Racing resumed today off Sorrento for the second day of inshore competition at the IMA Maxi European Championship 2026, once again marked by light and unstable breeze that tested tacticians and crews throughout the day.
Organized by the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, in synergy with the International Maxi Association (IMA), in collaboration with the Yacht Club Italiano of Genoa and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, and supported by Rolex and Loro Piana, the championship continues to deliver top-level racing across all divisions.
Forecasts had predicted very light air and initially the Race Committee, led by Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley, postponed racing ashore until 12:45. Shortly after midday, however, a south-westerly breeze filled in, allowing racing to get underway at 13:10. Shortly before that, the MultiHull fleet started their coastal race.
All Maxi 1, Grand Prix and Maxi 3, 4 and 5 divisions completed two windward-leeward races. Conditions remained highly variable throughout the day: the first race started in 6-8 knots before the breeze gradually built, while the final start took place in 10-11 knots that later faded again towards the end of the afternoon.
In the Maxi Grand Prix division, NorthStar of Peter Dubens, member of the CRV Italia, remains overall leader despite posting a third and a fifth place today. Bella Mente of Hap Fauth, winner of the final race of the day, moves up to second overall, while Django 7X of Giovanni Lombardi Stronati sits third overall after scoring a second and a third place today.
“It was an incredibly intense day, with a huge amount of traffic on the racecourse in both races,” said Vasco Vascotto, tactician of Django 7X. “When you are racing among 100-foot Maxis, for a smaller boat like ours it becomes really difficult to choose the right lane and manage tactical situations. The first race had gone very well for us, but unfortunately we ended up too far ahead of some of the Maxi 100s, which caught us on the final downwind and cost us what looked like a possible win, eventually taken by Jethou. Still, it was a good day with a second and a third place. The standings are extremely tight, we are basically level with the leaders, just one point behind. Everything is decided by details and there is still a long way to go in this championship. The positive aspect is that we are fully in the fight. We need to stay consistent and try to score some important results. We knew this would be a very tough week. The level in the Maxi Grand Prix fleet is incredibly high and every race is decided by the smallest margins. So far luck may not have been entirely on our side, but we are still there fighting at the top, and that is what matters. Hopefully Lady Luck will start smiling at us a bit more from now on.”
In Maxi 1, My Song of Pigi Loro Piana won the opening race and finished fourth in the second. V, owned by Karel Komárek, is tied on points thanks to a third and second place scored today. Third overall is Capricorno of Alessandro Del Bono, with a fifth place and a race victory in today’s racing.
“To be honest I’ve lost count of the days here at the IMA Maxi European Championship,” smiled Ken Read, tactician of V. “Finally today was really a great day for us. We also had a little bit of luck, especially in the second race, but above all we simply sailed better. Karel Komarek, our owner-driver, did an outstanding job steering the boat and the yacht performed very well in the flatter water and medium-light breeze. The crew also did an exceptional job. We needed a day like this to get back into the fight at the top and I think we achieved that. Sorrento is always a fascinating but extremely challenging racecourse. Today, for example, the left side of the course was heavily favoured because all the pressure was there. What makes this area so special is precisely the unpredictability of the conditions: sometimes the wind disappears completely, as we saw yesterday, while at other times it suddenly fills in. Here, more than anywhere else I’ve ever raced, we spend a huge amount of time with someone up the mast constantly reading the racecourse and the conditions, because nothing is ever guaranteed. You can’t just look at the forecast and go racing: you always need to keep your eyes outside the boat and be ready to adapt continuously. Now we focus on tomorrow. The fleet is incredibly competitive and the standings are very tight, with just one or two points between several boats. I’d also like to say that we feel very sorry for Joost [Schuijff], the owner, and the Leopard 3 team. They were sailing really well in this championship and unfortunately suffered a boom problem while racing an excellent race. Thankfully we heard no one was injured, and that is definitely the most important thing.”
In Maxi 3, an excellent day for Cippa Lippa of Guido Paolo Gamucci, scoring a second and a first place. Manticore of Franz Baruffaldi is second, three points behind the leader, with a first and second place today. Kallima of Paul Berger currently sits third overall.
Fra Diavolo of Vincenzo Addessi leads the Maxi 4 and 5 division after posting a first and a second place today, ahead of H2O of Riccardo De Michele, who scored a fourth and a first. Yoru of Luigi Sala is third overall after today’s races.
“It was a fantastic day of racing for us,” said Helena Lucas, British sailor from Southampton racing aboard Fra Diavolo. “Today we scored a first and a second place. The conditions were probably a little less complicated than yesterday, but still challenging. Racing was very close and competitive, and it was a really fun and intense day on the water. The week so far is also going very well. At the moment we are leading overall, so naturally we are very happy with how things are going. There are still two more days of racing and we hope to maintain this level of performance until the end. I’m here this week also thanks to Argo Challenge and Antonio Spinelli, CEO of the project. The goal of the initiative is to promote sailing among people with disabilities, but Antonio’s big challenge right now is to bring a disabled sailors’ team to the America’s Cup. That’s actually how we met at the end of last year: he contacted me to see if I would be interested in joining the project and working together to make a Paralympic team in the America’s Cup possible. We hoped it could happen already for this edition, but it probably won’t. However, very important contacts have been made and we truly hope something can become reality for the next America’s Cup. That would be something fantastic. Today is also Antonio’s birthday, so I think the cakes we have onboard are perfect to celebrate this special day.”
The inshore racing schedule continues tomorrow. Forecasts still indicate light breeze, although, just like today, the Gulf of Naples could once again deliver more pressure than expected.
The regatta is supported by leading partners including Rolex and Loro Piana, alongside North Sails, Wally Yachts, Deloitte, Ferrarelle, Ottogas, Garmin, Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., Caffè Borbone and Azimut Investimenti.