The inshore series of the Admiral’s Cup has concluded yesterday, marking a key milestone in the centenary edition of the historic event, revived by the Royal Ocean Racing Club to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Team Django, representing the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, sits third overall after excelling in both the Channel Race offshore leg and the inshore series, with Django wallyrocket51 currently leading the AC1 class and Django JPK ranked fifth in AC2.
In line with event rules, each national team fields two boats, one around 50 feet long, the other around 40ft, and Team Django is now preparing for the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race, set to start tomorrow. Light to moderate winds are forecast, making a speed record unlikely, but this year’s Fastnet could prove to be one of the most tactically and mentally demanding editions yet, with shifting breeze, strong tides, and a high-stakes routing game from Cowes to the Fastnet Rock and on to Cherbourg, France.
“Winning even the inshore races went beyond our most optimistic expectations” said Vasco Vascotto, tactician aboard Django wallyrocket51. “We held our own against custom one-off boats, proving this is the fastest One Design boat in the world today. After our ORC victory in Sorrento, we’ve shown we’re just as strong in IRC. This boat is hull number one, the class and shipyard’s test platform, and we already have many ideas for improving future builds. The Admiral’s Cup is a truly unique experience. For me, coming back to Cowes after 26 years, makes me proud and grateful. The rebirth of this regatta will be a driving force for the YCCS Sardinia Cup scheduled in the first week of June 2026, and spending 20 days together forged a real team spirit (like a football training camp) and laid the groundwork for a solid group heading into future challenges”.
Despite being less suited for short-course inshore racing compared to the high-performance Fast40s, Django JPK still posted consistent results:
“We knew we would struggle against the Fast40s, which are much more inshore-oriented,” explained Michele Ivaldi, skipper and tactician aboard Django JPK. “But we stuck to our game plan and managed to stay ahead of the other less inshore-optimized boats. Now it’s all about the Fastnet. Current forecasts suggest moderate breeze, with upwind sailing to Lizard Point, then a shift to northwesterlies. There may be a wind hole mid-Channel and near Fastnet Rock, if the front-runners get stuck, we might be able to catch up. As of now, it looks like the breeze will die near the finish, which definitely won’t help us. We’re expecting around four days and a few hours of racing, and everything could be decided within a couple of hours near the finish in Cherbourg, when the tide turns.”
Team Django is currently third overall, trailing Hong Kong, first by 23 points. With the Rolex Fastnet Race worth triple points, the iconic 695-nautical-mile race from Cowes to Cherbourg, the games remain wide open.