Sorrento in celebration: the Three Gulfs Sailing Week kicks off today

From May 14 to 21, the Campania city hosts Three Gulfs Sailing Week, one of the most popular and crowded competitions on the Italian racing calendar. Plenty of regattas are scheduled amidst extraordinary scenery, prestigious boats and unparalleled hospitality.

Today is a great day for Sorrento and all sailing enthusiasts. In fact, the Three Gulfs Sailing Week, one of the most popular and crowded competitions on the Italian racing calendar, is about to kick off. Organized by Circolo Remo e Vela Italia, in collaboration with the Yacht Club Italiano, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia, IMA, ORC, UVAI, AIVE, and under the aegis of FIV, the event includes a very full schedule of on-water trials between the gulfs of Sorrento, Naples and Gaeta and on-shore events that will continue until May 21.

It starts with the historic Three Gulfs Regatta, which is 67 years old this year and is also open to vintage yachts and those with two crew members. The event, which is valid for the 2022 Italian Offshore Championship, starts on Saturday, May 14, from the Santa Lucia roadstead under the walls of Castel dell’Ovo in Naples and winds along the classic 150-mile route that touches Procida, Ventotene, Ponza, scogli de Li Galli (opposite Positano) and arrives in Capri, before returning to Sorrento. For vintage boats, the route will be shortened. In fact, the “ladies of the sea” fleet will turn to Ventotene instead of Ponza, saving about 50 miles.

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Soldini with Maserati also lined up for the start

And this year to make the regatta even more spectacular, two fantastic examples of the Mod70 Class, that of the futuristic oceanic trimarans, will also be lined up at the start. And these are not just any two models: we are talking about “Maserati” under the command of Italian navigator Giovanni Soldini and “Mana” of owner Riccardo Pavoncelli. Another treat of Three Gulfs Sailing Week is the Maxi European Championship, a first since the title has never been up for grabs. The competition, which is open to Mini Maxis (between 18.29 and 24.08 meters long) and larger Maxis (24.09 to 30.50 meters long), will use the IRC regulations as its rating system and consists of an offshore race that coincides with the route of the Regatta of the Three Gulfs, plus four days of inshore racing, the latter part of the IMA Mediterranean Inshore Challenge.

A decisive test case ahead of the World Cup Orc

Finally, there is the Orc Mediterranean Championship, a classic of international offshore sailing that returns 16 years after the last edition, run in 2006. The championship begins with a long distance race of about 150 miles on the same course as the classic Three Gulfs Regatta starting in Naples on Saturday, May 14, and continues with three days of buoy racing from Thursday, May 19 to Saturday, May 21 in the stretch of sea between Capri and Sorrento. These are also valid for the Tyrrhenian National Championship and selection for the Italian ORC Championship. Among the boats to beat are Giovanni Di Vincenzo’s “Lisa R” with its strong young crew coordinated by Francesco Bertone and Frederic Puzin’s “green” “Daguet,” which won the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2021 in ORC.

All the magic of the Sorrento coast

The Maxis will be hosted at the main pier of Sorrento’s enchanting Marina Piccola, while the ORCs will be at the marina in the picturesque village of Piano di Sorrento: two unforgettable settings for the social events that will also welcome the crews. The awards ceremony for all events of Three Gulfs Sailing Week is set for Saturday, May 21, with the Mayor of Sorrento in attendance at the City’s Villa Comunale. Now you know why this is an event not to be missed!

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