Another successful Swan sailing season is in the books
by North Sails 1 Nov 2021 07:08 PDT
Swan One Design Worlds © Nautor’s Swan / Studio Borlenghi
The 2021 Swan One Design Racing season concluded in a sprint to the end of the season. The Swan One Design Nations Trophy in Palma de Mallorca was quickly followed by the Swan One Design World Championships in St. Tropez, which capped off this year's success for Swan owners.
Throughout the season, North was onboard and alongside to support the class and our clients. Executive Vice President and Grand Prix Expert Paul Westlake and Luna Rossa sail designer Marco Capitani were on the water lending their eyes and expertise for the ClubSwan 50 and 36 classes. Beyond, North Certified Service was offered to all participants to ensure their sails were race-ready for each day of racing.
"All of us at North Sails strive to deliver a high-performance sail package, and equally important, individual support for our owners and their teams," remarks Westlake. "We are in constant contact with the trimmers and owners of the North teams. It's rewarding to see that our work pays off and helps deliver race-winning results when it matters."
Case in point - North Sails held a commanding presence across all four classes at 2021 Worlds, with 35 of the 42 teams choosing to carry a North inventory. North Sails was onboard nine of the top ten ClubSwan50s. Each of the ClubSwan 36's, including the current World Champions, included North in their inventories. And in the ClubSwan 45 and 42 classes- full podium sweeps.
"Results like we saw in the 2021 season, are as inspiring as they are humbling," explains Westlake. "All of us at North Sails trust our products are at the top of the game, but to see that proved on the racecourse gives us the confidence to keep pushing our ideas forward. Even the smallest optimizations make a noticeable difference, especially in one-size-fits-all classes, where things are very close at the top."
North Sails One-Design expert and newly crowned ClubSwan 50 Vice World Champion Arnd Howar shares this observation. "The level in the ClubSwan 50 class has never been as high as it was at the 2021 World Championship; there is virtually no room for error at the top," Howar explains.
The Germany-based Howar has been successfully sailing in various One Design classes for years and is one of the most experienced trimmers in the Big Boat scene. In the ClubSwan 50 class, Howar sails as part of the regular crew onboard Earlybird.
The North expert sees a major influence on the overall performance of the ClubSwan 50 with the further development of the 3Di sails. "With an improved tape layout and other smart solutions, the sails are lighter and more powerful. The difference between a 2018 and a 2020 sail is noticeable."
What's next for ClubSwan sail development? North Helix, which was featured successfully in upwind sails used at the Swan One Design Worlds. Helix is a rapidly developing design concept that is quickly becoming a necessity. In contrast to conventional sails, the so-called camber, i.e. the profile depth in the sail, can be precisely adjusted using the luff tension on the neck and head. Helix delivers the sails to a wider range of uses.
As the 2021 Swan One Design season wraps, Howar reflects on what makes the circuit, and the Club Swan 50 in particular so special:
"It's really very pleasant to be around in the class. No matter how hard you fight on the water - back on land the atmosphere is good and the togetherness is friendly. The class is characterized by respectful interaction and sportsmanship in the best sense of the word, so it's really fun."
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