Tre Golfi Sailing Week IMA Maxi European Championship Inshore Series - Overall
by Tre Golfi Sailing Week 22 May 2025 11:24 PDT
7-22 May 2025
Tre Golfi Sailing Week IMA Maxi European Championship Inshore Series prizegiving © Tre Golfi Sailing Week / Studio Borlenghi
With the overall victory of Bella Mente, owned by American Hap Fauth and skippered by Terry Hutchinson, the curtain falls on the Tre Golfi Sailing Week 2025.
For the second consecutive year, the US-based Maxi 72 has claimed the IMA Maxi European Championship, confirming its status as a benchmark in the circuit. Joining Bella Mente on the podium are Jolt by Peter Harrison with Michele Ivaldi as tactician in second place, and North Star by Peter Dubens - a member of Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia - in third.
"I'm so proud of the team and the work we've done, and we are really grateful to our owner Hap Fauth for everything he does for us and for bringing us here to race," commented Bella Mente tactician Terry Hutchinson. "The team worked really well all week, and we battled hard. The conditions were tricky, and yesterday's two windward-leeward races were definitely the turning point. We were consistent, not always perfect, but we were always in the game. I think the work we did over the winter really paid off, especially in the coastal races. It's incredibly exciting. Huge thanks to Sorrento, to Rolex and Loro Piana for everything they do for our sport. How lucky are we to be here, doing what we love, with people we love—it's simply spectacular".
Four days of flawless racing in the Gulf of Naples provided a superb blend of competition and scenery, made possible by steady weather that allowed the full program to run as planned: three coastal races and one day of windward-leeward races, with 30 Maxis on the water and top-level performances in every group.
Today's final coastal race closed the championship in grand style: 25 nautical miles through the heart of the Mediterranean, from Sorrento to the base of Mount Vesuvius. The start was at 11:00 with 10 knots from the southwest, followed 20 minutes later by the Multihulls. The breeze held steady and rose slightly to 13-14 knots, delivering fast and exhilarating sailing. The standout performer was V, owned by Czech sailor Karel Komarek with Ken Read calling tactics, leading from start to finish. Galateia, co-owned by CRV Italia member Chris Flowers and David Leuschen, followed closely, along with Bullitt, the Wally 93 of YCCS Commodore Andrea Recordati. The top three positions remained unchanged even after corrected time.
In the overall standings under corrected time, Bella Mente took the European title with a clear margin, having won two races and remained consistently strong throughout the week. The leaderboard confirms the dominance of the Maxi 72s (Grand Prix Group 2), which claimed the top four spots overall, proving their exceptional balance between performance and rating.
In the Multihull fleet, there was no contest: Gaetana by Riccardo Pavoncelli (CRV Italia) won all five races, taking home the 2025 IMA Tre Golfi Multihull Trophy with a perfect scoreline.
The prestigious Loro Piana Challenge Trophy - awarded to the best performing Maxi 1 crew (the largest yachts in the fleet, including nine over 80 feet) - went to Galateia, whose consistency and speed stood out in a group that featured some of the most elegant, high-tech yachts on the international racing scene.
"I love Sorrento, I think the event was run incredibly well. Starting with the offshore race was such a great way to build our team dynamic, and it made the rest of the five races feel shorter. I was on the helm—my first offshore race—and to finish by crossing the line first was amazing," said Lizz Flowers, daughter of one of Galateia's owners. "We rotated on the helm because it's 13 hours, but winning is always fun, especially your first. We're definitely planning to come back—it's been wonderful".
Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia President Roberto Mottola di Amato added: "This was a spectacular edition. We had the best of world sailing here in Sorrento, in ideal conditions and with a level of participation that fills us with pride. Bella Mente was impeccable, but all the boats showed exceptional skill and professionalism. We are grateful to the owners, crews, partners and institutions that support us. For next year, we are working toward awarding a European title for each IMA group, to better highlight the talent and competitiveness within every category".
With the conclusion of the IMA Maxi European Championship, the Tre Golfi Sailing Week 2025 also comes to a close, and preparations are already under way for an even greater 2026:
- ORC World Championship: 5-14 May 2026
- IMA Maxi European Championship: 22-27 May 2026
- 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi: the Mediterranean's classic offshore race will set off on the evening of Friday, 22 May from Naples.
Tre Golfi Sailing Week is organized by Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, in collaboration with Yacht Club Italiano, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, IMA, ORC, FIV, and UVAI, with the valued support of partners: Rolex Official Timepiece, Loro Piana, North Sails, Wally Yachts, Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., Ferrarelle, Ottogas, Deloitte, Italia Yachts, Le Axidie, Caffè Borbone, Schenker, Miliare, and Consorzio Prosecco DOC.