One of Mediterranean sailing’s most storied events is returning to the calendar, and it couldn’t come at a better moment. Porto Cervo’s Settimana delle Bocche, which vanished from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s fixture list decades ago, will sail again from 26 April to 1 May 2027, marking a symbolic full circle as the legendary club celebrates six decades of operation.
The original Settimana delle Bocche in 1972 wasn’t just another regatta. It was the YCCS’s first international competition, a deliberate bid to create something akin to Cowes Week but tailored for Sardinia’s waters and the La Maddalena Archipelago. The starting line that year read like a who’s who of mid-century Mediterranean sailing: Giorgio Falck aboard Guia, Admiral Agostino Straulino steering Kerkyra, Gian Marco Moratti and Nicolò Donà dalle Rose on Viva, and American Bill Ficker commanding Charisma, then one of the world’s most formidable racing machines. These names weren’t just competitors; they were the architects of modern Mediterranean sailing culture.
What makes the event’s return genuinely interesting is what it says about the club’s priorities in 2027. YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati put it simply: “Bringing it back today is a way of honouring that history, offering owners, sailors, and enthusiasts an event that looks to the future.” There’s no nostalgia trap here. Instead, the club is dusting off a proven formula and repurposing it for contemporary racing, using ORC ratings to ensure broad participation across different boat classes.
The format itself speaks to how racing has evolved. The 2027 edition will combine windward-leeward races with a long coastal course that exploits the archipelago’s geography. This isn’t a step backward into the 1970s. Competitors will race in boats designed for today’s ocean, over courses that demand modern tactical awareness and boat handling.
For New Zealand sailors and yacht owners watching Mediterranean racing, the significance runs deeper than one regatta’s return. Porto Cervo remains genuinely influential in how professional and amateur racing develops internationally. When the YCCS commits resources to reviving a historic event, other clubs take notice. The preliminary Notice of Race will appear on the club’s website from October, with eligibility details for boats rated under the ORC system.
The timing ensures continuity with the club’s broader mission. Six decades on from its founding, the YCCS has reshaped how people think about sailing venues and international competition. Porto Cervo itself has become a testing ground for new formats, new boats, and new talent pipelines. Bringing back the Settimana delle Bocche signals that the club isn’t resting on accumulated prestige; it’s actively reaching back to its roots to build forward.
