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The setting of the San Marco Basin in Venice was the scene of the departure of the sixth edition of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour – Il Giro dell’Italia a Vela 2026.
The competing crews set sail towards Cattolica (Rimini), the first stage of a journey that will end on 12 July in Genoa. A 1,250 mile long navigation, in an east-west direction from the Adriatic Sea to the Ligurian Sea, which will also land in Vieste, Taranto, Syracuse, Tropea, Naples and Portoferraio.
Competition and its values
The competition, sponsored by CONI, is organized by Difesa Servizi SpA, in collaboration with the Navy and SSI Sport & Events, with the partnership of the Minister for Sport and Youth and the New Organizing Committee of the XX Edition of the Mediterranean Games – Taranto 2026 and the support of the Italian Sailing Federation.
A regatta that carries the flag of the Navy and “wears” its values: sailing becomes the language with which to transmit discipline, team spirit, leadership, sense of duty and ability to face challenges.
The three disciplines of the event
It is unique in the sailing panorama, as it stands out for its technical complexity.
«Since the first edition – declared Riccardo Simoneschi, CEO of SSI Sport & Events – the idea was to create something unique and international».
From this imperative was born the only sailing event that includes three disciplines: Offshore, with long offshore sailings on board the Figaro Bénéteau 3; the Inshore, with races close to the coast on small Waszps; and the Board, Wing Foil acrobatic discipline, a few meters from the beach.
The competing teams
There are ten teams in total taking part in the main competition, four of which are Italian: Navy, Air Force, Guardia di Finanza and CN Sambenedettese; six foreign crews: Team Poland (Poland); Flushing Sailing Club; Cambridge University Yacht Club and Exe Sailing Club (UK); Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee – VsaW and Bayerischer Yacht-Club (Germany).
The theme of 2026 and the Sailing Villages
The “fil rouge” between the various stages is the 2026 theme “Youth, sea and future”, the narrative key of the entire tour: the sea becomes a cultural and symbolic infrastructure that connects communities and territories, enhancing cultural heritage and attracting young people with initiatives dedicated to students, sailing academies and youth associations to encourage orientation and training courses in sea skills.
And in each of the nine landing places «we will create a Sailing Village – recalled Elio Babbo, head of the Difesa Servizi brand division -, with a rich schedule, approximately 4 days long per stage, in which there will be space for events, young people and to raise awareness of the area».