The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda has confirmed two consecutive weeks of world championship racing at Porto Cervo in September 2026, with the 36th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup followed immediately by the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup runs from 6 to 12 September, organised in collaboration with the International Maxi Association. The provisional entry list approaches 40 yachts over 60 feet, with two world titles on offer: the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship and the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship.
Defending champions David Leuschen and Chris Flowers aboard the WallyCento Galateia will face Maxi 1 competition from Leopard 3, V, Magic Carpet E, Tilakkhana, My Song, Capricorno and Deep Blue. In Maxi Grand Prix, defending champion Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's wallyrocket71 Django 7X returns to meet Jolt, Bella Mente, Proteus, Jethou and Balthasar. The new JV76 Northstar III, owned by YCCS member Peter Dubens, will make its debut.
Six multihulls are entered, including Sophia, the first trimaran to race the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The fleet includes Allegra, Coco de Mer, Gaea, Highland Fling 18 and Layla.
Racing will alternate between coastal courses through the La Maddalena archipelago and windward-leeward racing for the Maxi 1 and Maxi Grand Prix classes off Porto Cervo.
The Rolex Swan Cup follows from 13 to 19 September, marking Nautor Swan's 60th anniversary with a record fleet of 167 entries capped at 170. Rolex has been title sponsor of the event since 1984. The fleet spans the yard's entire history, from the restored Swan 36-001 Tarantella—the yacht with which production began in 1966—to the two Swan 128s Be Cool and Raijin and the Swan 80 Elvi.
The Swan fleet is divided into ClubSwan Racing (One Design classes from ClubSwan 28 to ClubSwan 50 plus Swan 45), ClubSwan Legacy (classic Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers designs), and ClubSwan Spirit (modern yachts, with a division for cruising-configured boats).
The Swan 65 Shirlaf, launched in 1976 and celebrating her 50th anniversary, will compete in both events.
The YCCS season continues to early October with the J/70 Cup and Italian Championship from 2 to 4 October.
