Not for the first time, the wind failed to play ball in Capri, so principal race officer Peter Reggio blew the final whistle on Rolex Capri Sailing Week 2009 just before the stipulated cut-off point, making overnight leaders instantly into overall winners!

In an Italian shoo-in, Vincenzo Onorato and his Mascalzone Latino (ITA) crew took the laurels in the Farr 40 class, an especially pleasing result since these are virtually his home waters, while Carlo Perrone and his Atlantica Racing (ITA) crew proved themselves again, winning the Swan 45 class here for second time.

Adding to the Italian assault, Alessandro Nespega and Fral 2 (ITA) put the lid on a disappointing event last year to take victory in the Comet 45 class. Massimo Russo and Athanor (ITA) were runaway winners in the Comet 41 class, and, Leonardo Ferragamo and Cuordileone (ITA) left Capri top of the class in Club Swan 42s.

A clean sweep for the Italians, but it could have been different. In all but the Comet classes, the competition has been truly international, something Massimo Massaccesi, President of the Yacht Club Capri, is quick to point out.

"This is the tenth anniversary of the founding of our club. To see such a well prepared, competitive and international fleet has been a real pleasure. This event is significant for Capri and is recognised as an important one in the Mediterranean calendar," Massaccesi said.

As for the winners, without exception all were deeply satisfied with the week's proceedings and paid tribute to the race management's handling of the trying conditions.

"When you win it is always a good week," said a smiling Onorato. "I'm happy because, I was born in Naples so Capri is more or less my home and it is beautiful to win here. It was not easy, but it was very Capri. But it is also fascinating to sail in light winds and difficult sailing conditions. It is impossible not to be happy when you are in such a wonderful place like Capri."

With the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds to be held in a month's time, Onorato will be pleased to have a preparatory win already under his belt in this highly competitive class, but he recognises the difference between sailing in Capri and Porto Cervo.

"As a sailing event, this is certainly preparation, but you have to consider that probably in Sardinia we will have very different conditions."

Onorato is also swift to emphasise that he is by no means a certainty for what would be his fourth world title, "it will be no more or less difficult to win in June than at any other time. You have to fight to win anyway, which is very difficult, but that is the most interesting thing in this class. The Farr 40 is the most competitive in the world. Everybody can win."

Carlo Perrone and Atlantica Racing did not have it all their own way this week, and Charisma's (NED) storming performance yesterday would have put them on notice of a serious challenge had a race transpired today.

As it is, Perrone leaves Capri with the win in the Swan 45 class and a Rolex Submariner as his reward. "We're delighted because this was the first racing of this year, so we've started well," Perrone remarked.

Atlantica Racing is also preparing for its class world championship, scheduled for the end of August in Argentario and Perrone puts this good start to the campaign down to keeping many of the same crew from previous years, "one of the key issues in our success was managing to keep the same sailing team for this year, including Lorenzo Bodini [Olympian in the Tornado] as tactician. We did not do much training this winter!"