Perfect Mistral winds have transformed the Range Rover Sardinia Cup into the kind of racing that reminds you why Porto Cervo remains a pilgrimage site for serious sailors. Day five produced the sort of conditions—locals call it champagne sailing—that turn a regatta into something memorable, with 18 to 24 knots pushing across glassy water under relentless sunshine.
The left-hand side of the course, tucked closer to the Sardinian coastline, proved the place to be on the windward legs. Jolt 3 figured that out early, sweeping both SC1 races with the kind of starts that separate good sailing from great sailing. Their consistency leaves them well-placed heading into tomorrow’s final coastal race, though the real battle continues between Ino Veritas and Django WR in the overall standings.
SC2 told a different story altogether. Niklas Zennström’s Ran has been so dominant that they’ve had the luxury of discarding a first-place finish as their worst result. Adrian Stead calling tactics on the foredeck suggests nothing accidental about that superiority. Per Roman’s Garm sits second, with Django JP just a point behind, setting up potential drama for the final day.
What matters most, though, is the team competition. The Royal Ocean Racing Club holds a slender two-point advantage over Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in the team standings, with RORC Gold sitting third. A single coastal race tomorrow will decide everything. Forecasters are calling for significantly lighter winds, which means the Race Committee will be watching conditions carefully. The warning signal goes at noon.
Crews experienced none of yesterday’s manoeuvring headaches. The stable breeze and flatter sea conditions meant mark roundings stayed tight, with the fleet bunched together through most of both races. That’s when you see the real racing, when there’s nowhere to hide and every tactical decision gets exposed immediately. Spectators lining the waterfront got exactly what they came for: clean air battles and planing runs that had competitors grinding hard through the turns.
James Neville’s Ino Veritas, with Dean Barker calling tactics, still leads the SC1 provisional standings ahead of Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django WR. Roberto Lacorte’s RocketNikka rounds out the top three. Tomorrow will sort out whether that order holds or whether the accumulated pressure from competitors finally cracks one of the leaders.
The prize-giving ceremony follows racing, held in Piazza Azzurra. After five days of racing in conditions ranging from light to challenging, one team will take home the Range Rover Sardinia Cup. One final coastal race stands between them and their names on the trophy.
