ORC World Championship 2026: coastal race around Capri defines day three of inshore series

Day three of inshore racing at the ORC World Championship 2026, taking place between Naples and Sorrento from 7 to 14 May, featured the traditional coastal race around the island of Capri, adding further spectacle and complexity to the championship week.

Organized by the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, in collaboration with the Yacht Club Italiano (Genoa) and the Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (Naples), in conjunction with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), and supported by Rolex and Loro Piana, the championship once again confirms its status as one of the most prestigious events in international offshore sailing.

The day saw a coastal race ranging between 19 and 25 nautical miles, with two separate starts: Classes 0 and A on a more inshore area, while Classes B and C started further offshore, just off Sorrento. All fleets rounded the island of Capri, leaving it to port, before heading back towards the Sorrentine Peninsula.

Conditions were variable, with overcast skies and scattered thunderstorms across the area. A rain shower hit the fleets shortly before the start, followed by steady breeze of around 10 knots up to the Faraglioni of Capri. From there, Classes B and C headed back towards Sorrento via a mark off Punta della Campanella, while Classes 0 and A sailed further offshore towards a mark outside the protected marine area of Ieranto, before also returning via Punta della Campanella.

Class 0, sailing the longest course of approximately 25 miles, experienced two general recalls before the final start. Italy’s Vudu (Mauro Gestri) took line honors, followed by the wallyrocket51 RocketNikka (Roberto Lacorte) and the American Final Final (Jon Desmond).

The provisional overall standings, with one day remaining, still see Summer Storm (Andrew Berdon) in the lead, followed by RocketNikka and today’s winner Vudu.

In Class A, Sweden’s Ran (Niklas Zennström) was first to complete the course, ahead of Italy’s To Be (Giovanni Di Vincenzo) and Selene – Alifax (Massimo De Campo).

Ran also leads the overall standings after six races, with a solid margin over Lisa R (Giovanni Di Vincenzo), while Selene – Alifax remains in third place.

“It was a very positive day for us: we sailed well after Capri and finished second, a result that puts us second overall as well,” said Fabio De Simoni, trimmer of Lisa R, competing in Class A. “The upwind leg to Capri was challenging, with 9–11 knots and a choppy sea, but by choosing the left side of the course we gained a lot. Rounding the island was the trickiest moment, with waves and very little wind. From there on, we managed the sails well, first with the Code Zero and then downwind towards Punta Campanella in light conditions, before finishing with building breeze towards the line.”

In Class B, victory went to Mascalzone Latino (Vincenzo Onorato), with Matteo Savelli on tactics, ahead of Argentina’s Katara (Julian Somodi) and the Dutch Flying Dolphin Too (Willem Ellemet).

“It was a very difficult race, with rough sea and crossed waves that made even steering the boat challenging,” said Vincenzo Onorato, owner and helmsman of Mascalzone Latino. “In these conditions, everyone was more or less lucky, but tactics made the difference. Matteo Savelli did an excellent job. For tomorrow, we’ll see – everything is still to play for.”

In the provisional overall standings, Malta’s Technonicol (Georgi Kolesnikov) remains in the lead, followed by Katara and Mascalzone Latino, all within ten points.

In Class C, Italy’s Chisum (Andrea Castrucci) was the fastest of the day, ahead of Robe da Mat (Luigi Buzzi) and B.Lex (Benedetta Iovane), for an all-Italian podium.

“A very tricky start, with the wind dropping just minutes before the gun,” said Peter Buhl, helmsman of Robe da Mat. “Then the breeze filled in near Capri and we managed to get back into the race thanks to a strong team and good decisions, especially on the west side of the island where sail configuration made the difference. We’re happy, but also aware that the standings are still wide open.”

“This boat was designed specifically for ORC Class C together with MAT Yachts and designer Matteo Polli,” added skipper Joan Navarro Guiu. “We had limited time to prepare, but the work done so far is allowing us to compete at the top of the fleet.”

Chisum also leads the provisional Class C standings, followed by Lady Day 998 (Corrado Annis) and Sease (Franco and Giacomo Loro Piana).

Tomorrow will see the final two windward-leeward races, scheduled to start at 12:00. Forecast conditions indicate building breeze between 12 and 15 knots, which could prove decisive in determining the world titles.

With the first race of tomorrow’s schedule, teams will be able to discard their worst result of the series, excluding both the offshore race and today’s coastal race.

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.