Porto Cervo’s September calendar is shaping up as unmissable for anyone serious about big-boat sailing. Back-to-back world championships bring the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and Rolex Swan Cup to Sardinia’s coast, with nearly 170 boats already registered and the racing set to run through mid-September.
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup kicks off on 6 September with close to 40 yachts over 60 feet competing for two world titles: the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship and the Rolex IMA Maxi Grand Prix World Championship. David Leuschen and Chris Flowers return to defend in Galateia, a WallyCento, while Giovanni Lombardi Stronati will pilot Django 7X in the Grand Prix class. The fleet reads like a who’s who of competitive offshore racing—Leopard 3, Magic Carpet E, Tilakkhana, My Song and others will push hard against the defending champions. A new JV76, Northstar III, makes its competitive debut in the Grand Prix division. Six multihulls are entered, including Sophia, the first trimaran ever to compete in this event.
Racing alternates between island courses through the La Maddalena Archipelago and windward-leeward tracks off the coast. That mix of technical challenges has always defined the Maxi Cup’s character. By 13 September, the fleet splits and the Rolex Swan Cup begins, drawing 167 boats with a ceiling of 170. This year marks the Finnish shipyard’s 60th anniversary, and the gathered fleet spans the entire production history—from Tarantella, the original Swan 36 built in 1966, through to the latest Swan 128s and Swan 80s. Be Cool and Raijin represent the bigger end of the range, whilst the ClubSwan one-design classes bring competitive depth to the divisions.
Three separate fleets organise the Swan Cup. ClubSwan Racing holds the one-design classes from ClubSwan 28 through to Swan 45. ClubSwan Legacy focuses on historic yachts designed by Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers. ClubSwan Spirit welcomes contemporary models, with a division for owners who prefer cruising-focused racing. Giuseppe Puttini’s Swan 65 Shirlaf, launched in 1976 and celebrating 50 years in service, will race both weeks—a fitting thread connecting the two events.
The calendar continues into early October with the J/70 Cup and Italian Championship running 2 to 4 October. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is deliberately extending the racing season beyond the peak tourist months, ensuring Porto Cervo remains a genuine destination on the international circuit while supporting the local economy through shoulder season activity. For competitors and spectators alike, September in Costa Smeralda will offer world-class racing across two very different fleets in one of Europe’s most beautiful sailing venues.
