The Call for Young Sailors, an initiative by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and part of the Young Azzurra programme - a project dedicated to promoting and supporting young Italian sailing talents - officially opens today.

From 3 p.m. CEST today, 1 July 2026, until 11:59 p.m. on 30 September 2026, sailors can submit their applications via the dedicated section on the official Young Azzurra website: www.callforyoungsailors.it.

The Call for Young Sailors aims to recognise and promote participants, encouraging young sailors to pursue a top-level career in the sport while offering practical support to members of the Young Azzurra team. The programme currently includes Federico Pilloni (iQFOiL class), Maddalena Spanu (Wing Foil class) and Cesare Barabino (ILCA 7 class), all of whom have distinguished themselves through their results at an international level.

The call is open to young Italian sailors, either individually or in teams of two, aged between 18 and 25 who are registered with the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), have not received any disciplinary suspensions and are not part of any paid professional programmes. Applicants must submit a structured sporting project, with clear and concrete objectives within Olympic classes or those recognised by the Federation. Full details are set out in the Regulations.

Following the evaluation process, which will take place between August and October 2026, a Committee composed of representatives of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and leading figures from the sailing world will select up to four athletes to officially join the Young Azzurra programme, benefiting from technical, organisational and financial support to develop their competitive careers. A further 10 sailors will also be selected and offered the chance to take part in regattas and initiatives organised by the Club, helping them gain access to the world of professional sailing. The official presentation of the new team is scheduled for 2027, when the YCCS will be celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Applications will be assessed based on a range of criteria, including the project’s impact in terms of sporting development and its ability to inspire, its practical feasibility, its inclusive and sustainable nature, level of innovation, and the central role of training in the athletes’ personal and professional development.

The Call for Young Sailors represents a tangible opportunity for both sporting and professional growth: selected athletes will embark on a high-level pathway, becoming ambassadors for the values of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and contributing to the advancement of Italian sailing on the international stage.

Through this initiative, the YCCS reaffirms its commitment to identifying and supporting a new generation of sailors.