A historic week on the Costa Smeralda
The 23rd Rolex Swan Cup, the world's largest one-brand sailing event, came to a close on Saturday, September 19, in Porto Cervo. Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda together with Nautor Swan and Rolex, this year's edition carried a special meaning: it celebrated 60 years of Nautor Swan, the Finnish yard founded in 1966 that became a byword for elegance and performance at sea.
The numbers confirmed the scale of the gathering: 170 Swan yachts, representing more than 90 models and every generation of the shipyard, with over 1,800 sailors on board. It was a record fleet, from the very first Swan ever built, Tarantella (Swan 36-001, restored to its original splendour), to today's giants, such as the Swan 128s BeCool and Raijin and the brand-new Swan 80 Elvi.
Four days of racing, three generations competing together
Official racing ran from September 16 to 19. For the first time, the three ClubSwan divisions sailed side by side: ClubSwan Spirit, with Maxi Swans and yachts in cruising configuration; ClubSwan Racing, with the high-performance one-design classes; and ClubSwan Legacy, dedicated to the classics designed by Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers. It was the first time these different generations of design competed on the same water.
The decisive day brought clear skies and north-easterly wind between 8 and 12 knots. The rating divisions sailed a coastal race around the island of Caprera, while the ClubSwan one-designs raced windward-leeward courses.
The 2026 champions
In the ClubSwan 50, Hendrik Brandis' Earlybird, with Francesco Bruni at the helm, dominated the series with five wins from seven races. In the ClubSwan 43, Hyppolite Machetti's Team 42+1 built its title on six consecutive wins before finishing second in the final race.
The closest battle came in the ClubSwan 42: Nadir and Pez de Abril ended tied on points with identical results, and the decision only came on countback, with Nadir winning the last race. In the ClubSwan 28, Anya Race secured the title by a single point over Black Swan.
Among the biggest boats, the Swan Maxi division went to Freya, a Swan 90 that recovered from an opening sixth place with three straight wins. In the cruising classes, Swan Pure Cruising went to Black Zero, also on countback, over Alegher, while Azzurro, a Swan 78, took Swan Maxi Pure Cruising.
Honours that go beyond the racecourse
The prize-giving ceremony had moments that went beyond sport. The Fabio Gallia Award was presented by Paul Cayard to Catherine Chabaud, who sailed aboard the Swan 55 Storm. The first woman to complete the Vendée Globe, the solo non-stop round-the-world race, she was also recognised for her commitment to ocean conservation. The Matteo Auguadro Award went to Matteo Ramian.
"ClubSwan is truly unique in yachting," summed up Gianguido Girotti, CEO of Nautor Swan. "Our events are not simply competitions, they are opportunities for owners to meet, sail, learn and share experiences."
More than a regatta
Beyond the racing, the week offered a social calendar worthy of the 60th anniversary: from the spectacular "Dance of the Swans", a circular formation of the entire fleet around Isola dei Monaci in tribute to photographer Carlo Borlenghi, to the owners' anniversary dinner and the traditional Rolex Dinner Party. A celebration that underlines what makes Swan a community, and not just a brand.
Fact file
23rd Rolex Swan Cup
September 16 to 19, 2026, Porto Cervo, Sardinia (Italy)
Organisation: Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, with Nautor Swan and Rolex
Record fleet: 170 Swans and more than 1,800 sailors
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Foto: Studio Borlenghi / ClubSwan Racing
