The 2026 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta officially opens today, with the skippers’ briefing followed by a welcome cocktail on the panoramic terrace at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. From the terrace, the view sweeps across the quays of Porto Cervo marina, where 17 superyachts are lined up ready for racing to begin tomorrow. 

Organised by the YCCS, with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani for the fifth consecutive year, the event marks the opening of the Mediterranean superyacht racing season and, until 30 May, will see some of the most prestigious sailing yachts on the international circuit in the waters of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago. Among them are yachts from the Southern Wind shipyard, four of which are taking part in the Southern Wind Rendezvous, while the remaining vessels will be competing in the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta. The Rendezvous is an event organised by Southern Wind for its owners, featuring friendly outings under sail among the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago, with stops at anchor and a return to Porto Cervo for each evening’s social programme.

The Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta fleet has been divided into two divisions, Blue and White, based on the rating and performance of the yachts in accordance with ORCsy (ORC Superyacht) regulations. Several boats in each of the classes will also compete in a Corinthian Division, open to owners who choose to focus on the simplicity of sailing, maintaining a cruising rather than a racing setup, and with a reduced number of sails on board. 

Among the most eagerly anticipated storylines on the water is the renewal of the duel between the Swan 115 Moat, owned by YCCS member Juan Ball, and Morgana, the Southern Wind RP100 owned by Francesco De Santis. Also returning are the Southern Wind 108 Gelliceaux, the SW94 Magic Blue owned by YCCS member Tonino Cacace, the SW100 Grillo Parlante owned by Fausto Sestini, as well as the Southern Wind 96s Liberty and Sorceress. After missing last year’s event, YCCS member Marco Vögele’s Inoui, a 33.5-metre Vitters yacht, is also back in Porto Cervo.

New for the 2026 edition is the debut of Kalantis, a recently launched Southern Wind 108 freshly arrived in the Mediterranean direct from Cape Town. Also making their regatta debut are the Vitters Cervo, the largest yacht in the fleet at 39 metres, the 100-foot Pendennis-built Nostromo, and the Wally 94 Vantanera, chartered by the Amaala Yacht Club.

For the second consecutive year, SØRVIND by Giorgio Armani will also be in attendance: the Southern Wind 105 chartered by the title sponsor to represent the brand directly on the race course, reinforcing the strong bond between Giorgio Armani and the world of yachting. On board, alongside guests enjoying a unique experience, will be renowned sailors including Tommaso Chieffi, Mike Toppa and young talent Emily Nagel. Other well-known professional names in the fleet include Matt Humphries on Freebird, Cameron Appleton on Kalantis, Bouwe Bekking and Alicia Ageno on Liberty, double Olympic gold medallist Luis Doreste on Magic Blue, Cole Parada on Moat and Jesper Bank on Nostromo.

Alongside the sporting action, the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta offers a full programme of events dedicated to owners, guests and crews. The Giorgio Armani Mare Pop-Up boutique will be open in Piazza Azzurra throughout the event, showcasing the Giorgio Armani Mare collection. Every morning of the regatta, the All Together Coffee will take place between 9 and 10 a.m., a convivial occasion for participants to gather together before heading out on the water. 

In addition to the Welcome Cocktail, the social programme includes the Southern Wind dinner on the evening of Wednesday 27 May at Li Capanni, overlooking the Golfo delle Saline. On Thursday 28 May, the YCCS will host Giorgio’s, reserved for owners and guests, while on Friday 29 May, the Sunset Party at the Ea Bianca Resort in Cala dei Ginepri will round off the penultimate day of the regatta.

Racing will follow coastal courses in the waters of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago, using an individual staggered start procedure, with slower yachts setting off first. The first warning signal is scheduled to sound tomorrow, 27 May, at 12 noon CEST. 

The weather forecast for the week indicates moderate westerly winds until Thursday, rotating towards east-northeast and easing in the days to follow.

Andrea Recordati, YCCS Commodore, commented: “I would like to thank the participants for coming in such numbers to Porto Cervo, and our title sponsor Giorgio Armani for choosing to associate the brand with a regatta characterised by a very special spirit of camaraderie. The Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta offers what I believe is a perfect balance between sporting competition, the pleasure of sailing and the enjoyment of time spent together for owners and crews. We are also delighted to have Southern Wind celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Rendezvous and Trophy with us in Porto Cervo. Fair winds to all!”

The prize-giving ceremony, to be held on Saturday 30 May in Piazza Azzurra, will bring the 2026 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta to an official close.