Record-breaking Rolex Swan Cup: 23rd edition concludes in Porto Cervo with 170 Swans

By Press Mare

20/09/2026 - 09:00

Porto Cervo brought the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup to a close in ideal conditions. The record-breaking edition, held in the year of Nautor Swan’s 60th anniversary, brought together 170 yachts and more than 1,800 sailors. Sunshine and a north-easterly breeze that built from an initial eight knots to around 12 accompanied the final day of racing, rounding off a week that filled the docks of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the largest gathering of Swan yachts ever assembled.

For the rating divisions, the final day featured a coastal race starting in the Gulf of Arzachena, with the course taking the fleet along the eastern coast of Caprera, past the Isola dei Monaci and through the Passo delle Bisce. From there the yachts reached up towards Secca di Tre Monti before rounding and returning upwind through the Passo delle Bisce, then continuing towards the finish off Porto Cervo.

At the same time, the ClubSwan One Design fleets sailed two windward-leeward races on courses set between the Bisce and Monaci islands. The result was a striking sight, with the yachts competing in the coastal race effectively sailing around the One Design fleets racing between the marks.

The Rolex Swan Cup, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda together with Nautor Swan and supported by Rolex, was first held in 1980 and adopted its current name in 1984.

“With this prize-giving ceremony we bring to a close a week of outstanding sailing and, above all, tremendous participation from owners and crews. I would like to thank our partner Rolex and Nautor Swan, with both of whom we share a longstanding relationship and a common passion for this event. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this 23rd edition. We look forward to welcoming you back to Porto Cervo in 2028,” said YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati.

In the rating divisions, Freya completed a remarkable comeback to win the Swan Maxi class. After finishing sixth in the opening race, the Swan 90 went on to score three consecutive victories, including the final coastal race ahead of Spiip, to secure the overall class win.

In the Swan Mini-Maxi division, victory went to Arobas, the Swan 601 whose consistency throughout the week proved decisive. Second place in the final race behind Sea Quill was enough to retain the overall lead.

Three consecutive wins, meanwhile, enabled the Swan 45 From Now On to claim the Swan Cruiser Racer class ahead of Thetis, which finished level on points.

The Swan Legacy – Sparkman & Stephens ≥47’ division remained closely fought until the final race. Shirlaf and Elan ended the series with two wins and two second places apiece. Victory in the final coastal race ahead of her direct rival handed the overall win to the Swan 65 Shirlaf of Giuseppe Puttini, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of her launch.

Among the Sparkman & Stephens designs up to 44 feet, Pride finished second in the final race, won by Four Winds, ahead of Mascalzone Latino. The result secured both the division win and the overall victory among the Legacy yachts.

Lunz am Meer confirmed her lead among the Classics by Frers with another win in the final race, while Katia, a Swan 39 and the only Ron Holland design present in Porto Cervo, represented the corresponding Swan Legacy division.

In Pure Cruising, Black Zero prevailed over Alegher thanks to the better series of results, while in Maxi Pure Cruising the Swan 78 Azzurro completed a run of three consecutive victories, winning the final race ahead of Miss 5K and Coco de Mer.

ClubSwan One Design titles

In the ClubSwan 50 class, Earlybird of Hendrik Brandis, with Checco Bruni calling tactics, dominated the series with five wins from seven races. Cuordileone of Leonardo Ferragamo, with Paul Cayard as tactician, finished second overall after posting two second places on the final day, while Hatari of Marcus Brennecke completed the podium.

In the ClubSwan 43 class, Team 42+1 of Hyppolite Machetti built its victory on six consecutive wins before finishing second in the final race. Vargen of Bjorn Rosengren and Jonas Nordlund took second place overall.

The closest contest came in the ClubSwan 42 class. Nadir of Pedro Vaquer Comas and Pez de Abril of José Maria Meseguer both finished on 10 points with an identical set of counting results: three first places, two seconds and one third. The final standings were therefore decided by the result of the last race, won by Nadir ahead of Raving Swan, while Pez de Abril finished third. Raving Swan of Jerome Stubler completed the overall podium.

In the ClubSwan 36 class, Cuordileone of Edoardo Ferragamo, with Michele Regolo as tactician, claimed the overall victory thanks above all to four consecutive wins in the opening four races. Goddess of Nikolai Burkart responded by winning the final three races to take second place ahead of Fra Martina of the Pavesio brothers.

The ClubSwan 28 class also produced a close finish, with Anya Race of Giulio Gatti, with Enrico Zennaro on tactics, winning the class by a single point over Black Swan of Lorenzo Bortolotti. Anya Race ended the day with a fifth and a ninth place, the latter discarded, while Black Swan kept the contest open until the end by winning the final race. Marcello of Philippe Ligot finished third after winning the first race of the day.

Special awards

The final prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Azzurra also included a number of special awards. Paul Cayard presented the Fabio Gallia Award to Catherine Chabaud, racing aboard the Swan 55 Storm. Chabaud was the first woman to complete the Vendée Globe and later dedicated herself to marine conservation issues; she currently serves as France’s Minister for the Sea.

YCCS also presented an award to the staff of the Marina di Porto Cervo in recognition of their support throughout the event.

Particularly meaningful to the sailing community was the award in memory of Matteo “Matte” Auguadro, presented to a bowman chosen by his fellow bowmen. This year’s recipient was Matteo Ramian, who received the award from Rachele Vitello, Auguadro’s wife.

With the conclusion of the Rolex Swan Cup, one of the key events in the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s season draws to a close. The next sporting event scheduled in Porto Cervo will be the J/70 Class and Italian Championship, from 2 to 4 October.