2026 ORC World Titles confirmed

The 2026 ORC World Championship attracted 104 teams to vie for world titles on May 8-14 in Sorrento, Italy. Four divisions competed in the 8-race series which included a 150-mile offshore along with inshore and coastal races.

In Class 0, the American TP52 Summer Storm, owned by Andrew Berdon, with Volvo Ocean Race rockstar Stu Bannatyne and tactician Joachim Aschenbrenner, was crowned 2026 ORC World Champion after an exceptional week that included five race wins (one shared) and only one below-par performance in a coastal race.

“It is an incredible satisfaction! We received an extraordinary welcome here in Sorrento. I love Italy, and the level of competition was truly exceptional,” said Berdon.

Second place went to Vudu, the TP52 owned by Mauro Gestri, with Michele Regolo calling tactics, while the podium was completed by the wallyrocket51 RocketNikka, owned by Roberto Lacorte and sailed with Lorenzo Bressani, which also received the Best Performing Wally award.

Among the Corinthian entries, Switzerland’s Night Shadow, owned by David Mizrahi, took first place.

Berdon added, “We came into the final day after a difficult race the previous day, with three boats separated by just one point on the leaderboard. We knew that, to win the title, we would have to sail flawlessly.

“We therefore adopted a very precise strategy, focusing on our direct rivals and keeping very fast boats such as Vudu and RocketNikka behind us, while Django broke away. It was exactly the kind of challenge we thrive on: a close-fought competition, battled right down to the final leg, against world-class opponents.

“Although our TP52 performs particularly well under both the IRC and ORC rating systems, the fleet’s standard was extraordinary. The best TP52s were on the water, along with three highly competitive Wally Rockets. The racing was so close and intense that it felt like a true one-design regatta, with constant duels and no margin for error.

“This success is, of course, the result of an outstanding team effort. None of it would have been possible without the contribution of our program manager Alex Snyder, sailing master and sailmaker, Stu Bannatyne, and boat captain, Simon Hunter.

“My sincerest thanks go to them and to the entire team. Their expertise, dedication and attention to every detail were fundamental to this victory.”

Beyond Berdon, Bannatyne, and Aschenbrenner, the Summer Storm team had Chris Welch, Robin Zinkmann, Nick Heiner, Stefano Nava, Mal Parker, Ryan Foley, Tate Shaffer, Simon Hunter, Ben Bardwell, and Brad Terpstra.

After an almost perfect week, Ran (Carkeek 40+), owned by Niklas Zennström, captured the Class A title, successfully defending the Worlds’ title he won in Tallinn in 2025. Italy’s Lisa R (Ker 46), owned by Giovanni Di Vincenzo and a member of the CRV Italia, finished second, while third place went to Selene – Alifax (Swan 42 CS), owned by Massimo De Campo, with Tommaso Chieffi as tactician.

The top Corinthian team in Class A was the American Lagertha (Swan 42 CS), owned by Kurt Kalberer II of the New York Yacht Club.

The Ran crew had Zennström, Paul Wilcox, Steve Hayles, Justin Slattery, Toby Iles, Griffin Spinney, Thomas Kiff, Joy Fitzgerald, Tim Powell, Mark Lees, and Gabriele Olivo.

In Class B, Argentina’s Katara, owned by Julian Somodi (PG390), claimed the 2026 World Championship title with two race wins on the final day. Second place went to Malta’s Technonicol, the X-41 owned by Georgi Kolesnikov with Estonian Mati Sepp as helm, while third was WB IX, the XR41 owned by Gianclaudio Bassetti, with Lorenzo Bodini as tactician.

The Corinthian title went to Italy’s Athyris & C (Grand Soleil 43 BC) by Pergiorgio Nerdis.

“Throughout my career, I have won numerous Argentine and Brazilian championships and a Copa del Rey, but a World Championship has a special meaning,” said Somodi. “It is the achievement every sailor dreams of.”

With Somodi was crew Federico Nager, Juan Luis Paez, Hernan Suarez, Javier Conte, Patricio Gutierrez, Julian Lobelos, Clelio Guillermo Moreira, Juan Pablo Marchesoni, and Ignacio Giamonava.

In Class C, the world title went to Robe da Mat, owned by Luigi Buzzi (MAT-11) who won two races on the final day. Second place went to Chisum (Cape 31), owned by Andrea Castrucci, while third place went to the Farr 30 Sease (Farr 30), owned by Franco Loro Piana and Giacomo Loro Piana.

Top Corinthian and fourth overall was Lady Day 998 (Italia 9.98 F), owned by Corrado Annis.

Peter Buhl and Joan Navarro Guiu of Robe da Mat, respectively helmsman and skipper, were joined with Jakub Marciniak, Mads Christian Horsted Taatø, Karlo Hmeljak, Tomislav Basic, Jesper Haumann, and Piotr Przybylski.

Details: https://orc.org/worlds2026

Source: ORC