Spirted Competition at the Swan Cup

The quays in front of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were alive with the record fleet of 170 Nautor Swan yachts, gathered in Porto Cervo for the 23rd edition of the Rolex Swan Cup, with racing September 16-19, 2026. The Rolex Swan Cup is arguably a triumph before it even begins, and this was particularly so this year. A fleet of 170 performance yachts from one shipyard, a yacht club steeped in the art of flawless race management, a unique spirit among all competing crews and three partners in perfect alignment marked the defining qualities.

Held biennially for over four decades, the regatta seamlessly blends the common values of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Nautor Swan and Rolex, title sponsor since 1984, to create an event where camaraderie ashore and competitiveness on the water thrive. World champion sailor Paul Cayard has witnessed many exceptional events during an impressive career in yachting. Competing in Porto Cervo this past week left a lasting impression.

“The Rolex Swan Cup is a lot of things to a lot of people. The record fleet this year is just phenomenal. The yachts are both high quality and high performing, and their owners are very, very passionate. The regatta itself is a meeting of nearly 2,000 crew, mixing convivial atmosphere with some intense racing. The 40-year relationship between the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Nautor Swan and Rolex, whose support of yachting is unwavering, is a truly successful recipe,” said Cayard.

Four standout yachts were scored as the best performing in Maxi, Cruiser/Racer, Legacy and One Design, topping their individual classes as well as the others in their divisions. Respectively, the quartet were: Gérard Logel’s Swan 601 @robas from France, Fernando Chain’s Swan 45 From Now On representing Argentina, William Graves’ Swan 44 from the United States and Hendrik Brandis’ ClubSwan 50 Earlybird.

The competing fleet ranged in size from 36 feet to 131 feet, and from the earliest days of the Finnish luxury boat builder right through to some of its latest models, including the exquisite Swan 128. This year marks six decades of supremely-skilled workmanship for Nautor Swan, and the yachts gathered for this week of spirited competition in and around the Maddalena Archipelago provided a fitting tribute. The racing was close fought and the winners leave Porto Cervo confident that their preparation ahead of the event and skill on the race course reached the highest of standards.

With 170 yachts taking part, this was one of the largest gatherings ever staged for the most iconic name in sailing. Together, the fleet represented more than a mile and a half of yachts in a single line, creating a spectacular living timeline of six decades of Swan design, technology and sailing culture. They hoist flags from 30 nations, with Australia, Japan and New Zealand represented.

From the Swan 36 Tarantella, designed by Sparkman & Stephens and among the early cruising yachts to feature the innovative separation of rudder and keel, to the magnificent Swan 128, a showcase of contemporary technology and timeless style, the fleet offered a remarkable portrait of the evolution of sailing yacht design.

Between these two extremes lies an extraordinary succession of names, styles and technical philosophies. After Sparkman & Stephens came designers such as Ron Holland, German Frers and Juan K., each contributing to the distinctive Swan legacy.

For several days, the pontoons of Marina di Porto Cervo became the setting for what could be described as an extraordinary industrial fairytale: a story in which the passion of yacht owners has always met the finest expressions of design and craftsmanship.

One of the most memorable moments came even before racing began, with the Dance of the Swans, when the entire fleet took part in a spectacular sail around Isola dei Monaci. It was a unique image and an emotion destined to remain part of the history of the event.

“There is something unique about Swans,” said Paul Cayard, Rolex ambassador and former member of the Nautor Swan Board of Directors. “For any other brand, it would be practically impossible to organize an event like this.” That sense of belonging was perhaps the defining feature of this edition. More than 2,000 sailors gathered in Porto Cervo not simply to race, but to share a lifestyle, a passion and a common identity, becoming part of what is universally known as the Swan family.

The Winners

The 2026 ClubSwan racing series in Porto Cervo concluded with a thrilling final day, as the Swan One Design and Swan Legacy fleets crowned their overall winners following a week of highly competitive racing.

In the Swan classes, Freya (Swan 90) claimed the Swan Maxi title after a remarkable comeback, winning the final three races of the series. Arobas (Swan 601) secured the Swan Mini-Maxi title through consistent results, while From Now On (Swan 45) took victory in the Swan Cruiser Racer class after three consecutive race wins.

Among the Swan Legacy yachts, Shirlaf (Swan 65) prevailed in a closely fought Sparkman & Stephens ≥47’ class, edging Elan on the final day. Pride (Swan 44) won the Sparkman & Stephens ≤44’ category and also claimed the overall title among the Legacy yachts. Lunz am Meer (Swan 651) dominated the Classics by Frers class, while Katia (Swan 39) was the sole Ron Holland design competing in the Swan Legacy fleet. In Swan Pure Cruising, Black Zero (Swan 51) secured victory on countback, while Azzurro (Swan 78) completed a dominant run in the Swan Maxi Pure Cruising class with three consecutive wins.

The ClubSwan One Design fleets also delivered a highly competitive finale. Earlybird, owned by Hendrik Brandis with Francesco “Checco” Bruni calling tactics, won the ClubSwan 50 after an outstanding series featuring five victories from seven races. Cuordileone finished second, with Hatari third.

In the ClubSwan 43, Team 42+1 secured the title with six consecutive victories followed by a second place in the final race. The ClubSwan 42 title went to Nadir after an exceptionally close battle with Pez de Abril: the two teams finished level on points and had identical countback scores, with Nadir taking the championship thanks to its victory in the final race.

Cuordileone dominated the ClubSwan 36, winning the first four races and securing the overall title ahead of Goddess and Fra Martina. In the ClubSwan 28, Anya Race claimed victory by just one point over Black Swan, with Marcello completing the podium.

The final day brought the 2026 ClubSwan racing program to a close with a series of decisive performances, close overall classifications and victories reflecting both consistency and strong finishing form across the fleets.

The Fabio Gallia Trophy: Sailing Beyond Competition

Among the strongest expressions of the spirit of passion, friendship and respect for the sea was the Fabio Gallia Trophy, awarded to French sailor Catherine Chabaud, who raced aboard Storm alongside fellow French sailor Lionel Lemoncheau.

Chabaud made history as the first woman to complete the Vendée Globe, the solo, non-stop round-the-world race, which she contested twice. In the 1996–1997 edition, she finished sixth overall aboard Whirlpool Europe 2. She has crossed the Atlantic fifteen times and began her competitive sailing career in 1991 by taking part in the Mini Transat. Following her racing career, she turned to journalism and marine conservation, a commitment that eventually led to her appointment as Ministre Délégué e Chargée de la Mer et de la Pêche in the second Lecornu administration.

Two years ago, the same trophy was awarded to Marco Trombetti, following his participation in the Ocean Globe Race aboard Translated 9, which also returned to compete in this spectacular Rolex Swan Cup.

Celebrating the ClubSwan Family

The Rolex Swan Cup’s sense of community was equally evident during the Rolex Swan Cup Crew Party, where a series of special awards celebrated the people and stories that make the Swan world unique. Among the most touching moments was the recognition of Swan 44 S&S Hokusai, which hosted the youngest sailor at the event’s opening Dance of the Swans: Oliver Hartas’s five-month-old daughter, already introduced to life at sea and to the Swan family.

The Swan 53 Galadriel, owned by photographer Luca Villata, was recognised as the Best Maintained Swan, following an extensive refit carried out by Swan Global Service in Scarlino.

The Spirit of Swan Award went to Windekind, sailed by family members only— father, mother and son.

The ClubSwan Ambassador Award was presented to Filip Beyens, owner of the Swan 51 Vesper, in recognition of his commitment and tireless work in helping to grow the ClubSwan fleet together with fellow members of the Swan community.

Looking Ahead to 2027 and 2028

As the 2026 Rolex Swan Cup drew to a close, Luisa Bambozzi announced the next major appointment in the Swan calendar, “The next edition of The Nations Trophy 2027 will take place in Porto Cervo from 2 to 5 June 2027. The event, open to Swan Maxi – Swan Spirit – Swan Legacy – Swan One Design, will keep the ClubSwan spirit and excitement alive on the road to the 2028 Rolex Swan Cup. I would like to thank all the owners who have joined us and embraced the event with such enthusiasm.”

For Gianguido Girotti, CEO of Nautor Swan, real success lies beyond the racing, “The partnership between Rolex, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Nautor Swan is one of mutual respect, the result of shared values that blend together in an incredible location and create more than just a regatta for the community of Swan owners.”

The Secretary General of the YCCS, Giorgio Benussi, is another to endorse the viewpoint that the event’s strength is so much more than the competition on the water, “The Rolex Swan Cup is like a family reunion. It is beautiful that it brings together so many sailors, whether friends, amateur or professional, champion or legend. It is challenging, but the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda enjoys the opportunity, and the three partners have been working together for many years to ensure it is a success on every occasion.”

Cayard, too, takes this open view, making the point that achievement in sport and especially at a competition like the Rolex Swan Cup is about so much more than simply winning, “I have been a sailor all my life and we are blessed to be on the water and in the wind chasing excellence. While you cannot win every time, you can always be learning. Whether you win or lose, weeks like the Rolex Swan Cup are a valuable part of the journey.”

From classic Swans to the latest generation of high-performance yachts, from legendary designers to new generations of sailors, the 2026 Rolex Swan Cup once again demonstrated that the Swan story is about far more than yachts.
It is about heritage, design, performance, friendship and belonging — a shared passion that continues to bring together generations of sailors in some of the most beautiful waters in the world.

Porto Cervo may have lowered the sails on this edition, but the Swan family is already looking towards the next chapter.

Event details – https://www.yccs.it/en/regattas-2026/rolex_swan_cup-3345.html

Source: Yacht Club Costa Smeralda