Yesterday may have been a lay day for the Cruising division, but today the whole fleet taking part in the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta had a day of rest. Day Four dawned with the wind having finally switched to the south, but at a strength that was surprising to many. The race committee hoisted a postponement at the dock while spotter boats monitored conditions at the harbour entrance.
By lunchtime, the breeze was blowing 30 knots plus at the entrance to Porto Cervo, and the race committee made the difficult call to abandon racing. ‘All five of the forecasts that we consult were out today and we saw much more wind than predicted,’ explained Peter Craig, Principle Race Officer. ‘Even in the straits to the north there were 30 knots, which is very unusual in these parts when a southerly is blowing. Instead of fading, the Scirocco gradually increased as the day went on so, despite our best intentions to get another coastal in today, our decision to abandon racing was an easy one to make.’ The forecast for tomorrow, the final day of racing, looks more promising and as a result the start times have been brought forward in order for there to be time to get a proper race in before the evening’s prize-giving ceremony.
Heading into the final day, Highland Fling’s lead – with three bullets – in the performance division is unassailable. In the Cruising division, currently headed by the 29m Jongert Scorpione Dei Mari, there is still all to play for with the top seven yachts separated by just four points. It should make for a thrilling end to a memorable regatta.