Capricorno returns to Porto Cervo for the 2026 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
by Deea Buzdugan 4 Sep 16:02 NZST
6-12 September 2026
Capricorno © Deea Buzdugan
Capricorno, the Judel/Vrolijk-designed 80-footer, returns to one of the world's most prestigious maxi yacht events, lining up for the 2026 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, Sardinia from 6th to 12th September.
Hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International Maxi Association and supported by Rolex, the event has long been regarded as a defining fixture of the international maxi racing calendar.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena Archipelago, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup brings together some of the world's most performant maxi yachts and sailors for a week of high-level competition.
In such a competitive fleet, performance is measured in the smallest margins. For Capricorno, the objective is clear: maximise the potential of the yacht and crew and compete at the highest level throughout the week in one of the most demanding and tactically complex sailing environments in the Mediterranean.
Professional Crew
The campaign will be supported by an exceptional professional crew, bringing together experience from the highest levels of international sailing.
Leading the line-up is Brazilian sailing legend Torben Grael, one of the most decorated sailors in Olympic history, with five Olympic medals and a Volvo Ocean Race victory to his name.
He will be joined by an accomplished group of international professionals including Flavio Favini, one of Italy's most respected tacticians and a multiple world champion; Alberto Bolzan, a veteran of the Volvo Ocean Race; alongside experienced maxi yacht specialists Claudio Celon, Stefano Rizzi and Francesco Rapetti.
Flavio Favini and Claudio Celon also arrive in Porto Cervo fresh from victory at the 2026 ITMA 12 Metre World Championship, where they were part of the crew aboard KZ-5 that secured the world title.
"Performance is measured in the smallest margins. For Capricorno, the objective is clear: maximise the potential of the yacht and crew and compete at the highest level throughout the week."
More than a race, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has become a meeting point for the leading yachts, owners, designers and sailors in the maxi world. Its unique combination of sporting excellence, heritage and the spectacular setting of Porto Cervo makes it one of the highlights of the Mediterranean sailing season.
Capricorno now turns her bow towards Porto Cervo, ready for another week of elite maxi yacht racing in the waters of the Costa Smeralda.
Follow the campaign here.