The waters of the Strait of Messina are preparing to host, for the first time in the history of the city, the excellence of youth FOIL sailing. From the 4 to 6 April 2026coinciding with the Easter weekend, around thirty young sailors from all over Italy will compete to conquer the first stage of theItaly Cup WASZP class. The event is the result of the collaboration between Italian Naval League and the Navy. Thanks to the logistical support of the Logistics Support Unit of the Navy and the Port Authority, the “flying” boats will speed at speeds exceeding 20 knotsoffering a unique spectacle between the Sicilian and Calabrian coasts.
Competition details
Path: The helmsmen will start under the gaze of the Madonna della Lettera, cross the Strait and lap the coasts of Calabria, and then cross the finish line under the Peloritana coast.
Opening hours for the public: It will be possible to witness the evolutions of the athletes between the 9 and 12.
Observation points: The areas recommended for the public are the seafront of the northern coast and the panoramic area near the “Ricrio a Mare” meeting place, outside the Falcata area.
The choice of location is not random: tests carried out in summer 2024 confirmed that the weather and sea conditions of the Strait are ideal to allow WASZP boats to express maximum performance. This potential has pushed the Italian Sailing Federation and the WASZP class to reward the commitment of the Italian Naval League in promoting this discipline among very young people.