Rolex Swan Cup: Hendrik Brandis wins fourth world championship title

The whole week was characterised by a German neck-and-neck race: the "Earlybird" and Christian Plump's "Elena Nova" were tied. In the end, it was "tactics, a bit of luck and the fact that we won every start", said the happy skipper of the "Earlybird", who was completely drenched in champagne. Hendrik Brandis had only just stepped in for his co-owner Christian Nagel, but knows the Costa Smeralda inside out.

With light to medium winds prevailing, it remained exciting in almost all classes until the very end. It was even closer than in the German classes, however, only in the Maxis: Tom Brewer's "Nikata" relegated "Berenice Bis" to second place with a difference of just half a point.

The Swan 36 "Finola", built in 1968, was the oldest and smallest boat to win the Classics. "The old girl," says owner Chris Frost, "is a great sailing boat. Olin Stephens said she was the best Swan he ever drew; she's like a dolphin".

The only female skipper in this race was the Romanian Natalia Braioliu with her Swan 42 OD "Natalia". She quickly took the lead and ultimately won the race with her crew, which has been perfectly coordinated for four years.

In the Swan 60, "Whope" skippered by Roberto Lauro prevailed over the French "Arobas" skippered by Gerard Logel. The Swan Grand Prix was won by Japanese skipper Kazuhiko Sufuko with an international crew in favour of the "Yasha".

As usual, the awards ceremony took place at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, where the six winners each received the coveted watches and their trophies.