Entries for the ORC World Championship, the flagship event of the Tre Golfi Sailing Week 2026, will officially close on 28 February. To date, 118 boats are entered, confirming the event as one of the most important and best-attended fixtures on the international offshore racing calendar.
Yacht Racing Life is a reader-supported publication. If you enjoy our free content please consider signing up to receive our free email newsletter, or help the development of the website by becoming a paid subscriber.
Scheduled to take place in the Gulf of Naples and Sorrento from 5 to 28 May 2026, the event includes the ORC World Championship, the IMA Maxi European Championship, and the 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi, attracting crews from around twenty countries and an exceptionally high-level fleet.
Great anticipation also surrounds the historic Regata dei Tre Golfi, which for the first time in its history will feature two separate starts:
• Friday 8 May for the ORC World Championship and all ORC boats not competing in the Worlds
• Friday 22 May for the IMA Maxi European Championship and any Maxis not competing in the Europeans
The ORC fleet is particularly competitive, with more than 15 Class 0 yachts already entered, including the Wallyrocket 51 Kilara (SUI), RocketNikka (ITA) owned by Roberto Lacorte, and Django Team (ITA) owned by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, with Trieste-based talents Lorenzo Bressani and Vasco Vascotto calling tactics respectively. Around 30 boats are entered in both Class A and Class B, and almost 40 in Class C.
Berthing in Sorrento is guaranteed for the first 80 ORC entries, while the remaining boats will be accommodated in nearby marinas. With the closing of entries approaching, the organization is now entering the final operational phase ahead of a Tre Golfi Sailing Week that raises the bar even higher than previous editions.
No fewer than 25 Maxi yachts are already entered, including nine Maxi Class 1 boats (80–100 feet) and seven Maxi Grand Prix yachts, all competing for the IMA Maxi European Champion title, which this year will be awarded to the winner of each participating class after a series of races including an offshore race (the Tre Golfi), coastal races, and windward-leeward races.
Schedule
• ORC World Championship: 5 – 14 May
• 71st Offshore Regata dei Tre Golfi: 8 May ORC, 22 May Maxi
• IMA Maxi European Championship: 21 – 28 May
I check-in with Tudor Team Alinghi’s director for technical and sailing, New Zealand America’s Cup veteran Dave Endean – the man in charge of making sure that in AC38 the Swiss syndicate improves on its somewhat lacklustre performance in the last Cup in Barcelona.
Get weekly inspiration for living well delivered straight to your inbox.
