than the first event of the season in Baltic and therefore decisions are going to be split second for the majority. We must also be aware that we will have fresh new entries to the Gazprom Swan 60 Class for this particular event that we have never measured our boat speed against. We therefore need to sail intelligently with our heads out of the boat to really gauge these newcomers”.

Team Russia currently sits on top of the Gazprom Swan 60 Class Circuit leader board and must adopt the same thorough approach during their World Championship to maintain a significant points difference overall. Mr Fan however, has had his first taste of podium success with a second in the Nord Stream Race and is campaigning for a top title in Palma, “as a team we always have one target, one objective. We feel that we have a very good team spirit and all work closely together”.

The 2014 Gazprom Swan 60 Class circuit winner will need to be a very well rounded team with skills to ensure their Swan 60 excels across all wind speeds with a team that can achieve ultimate potential in both offshore, coastal and inshore racing disciplines.

Visit the Regatta Copa Del Rey Mapfre race website for further information.