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The fifth and final day of racing saw the crews struggling with light northeast winds to complete a course of around eight nautical miles just off of Porto Cervo, which then had to be cancelled due to the Swan 45s not completing the course within the allotted time (120 minutes).

With the Sailing Instructions specifying that a starting sequence could not begin after 1500, the Race Committee waited for conditions to improve, and when they did not the fleet returned to port leaving yesterday's results decisive for the Sardinia Rolex Cup 2006 and the title of ISAF Offshore World Champion. Team Sardegna (Stuart ROBINSON's TP52 Santa Ana, Stefano POLTI'S Swan 45 Mintaka and Vincenzo ONORATO'S Farr 40 Mascalzone Latino), which had been leading in the team standings since day two, takes victory with 66 points.

Germany (Michael ILLBRUCK'S Tp52 Pinta, Wolfgang STOLZ' Swan 45 Opus One and Wolfgang SCHAEFER's Farr 40 Struntje Light) takes second with 81 points. Monaco (Riccardo SIMONESCHI's TP52 Anonimo, Vittorio CODECASA's Swan 45 Jeroboam Ca'nova and Alessandro BARNABA's Farr 40 Joe Fly) takes third place on 88 points, just one point ahead of Italy (Alessandra PIRERA's Orlanda, Lorenzo BORTOLOTTI's Swantastic and Alessandro BARNABA's Fiamma).

Although the Sardinia Rolex Cup has been organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 1978, 2006 is the first time a Sardinian team has competed. Team Sardegna included a number of top international sailors including Adrian STEAD (Volvo Ocean Racer and America's Cup sailor) calling tactics, and Lisa MCDONALD ('Round the World racer) in the pit, both on Stuart ROBINSON's TP52; and America's Cup winner Russell COUTTS joined Vincenzo ONORATO on his Farr 40.

YCCS Commodore Gianfranco ALBERINI was pleased with how the event had gone: 'Although we are a little disappointed the famous Sardinian Mistral didn't materialize during the event the conditions and courses allowed for great technical sailing. The teams were of an extremely high level and both they and the spectators really enjoyed the sailing. We are already looking forward to the 2008 edition.'

The winning team were awarded the Sardinia Rolex Cup Challenge Trophy at the prizegiving which took place in Piazza Azzurra.

For all the news on the ISAF Offshore Team World Championship CLICK HERE.