2026 Range Rover Sardinia Cup Day 2 - Long-distance offshore race
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 4 Jun 10:56 PDT
31 May - 7 June 2026
The long-distance offshore race in the Range Rover Sardinia Cup concluded this morning as participants completed the course of approximately 130 miles.
The start, originally scheduled for 3 p.m. CEST yesterday, 3 June, was postponed due to particularly strong Mistral winds, moving to 8 p.m. in line with the forecast drop in windspeed to below 30 knots.
The start provided sheer spectacle, with the yachts set off on a reach as dusk fell off the islands of Li Nibani. The two classes started separately on a course that was new even to sailors accustomed to racing in this area. After leaving the islands of Mortorio and Soffi to port, the boats turned under gennaker to the open sea, leaving a waypoint to the south-east to starboard, before heading back to the coast off San Teodoro.
Then it was out to sea again, racing north-east to the Range Rover waypoint, more than 35 miles off the coast. After rounding it to port, the fleet sailed upwind to the Isola dei Monaci, which the first boats reached around 8.30 a.m., before a final reaching leg to cross the finish line off Porto Cervo. As forecast, the wind eased to around 18-20 knots overnight, making for a long and demanding race, as befits an offshore event, but without undue risk to crews.
The winner in SC1 was Ino Veritas for the RORC, followed by the YCCS' Django WR and RocketNikka for the Yacht Club Repubblica Marinara di Pisa. Lisa R, Blue and Xio completed the finishers, while Jolt 3 and Red Bandit were forced to retire due to damage. The latter subsequently announced its definitive withdrawal from the event. Spirit of Lorina and Albator 3 elected not to compete in the long-distance race.
Back on the docks Dean Barker, tactician on Ino Veritas, commented: "The Committee's decision to postpone proved to be the right one, but the long wait made it difficult to prepare. It was a demanding race, but the entire crew executed the manoeuvres flawlessly. In such a complex race, that's the best you can hope for. Jolt had got off to a great start and was going strong before the problem that forced her to retire - it would have been interesting to go head-to-head right to the end. The long run to the first mark after Soffi was exceptional and, more generally, it was a wonderful race in a unique setting."
Also on board Ino Veritas was Italian sailor Gabriele Olivo, who added: "I'm very happy to see the return of the Sardinia Cup, an event I'm particularly fond of having raced and won one of the last editions. The conditions were tough, especially in the first part of the course, but I think this regatta has to be viewed not just as an event with sunshine and thermal breezes. The Sardinia Cup has to be a complete challenge, requiring preparation, primed crews and boats that can compete even in strong winds, and that's what gives it its value."
The win in SC2 also went to the RORC team with Per Roman's Swedish GP42 Garm, ahead of another Swedish yacht, Ran, racing for the RORC Gold team. Third place went to Django JP, flying the YCCS burgee, followed in fourth place by Nola and Kuka in fifth. The German yacht Neomind retired.
Per Roman, owner of Garm, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this victory in the offshore race, the first ever for a Swedish boat in the history of the Sardinia Cup. It's my first time here, but my father sailed in many previous editions and being here is truly special. Our expectations have been far exceeded. This is one of the most beautiful regatta courses I have ever seen and the hospitality of the YCCS along with the beauty of Sardinia make the experience unique.
"It was a tough race on the water, with an evening start and strong breeze. Ran got off to a great start, but we managed to overtake her on the first downwind leg and from that moment on we pushed as hard as we could right to the finish line."
With the offshore race being non-discardable and carrying double points, the RORC now leads the Range Rover Sardinia Cup team standings, thanks to victories in both classes. In second place is the YCCS with the Django team, and in third is the Yacht Club Repubblica Marinara di Pisa.
Tomorrow, 5 June, two windward-leeward races are scheduled, with the first start at 12 noon CEST. The forecast is for Mistral winds of around 20 knots. In the evening, owners and their guests will attend a dinner on the terrace at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.