It ended yesterday in the waters of Porto Cervo the 2026 edition of the Grand Soleil Cup, which started from the docks of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and characterized by two days of intense racing, variable weather conditions and the usual spirit of sharing that accompanies the events signed Cantiere del Pardo.
Out of a fleet of 21 boats entered in the overall standings, the final winners were Pantarei 2 in the Grand Soleil Yachts Plus category and Yankee R in the Grand Soleil Yachts division.
Grand Soleil Yachts Champions
In the Grand Soleil Yachts category, reserved for boats up to 60 feet, the top step of the podium went to Yankee R, Pierfrancesco Costagliola’s (CN e della Vela Argentario) Grand Soleil 40 Performance. Thanks to a third and a second place in the races held, the crew finished the event with 5 points overall.
Behind him completed the podium Raffica 3, the GS 43 of Walter Tronconi (Circolo della Vela Erix), and Tobalù Del Mar, GS 42 LC armed by Marco Carletto (Fraglia Vela Malcesine).
Raffica 3 itself has perfectly embodied the climate that makes the Grand Soleil Cup special: a group of friends, with no professionals on board, united by the experience and pleasure of meeting each year in the same ports. This is the heart of the “Grand Soleil family,” a community in which the brand becomes an element of union among owners who share the same passion for the sea and sailing.
Pantarei 2 at the top of the Plus category
Among the boats of Grand Soleil Yachts Plus, the division dedicated to yachts over 60 feet, the final success went to Pantarei 2, Grand Soleil 72 Performance owned by Carlo Pagliani (CN La Maddalena), the protagonist of an excellent second day that allowed him to take the leadership of the overall ranking.
Second position for the brand new Grand Soleil 80 LC Bianca 2, on which designer Matteo Polli was also present. Completing the podium was the GS 65 LC of Andrea Cavagnis (Il Portodimare).
An in-depth test is already planned for Bianca 2 and will be published in the next issue of the magazine.
Two days of unstable wind
The trials were held in far from easy weather conditions, with unstable winds and constant changes in strength and direction that put pressure on tacticians and helmsmen on the always spectacular Costa Smeralda race course.
During the second day, after the start in front of Porto Cervo Marina, the long upwind leg towards the Monks rewarded the crews able to better interpret the wind swings. Then the fleet opened the gennakers on the descent towards the Bisce channel, where several boats – including Bianca 2 – suffered a definite drop in pressure, losing valuable ground.
After passing the Mortoriotto Rocks, the Race Committee decided to shorten the course precisely because of the further decrease in wind.
An increasingly international community
The Porto Cervo event represents another step in the international growth path of the Grand Soleil Cup and the community linked to Cantiere del Pardo. During 2026, Grand Soleil Cup events have already been held in Sydney and Puerto Rico, the latter included in the multiclass La Vuelta a Culebra.
It also continues the tradition of the Grand Soleil Vintage Cup in Portopiccolo-Sistiana, an event dedicated to models designed before 2000 and which has now become a true benchmark for the brand’s Classic Boats.
The date is now set for 2027, when the Grand Soleil Cup will once again return to the waters of Porto Cervo, with holding scheduled later in the season, however, in June.
Giacomo Barbaro
