Nastro Rosa Tour 2026 - Giro d'Italia a Vela crowns its champions in Genoa
by Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour 12 Jul 10:59 BST
The 2026 Giro d'Italia a Vela comes to a close with its finish in Genoa © Filippo Federici
After countless breathtaking starts, 30-knot runs, gruelling calms, and light breezes, the 2026 Giro d'Italia a Vela crowns its champions in Genoa for both the offshore and inshore races.
The Italian Air Force sweeps the board in a record-breaking edition that concludes amid the splendour of the Palazzo Ducale.
The northern Tyrrhenian Sea provided the setting for the final, memorable act of a spectacular and relentless voyage. The 2026 Giro d'Italia a Vela, the highlight of the Italian Navy's Nastro Rosa Tour, came to a close in the Gulf of Genoa, capping off an edition destined to go down in history.
The last twenty-four hours of racing were a pure distillation of everything that makes offshore sailing such a ruthless and wonderful sport: impressive average speeds, crucial tactical decisions, and that bizarre twist of fate that only the wind can orchestrate when it decides to shake things up just a step away from the finish line.
The Great Race from the Tyrrhenian Sea to Giraglia
The Figaro 3 fleet set sail from the piers of Portoferraio, knowing they were in for a race of the highest caliber. The first part of this final leg was shaped by a strong, steady wind, which propelled the crews to dizzying average speeds as they sailed up the Tyrrhenian Sea. The most iconic and spectacular moment for the entire fleet took place during the legendary passage around the Giraglia rock. Here, the foiling one-designs literally flew over the waves, shattering every projected schedule and foreshadowing a record-time arrival in Liguria—hours ahead of the predictions made the day before.
A triumphant race that showcased the boats' seafaring capabilities and the crews' skill, as they pushed their boats to the limit to make the most of every single gust. But offshore races, as we know, offer no respite until the very last line is cast ashore.
Checkmate under the Lanterna
The Gulf of Genoa presented itself to the sailors in its most unpredictable guise. Just as the outlines of the Ligurian coast came into sharp focus and the finish line seemed like a mere formality, the thermal wind suddenly died down, giving way to a complete calm. The final miles thus turned into a grueling game of floating chess. The fleet, which until then had been spread out due to the gaps that had built up during hours of fast sailing, closed in on each other dramatically, erasing all advantages just three hundred meters from the finish line.
In an arena of pure tactics, where sailors hunted for every slightest breeze while skimming the water's surface, steady nerves took precedence over sheer speed. The extremely high competitive level of this race is evident in the timekeepers' results: all ten Figaro 3s crossed the finish line within just two hours—a mere blink of an eye after days of offshore sailing. Coming out on top in this final sprint was the Cambridge University Yacht Club, which crossed the line first after gritting its teeth all the way to the finish. Behind them, after a magnificent performance full of grit and character, came the Italian Air Force crew, followed on the third step of the stage podium by the Dutch team from the Flushing Sailing Club.
The Italian Air Force's triumph in the overall standings
With the arrival in Genoa, the points standings were finalized, crowning the overall champions of the 2026 Giro d'Italia a Vela, both for the long offshore races and for the spectacular, adrenaline-fueled inshore races dedicated to the Waszp and WingFoil classes, which took place at every stage.
The results of the offshore races in this 2026 Giro d'Italia, contested aboard Bénéteau Figaro 3s, saw an outright triumph for the Italian Air Force. The crew consisting of Giancarlo Simeoli, Niccolò Bertola, and Giovanni Bannetta clinched the world title with a total of 126 points, demonstrating impeccable consistency and strategic superiority throughout all the stages of the Italian circumnavigation. The silver medal went to the Guardia di Finanza, led with their usual mastery by the duo of Paolo Cian and Pierluigi Fornelli, who finished with 120 points at the end of a very close battle. Rounding out the international podium in the offshore standings is the Flushing Sailing Club, a mixed crew sailing under the British, Dutch, and Canadian flags and led by Femke Schaap and Levi Ogryzlo, who finished their race with 102 points.
Aeronautica also dominates the InShore regattas
The dominance of the Italian Air Force sailors has also extended decisively to the acrobatic disciplines. In the overall Waszp singles standings, the Italian team clinched the top spot on the podium thanks to the performance of Britain's William Symonds, who scored a total of 56 points. Second place went once again to the Guardia di Finanza, which fielded New Zealander Ash Cole, who finished with 50 points, while the bronze medal went to the Flushing Sailing Club, courtesy of Englishman Alex Jones with 48 points.
In WingFoil, too, the story remained the same: Riccardo Bevilacqua secured a gold hat trick for the Italian Air Force, dominating the fleet with 38 points. Behind him was Donato Foschini, representing the Cambridge University Yacht Club, with 35 points, followed by Andrea Camerota of the EXE Sailing Club, who finished third with 28 points.
The consecration in the history of the Doge's Palace
Once the excitement of the race at sea had died down and the sails had been stowed away in their bags, the fleet left the docks and headed to the historic and cultural heart of Genoa. The final event of the Italian Navy's Nastro Rosa Tour took place in a monumental setting worthy of great maritime feats.
No impromptu award ceremonies on the piers, but a solemn ceremony in the heart of the Doge's Palace. The sumptuous Hall of the Great Council serves as the perfect setting for the coronation of the new kings of the Italian seas. Amid stucco, frescoes, and the warm welcome of officials and enthusiasts, the sailors will received their trophies yesterday's evening, July 11, for an edition that has symbolically united the seas of the peninsula under the banner of sports, speed, and a great seafaring tradition.
Navy Pink Ribbon Tour 2026 at a glance
OBJECTIVE: The goal of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour 2026 is to promote offshore sailing in Italy and coastal tourism, as well as the presence of women in offshore racing and the new culture of environmental sustainability.
ORGANIZERS: The Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour 2026 is organized by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. in collaboration with the Navy and SSI Sport & Events, with the institutional partnership of the Minister for Sport and Youth and the Department for Youth Policies and Universal Civil Service, with the support of the Italian Sailing Federation and under the patronage of CONI, configuring itself as a format with national and international scope capable of going beyond the sports dimension and establishing itself as a strategic platform for communication and enhancement of territories.