The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda has confirmed two consecutive weeks of major offshore racing at Porto Cervo this September, with the 36th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup running 6–12 September followed immediately by the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup from 13–19 September.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, a reference event for over forty years, will again award two world championship titles: the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship and the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship. Defending champions David Leuschen and Chris Flowers' WallyCento Galateia (Maxi 1) and Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's wallyrocket71 Django 7X (Maxi Grand Prix) will face strong competition. Galateia meets Leopard 3, V, Magic Carpet E, Tilakkhana, My Song, Capricorno and Deep Blue. Django 7X lines up against Jolt, Bella Mente, Proteus, Jethou and Balthasar, with the new JV76 Northstar III of YCCS member Peter Dubens making its debut.
Windward-leeward races are planned for the Maxi 1 and Maxi Grand Prix classes in the waters off Porto Cervo, while coastal races will run through the La Maddalena Archipelago. The multihull fleet grows to six entries including the first trimaran to race the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Sophia, alongside Allegra, Coco de Mer, Gaea, Highland Fling 18 and Layla. Organisers report provisional entries approaching 40 yachts over 60 feet, with registration still open.
The following week's Rolex Swan Cup marks Nautor Swan's 60th anniversary and has drawn 167 entries toward a 170-boat limit. Rolex has been title sponsor since 1984. The fleet spans the Finnish builder's entire history, from the restored Swan 36-001 Tarantella that launched production in 1966 through to the new Swan 80 Elvi and two Swan 128s, Be Cool and Raijin.
Racing splits into ClubSwan One Design (50, 43, 42, 36, 28 and Swan 45), ClubSwan Legacy for classic Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers designs, and ClubSwan Spirit for modern models, with a division reserved for owners who wish to race while maintaining a more cruising-oriented configuration. The Swan 65 Shirlaf, launched 1976 and celebrating her 50th year, will compete in both regattas.
The YCCS season continues to early October with the J/70 Cup and Italian Championship on 2–4 October.
