Splendid summer conditions welcomed 250 sailors, with light winds of up to 10 knots allowing the completion of the first 18-mile coastal race in the Gulf of Sanremo, followed on Saturday by a second race on a shorter course.
The winning boats in the six groups were the 1914 gaff cutter Gaudeamus in the ‘Vintage’ category, the oldest hull present, Huna II from 1967 in the ‘Classics’ category, Matrero from 1970 in the IOR Classics, Sula Iron Fox in the Open category, the 755th Arpège launched in 1972, with a round-the-world trip under its belt, with the 1956 Artica II of the Italian Navy victorious in the Sangermani category and Patrician Tiger from 1969 in the Sangermani Open category.
During the second edition of the Grandi Regate Internazionali, the Gathering for the 130th anniversary of the Cantieri Sangerman, also celebrated by the exhibition set up in the Race Village.
Among the initiatives, aimed at fostering a love of the sea in children, was a visit to the boats by students from the G. Mazzini primary school in Taggia-Levà, accompanied by member, science communicator, and Consul of the Sea Gianni Manuguerra.
THE SANGERMANI BOATS
Among the Sangermani participating in the Eltsir gathering , the 25-metre sailing giants Masa Yume (“dream come true” in Japanese) from 1983 and the 30-metre schooner Julie Mother , a Sciarrelli design launched in 1978 and arriving from Sardinia under the command of the former Venturiero Miki Amorosi , the newly restored Patrician Tiger , a 17-metre from 1969 now belonging to a pool of Dutch owners, the ever elegant Tulli from 1960, the 1956 Artica II of the Navy, Huna II from 1967, Lilli II from 1953, Chin Blu III from 1965, which this year received the BIP (Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial) certification from the French Ministry of Culture with which it can obtain subsidies for its maintenance, the fast Sandra from 1972 and Guia 2000 from 1978. 1979, an iconic IOR of the time returned to the sea after a major 7-year restoration carried out by the current Tuscan owners.
THE 2026 RANKINGS
Below are the rankings for the second edition of the Sanremo International Regattas. The jury president was Marco Cimarosti, and the Race Committee President was Fulvio Parodi from Imperia. The Committee also included Luisa Franza, a distinguished member of the Sanremo Yacht Club , a former Federal Councillor and former president of FIV Zone I.
Vintage : 1. Gaudeamus / 2. Greylag
Classic Yachts : 1. Huna II / 2. Artica II / 3. Penelope
IOR Classic : 1. Matrero / 2. The Moor of Venice / 3. Resolute Salmon
Open : 1. Sula Iron Fox / 2. White Pepper / 3. Lilli II
Sangermani : 1. Artica II / 2. Huna II / 3. Sandra
Sangermani Open : 1. Patrizio Tigre / 2. Lilli II / 3. Tulli
Sailing & Flavours 2026: Penelope
Sailing & Flavours + Sailing Combo : Artica II
Five bottles of Be!Gin , the distilled gin with begonia flowers, were delivered to five boats celebrating important birthdays this year: Il Moro di Venezia , Resolute Salmon and Bonnie , launched in 1976, Crivizza launched in 1966 and Artica II from 1956. A precious scarf from the Sanremo maison DAPHNÉ was donated to the Sangermani Lilli II from 1953 which, through its famous skipper Lucia Pozzo (17 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean and 3 of the Pacific) and the Falchette of AIRC – Foundation for Cancer Research , promoted a fundraising campaign for a scholarship worth 25,000 euros in favor of a researcher.
Among the dignitaries who attended or received awards were the mayor of Sanremo, Alessandro Mager , who praised the great work done and called the Sanremo Yacht Club ” a jewel of our city ,” Rear Admiral Roberto Bottazzi Schenone , Director of the Navy’s Sailing Office and recently also of Marisport, Sanremo’s Councilor for Tourism Alessandro Sindoni , Pino Di Meco , President of the Board of Directors of the Sanremo Casino, and Armando Biasi, Councilor of the Liguria Region . Around 300 people attended the gala dinner on Saturday evening, entertained by the Turin band Carletto e gli Impossibili.
VELA & SAPORI, PENELOPE AND ARTICA II OF THE ITALIAN NAVY WIN
The fourteenth edition of the Vela & Sapori culinary challenge , entitled ” The Scents of the Sea, ” took place on Friday, May 22nd . During the trip, the crews prepared and then delivered the cooked dishes on board.
The onshore jury consisted of Marco Cimarosti , Edoardo Varese , CEO and co-owner of the Royal Hotel in Sanremo, food entrepreneur Paola Marella , and Gianni Bojolo , vice president of the Sanremo Yacht Club. The overall victory went to the “shrimp marinated in local aromatic herbs” prepared by Penelope of the Italian Navy, who beat out 14 competitors. The Navy’s Artica II also won , with its “Ricciola in fiore” (flowering amberjack) winning the Sailing + Vela & Sapori “combined” event .
This was followed by a cooking show featuring dishes prepared by Osteria del Marinaio in Sanremo, led by chefs Umberto Brancaccio , Vittorio Carillo , and Simone Biffi , who cooked calamarata with Sanremo red prawns. On the dock, the vibrant rhythms of the Imperia-based band Tribal Trip , founded in 2010, played unconventional instruments such as the didgeridoo, bodhrán, and djembe. A toast at sunset was offered by Cantieri Sangermani to celebrate their 130th anniversary.
THE EXHIBITION ON THE 130 YEARS OF THE CANTIERI SANGERMANI
An exhibition retracing the history of the Cantieri Sangermani , a world-class leader in wooden hull construction, was set up in the large marquee erected in front of our club. Giacomo Sangermani , now representing the fourth generation alongside his brother Filippo , presented and illustrated his family’s history to crews and visitors through images of the most iconic boats (Gitana IV, Julie Mother, Masa Yume, Wallygator, Quarta Santa Maria, Barbarossa, Pegasus, Samurai, Seljim, Rolly Go, etc.), design plans, models, master shipwright’s tools, and deck hardware. It was an opportunity to remember the founder, Ettore Sangermano , known as “Dorin,” who started the business in Mulinetti in 1896, later moving to Rapallo and subsequently to Riva Trigoso. After him came Cesare Sr. and Piero Sangermani (who passed away in 1976 and 1986 respectively, becoming ‘ Sangermani ‘ due to a registry error) who, starting in 1946, moved the shipyard to its current location in Lavagna, where approximately 230 of the more than 300 boats built over a century have emerged. After them, it was Cesare Sangermani Jr. , known as “ Cesarino ”, who led the company into the modern era. Today, these boats, including the three Marina Militare hulls Artica II from 1956, Stella Polare from 1965, and Chaplin from 1974, continue to sail the seas of the world as a testament to the excellence of Italian craftsmanship. They are easily recognizable by the three hollow , tapering dots (the letter ‘ S ‘ of Morse code) positioned both on the bow and on the quarterdeck, and the same color as the beauty line. Upon request, the exhibition could become itinerant during nautical events and demonstrations.
THE AWARD CEREMONY OF THE 2025 CIM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Sanremo event hosted the awards ceremony for the CIM Classic Yacht Trophy 2025 , the 10-stage circuit spanning four Mediterranean nations. 185 boats participated, of which 55 were eligible for participation in at least three races in two countries. On stage were AIVE and CIM President Gigi Rolandi , CIM Vice President Francesco Foppiano , Frenchman Renaud Godard , President of the CIM Rating Committee, and Treasurer Thierry Leret .
Hallowe’en (1926) won among the Big Boats, Viola (1908) among the ‘Vintage’ boats, also receiving the Seamanship Award, Crivizza (1966) among the ‘Classics’, Falcon (1930) among the ‘Vintage Marconi’ boats and Matrero (1970) among the IOR Classics. Special prizes went to Marilee , the 1926 New York 40 purchased in the USA and returned to racing in the Mediterranean thanks to owner Alessandra Angelini, and to Manitou (1937), the former boat of President JFK, which was awarded the Fidelity prize for having taken part in 8 of the 10 events of the 2025 Trophy.
Thanks to our partners and sponsors : Italian Sailing Federation | CIM International Mediterranean Committee | AIVE Italian Vintage Sails Association | Italian Navy Patronage | Liguria Region | Sanremo Casino | Municipality of Sanremo | Abate Gioielli | Portosole Sanremo | Cozzi Parodi Group | E20 | Royal Hotel Sanremo.