One of Sailing’s Most Illustrious Races Will Have a Record Fleet This Year
The Rolex Swan Cup never fails to disappoint. The invitation-only regatta, which takes place off the coast of Sardinia every two years, brings Nautor Swan owners from three continents together for a week of thrilling racing. The 23rd edition might just be the most special yet, though.
The upcoming race will not only coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Finnish shipyard but also feature the most Swans to date. Over 160 sailing yachts are expected to participate in the five-day event, many of which have never competed before.
Leading the fleet is Tarantella—the very first production Nautor Swan built and one of the most important sailing yachts of all time. Commissioned by yard founder Pekka Koskenkylä, the 36-footer hit the seas in 1966, marking the start of Nautor Swan’s illustrious building legacy. She was recently treated to a meticulous refit and should look spectacular with the famed Mistral winds in her sails.
The fleet will also include the Swan 128 flagships, the new Swan 80, and other fresh Swans, as well as historic yachts from the early years, demonstrating the yard’s continued evolution. Other standouts include the Swan 131, a.k.a. the longest Swan ever built, and the 51-foot Formosa, the first yacht owned by Nautor Swan chairman Leonardo Ferragamo.
The yachts will gather at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo on Tuesday, September 22 for practice races before embarking on four days of competitive sailing from Wednesday, September 23 to Saturday, September 26. The daily courses run throughout Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena archipelago. The winning team in each division walks away with a trophy and an engraved Rolex.
Beyond the race itself, sailors get to enjoy several fancy soirées, including a special owners’ dinner on Thursday, the legendary Rolex Crew Party on Friday, and the prestigious prize-giving ceremony on Saturday. They can also attend daily post-race gatherings in Piazza Azzurra.
“Since its very first edition, the Rolex Swan Cup has been defined by its family spirit, with owners and crews returning to the waters of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago not only to race in a unique setting, but above all to gather together,” Andrea Recordati, commodore of the YCCS, said in a statement. “We are ready to welcome the great Swan family to enjoy a very special week, united in the spirit of sailing and friendship.”
This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.
FAQs
The 23rd Rolex Swan Cup begins with practice races on September 22, 2026, followed by competitive sailing from September 23 through September 26.
The Rolex Swan Cup is based at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, with racing taking place around Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago.
More than 160 Nautor Swan sailing yachts are expected to participate, making the 2026 edition the largest Rolex Swan Cup to date.
The event coincides with Nautor Swan’s 60th anniversary and will bring together historic and contemporary yachts spanning six decades of the Finnish shipyard’s production.
Highlights include Tarantella, the first production Nautor Swan; the Swan 131, the longest Swan ever built; the Swan 128 flagships; the new Swan 80; and Leonardo Ferragamo’s 51-foot Formosa.