The Swan Sardinia Challenge delivered spectacular conditions and close racing for the owners and crews competing in the second instalment of the season-long The Nations League 2023.

Teams in the ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 42 and ClubSwan 36 one-design classes gathered in Villasimius on Sardinia's dramatic southeast coast, with the ClubSwan Racing family hosted by the Marinedi Group's Marina di Villasimius together with Lega Navale Italia Sez. di Villasimius and new Yacht Club Marina di Villasimius.

Strong winds ruled out safe fleet racing on the opening day of the regatta — though many took advantage of the conditions to go kite-surfing and wing-foiling — with light breezes the following day limiting the fleet to a single if challenging race on the pristine waters of the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area.

However, fresh winds returned on day three to provide downwind racing conditions described as "epic" by Finnish Olympic sailor Mikaela Wulff racing on the CS50 Stella Maris, with some of the fleet hitting a spectacular 20-plus knots of boatspeed.

At the same time the racing remained close and competitive, with the 13-strong CS50 class producing a different winner in each of the four races sailed during the regatta. August Schram's consistently well sailed Stella Maris (AUT) took victory clear ahead of Andrea Bianchedi's Drifter Sail (ITA) and Andrea Lacorte's Vitamina (ITA).

"The team is very, very happy, everyone did such a great job," said Wulff.

It was a memorable regatta also for another in the class, with Giovanni Lombardi's Django (GBR) taking her first ever ClubSwan 50 race win, while Marcus Brennecke's Hatari (GER) won the final race.

The ClubSwan 36 class was equally hard fought, with the top three yachts separated by just a single point. Richard Thompson's Black Seal (GGY) edged the fierce but friendly contest ahead of Edoardo and Vanni Pavesio's Fra Martina (ITA) and Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-Spot (MON), who were only separated on countback.

"It was very exciting, very shifty with lots of changes of position, a great deal of fun," said Thompson, adding: "Honours across the races were pretty even with different winners."