Yacht Club Italiano - 2026 Sporting Calendar

Loro Piana Giraglia 2025 at Yacht Club Italiano - Day 2 © Loro Piana / Studio Borlenghi

Yacht Club Italiano presents its 2026 Sporting Calendar, confirming one of the most extensive and structured racing programmes in the Mediterranean.

With a schedule running from January to mid-November, the Club renews its central role in promoting sailing culture and in enhancing sporting excellence in all its forms: from youth dinghies to one-design classes, from Olympic classes to offshore racing yachts.

"We are opening a season that promises to be even more intense and demanding - underlines the President of Yacht Club Italiano, Carlo Cameli - with many days at sea and a Club that, strengthened by its long history, is today an extremely efficient organizational machine, capable of supporting such an extensive calendar over 11 months of the year. Behind these figures there is a significant and passionate effort, made possible by the enthusiasm of the many sailors and sailing enthusiasts who bring our regattas to life, and by the support of both new and long-standing partners such as Loro Piana, Banca Passadore, SIAD, and Rolex, our Official Timepiece for over 25 years.

Also crucial is the support of the institutions, now more actively involved than ever alongside the Club. The close presence of the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, and the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, demonstrates how sport - in all its forms - is a key element for the vitality and growth of our territory and of future generations."

A growing season: eleven months of sailing

The 2026 season opens with the winter challenges of the International Genoa Winter Contest, which will bring Optimist, ILCA 7, ILCA 6 and ILCA 4 sailors to the waters off Genoa. Youth sailing continues with the Optimist Interzonal Selection, an event that every year brings together some of the best young Italian sailors and which returns to Liguria after three years.

The calendar then comes alive with a series of major events that represent the sporting identity of Yacht Club Italiano:

• Genova Sailing Week - Coppa Andrea Alberti (March 27-29)
• Trofeo Porto Carlo Riva (April 11-12)
• The Gentleman Challenge (April 17-19)
• Regate di Primavera Portofino (April 30 - May 3)
• Regata della Gallinara - Trofeo della Cappelletta (May 16-17)
• Trofeo SIAD Bombola d'Oro - Coppa Roberto Sestini (May 22-24)

The Loro Piana Giraglia: the heart of the season

June is dominated by the Loro Piana Giraglia (June 12-20), the great offshore classic that blends sport, history and tradition, involving IRC and ORC fleets in a week of racing between Saint-Tropez and Genoa.

Summer and autumn: one-design racing, sailing for all and tradition

Summer continues with the J/70 Members Cup - Summer Edition (July 4-5), which this year will be sailed on the Club's J/70s in the waters of Portofino. September then welcomes the Millevele IREN (September 12), the sailing parade open to all, animating the Gulf of Genoa and once again linked to the Genoa International Boat Show. Although the Boat Show has changed its dates, the Millevele IREN remains the symbolic starting point of the month in which Genoa becomes the world capital of yachting.

Autumn sees the return of the LOWRANCE Trophy - Fishing Tournament (October 10-11) and concludes with two iconic YCI events: the 62nd Coppa Poggi (October 24-25) and the J/70 Members Cup (November 7-8).

The value of partnerships

Throughout the year, Yacht Club Italiano can rely on the support of partners, sponsors and institutions which, in different ways but with the same passion and dedication, contribute to the realization of the entire sporting programme. This collaboration, built on shared values, allows the Club to offer an international-level calendar, to enhance regional excellence and to promote sailing culture with continuity and vision.

Races and events are also made possible thanks to the valuable contribution of Yacht Club Italiano's institutional partners: Rolex as Official Timepiece; institutional sponsors SIAD and Banca Passadore; technical partners Navico Group, North Sails and SLAM; and the Title Partners Loro Piana and IREN. As always, the support of Regione Liguria, the Municipality of Genoa and Confindustria Nautica is fundamental.