Sailing Regattas

The racing season from April to October, the classic yachts and the maxis, and the America’s Cup in Naples in 2027.

The Grand Harbour, Valletta · Photo: Mike Nahlii / Unsplash

Spring and early summer

From PalmaVela to the Giraglia

The Mediterranean racing season runs from late April to October, with the classic yachts of Antibes, Imperia and Saint-Tropez, the maxis of Porto Cervo and the offshore races to the Giraglia rock and around Sicily. To watch, take a spectator boat or follow from your own yacht; to race, a charter broker can find a place aboard. We give the months; each regatta publishes its dates on its own site. Checked 31 October 2026.

PalmaVelaPalma, Mallorca, Spain · late April into May
The Real Club Náutico de Palma’s spring regatta, one of the first big-boat gatherings of the European season, with Maxi and TP52 classes. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Mallorca guide
Les Voiles d’AntibesAntibes, France · June
Since 1996, the regatta that opens the Mediterranean season for classic yachts, racing out of Port Vauban. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Cannes and Antibes

Yachts in Port Vauban, with the Fort Carré beyond, Antibes · Photo: Txllxt TxllxT / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Loro Piana GiragliaSaint-Tropez, France · June
The offshore race from Saint-Tropez around the Giraglia rock off Corsica, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Saint-Tropez guide
The Superyacht Cup PalmaPalma, Mallorca, Spain · June
The great superyacht regatta of the Mediterranean. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎

Sailing yachts in the harbour of Palma, with the city and the Serra de Tramuntana beyond · Photo: Rene Cortin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Argentario Sailing WeekPorto Santo Stefano, Italy · June
Yacht Club Santo Stefano’s regatta for classic and vintage yachts, several of them more than a century old.
Spetses Classic Yacht RegattaSpetses, Greece · June
Classic yachts in the Saronic Gulf. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Porto Heli and Spetses

Late summer and autumn

From the Copa del Rey to the Middle Sea Race

Copa del Rey MAPFREPalma, Mallorca, Spain · August
The King’s Cup regatta, sailed off Mallorca. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Vele d’Epoca di ImperiaImperia, Liguria, Italy · late August into September
The classic-yacht regatta of the Italian Riviera, the centrepiece of the Imperia Sailing Week.
Maxi Yacht Rolex CupPorto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy · September
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s regatta for the world’s largest racing yachts. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Costa Smeralda guide

A sailing yacht at anchor in the bay of Porto Cervo, Costa Smeralda · Photo: Klaus Bärwinkel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Les Voiles de Saint-TropezSaint-Tropez, France · late September into October
Classic and modern yachts together in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the regatta that closes the Riviera season. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Saint-Tropez guide
Rolex Middle Sea RaceMalta · October
The offshore race organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, from the Grand Harbour around Sicily and back. Visit website (opens the official site) ↗︎
Valletta guide

Coming in 2027

The America’s Cup in Naples

The 38th America’s CupNaples, Italy · 2027
For the first time, the America’s Cup will be raced in Italy, in the Bay of Naples. The Match is scheduled to start on 10 July 2027 and to be decided by the weekend of 17 and 18 July, after the challenger racing in the spring.
Naples guide · The events of 2027

For the yacht clubs and marinas, see sport and motoring and marinas.

More sport

The rest of the sporting year

Tennis and padelMonte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome on clay, and the padel tour.
Equestrian and horse racingShow jumping by the sea, Piazza di Siena, the Palio and polo.
Cycling and marathonsThe Giro, the races to the Riviera, and the great city marathons.
Sport and motoringPolo, sailing clubs, tennis academies and driving.
The events calendarThe year’s great events, month by month.

Ask our concierge

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.