YV&C International Yacht Vacations & Charters Magazine reports:

Racing started for the Swan 45 Gold Cup at Acura Key West (14-20 January), and for the first time ever the 16 entrants from four countries will battle it out for the title of World Champion.

The contest is set to be a huge success following on from the first Gold Cup, which was held in October 2004 in Capri, Italy. The current Swan 45 champion, Stefano Polti’s Mintaka will fight to retain the coveted Gold Cup, amongst a highly competitive fleet in Key West.

A host of well known sailors, amateurs and legends including Francesco Bruni, Chris Law and GBR America’s Cup sailor Andy Beadsworth will all be racing on board the Swan 45s for the nine race series. America’s Cup veteran Tony Rey will be calling tactics onboard Yasha (Japan) and Gabriele Benussi, who came second in the recent Corum Melges 24 World Championships in Key West in December 2005, will be using his extensive knowledge of the area’s azure waters to Jeroboam’s advantage. Two Swan 601's, the Swan 45's one design 'big sister', will also be on the water, competing in the IRC handicap racing class.

Stefano Polti commented on his forthcoming challenge: "Of course I hope to win again, but it will not be an easy task this time round. We will have to fight off some very tough competition and the waters off Key West are not as familiar to me as those around Capri, as it’s my first ever regatta here. I’m looking forward to racing against such a strong international fleet for the world champion title, and of course to some socialising with the rest of the Swan 45s, too."

Shoreside, there are numerous social events planned within Acura Key West, and a Swan 45 Gold Cup Crew Party at Ernest Hemmingway’s House on Thursday evening. The event will no doubt be a particularly special occasion, as the Swan 45 crews will be invited to celebrate not only their racing achievements, but a momentous occasion in the history of Swans - their 40th anniversary.

Throughout its history, Nautor's Swan has consistently challenged and innovated – the one-design Swan 45’s popularity is ever increasing and the success of the Class continues to grow worldwide. The Swan 45 Gold Cup is a perfect occasion to celebrate the anniversary of this prestigious marque and anticipation is building for the contest, which will include plenty of competitive action on the water.

Confirmed entries for the Swan 45 Gold Cup are as follows:

ATLANTICA RACING – Carlo PERRONE, Italy
BANDIT – Andrew FISHER, USA
BELLICOSA – Massimo FERRAGAMO, USA
BETTER THAN – Andrzej ROJEK, USA
CUOR DI LEONE – Leonardo FERRAGAMO, Italy
DEVOCEAN – Stephen DeVOE, USA
DSK COMIFIN – Danilo SALSI, Italy
FEVER – G.GORDON / K.DIEDERICHS, Great Britain
GOOMBAY SMASH – Willam DOUGLAS, USA
JEROBOAM CANOVA – Vittorio CODESCASA, Italy
MINTAKA – Stefano POLTI, Italy
MURKA 2 – Mikhail MOURATOV, Great Britain
PLENTY – Alexander ROEPERS, USA
VIM – Craig SPECK, USA
VIXEN – Dick Weismann, USA
YASHA – Yukihiro ISHIDA, Japan