Record Swan fleet

A record fleet of 170 yachts has gathered in Porto Cervo for the 23rd Rolex Swan Cup, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Nautor Swan.

Photography by Nautor Swan

18 September 2026

The Rolex Swan Cup has returned to Porto Cervo with its largest fleet to date, bringing together 170 Nautor Swan yachts and around 1,800 sailors for four days of racing off Sardinia.

Organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in collaboration with Nautor Swan and with the support of title sponsor Rolex, the 23rd edition is being held from 13 to 19 September, with racing from 16 to 19 September.

This year’s regatta also marks the 60th anniversary of Nautor Swan, founded in Finland in 1966.

The fleet spans six decades of Swan design, from Tarantella, Swan 36-001 and the first Swan ever built, through to the latest generation of yachts including the Swan 80 and Swan 128.

The Rolex Swan Cup fleet races through the spectacular waters off Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

The Rolex Swan Cup combines competitive racing with the spectacular coastal scenery of Sardinia's Costa Smeralda.

The anniversary gathering highlights the breadth of the ClubSwan community, encompassing historic yachts, modern cruising Swans, maxis and one-design racing yachts.

Three sides of ClubSwan

The fleet is structured around ClubSwan’s Legacy, Spirit and Racing divisions, bringing together different generations and styles of Swan sailing.

ClubSwan Legacy celebrates the yachts that established the marque’s reputation, including designs from Sparkman & Stephens, Ron Holland and German Frers.

ClubSwan Spirit caters for modern Swan owners, including Swan and Maxi yachts, with an emphasis on cruising and competitive sailing. A dedicated category also allows yachts to compete without racing optimisation, retaining their cruising configuration.

ClubSwan Racing is focused on one-design competition, with classes including the ClubSwan 50, ClubSwan 43, ClubSwan 42, ClubSwan 36 and ClubSwan 28.

Six decades on the water

Among the most significant yachts in Porto Cervo is Tarantella, the Swan 36 that began Nautor Swan’s production story.

Restored to her original condition, Tarantella provides a direct link to the Finnish builder’s beginnings and is racing alongside yachts representing successive generations of Swan design.

At the other end of the spectrum are some of the yard’s newest and largest sailing yachts, including the Swan 128 and Swan 80.

The gathering demonstrates how the Swan range has developed from the Sparkman & Stephens designs of the 1960s through successive generations of performance cruisers, maxis and dedicated one-design racers.

The Swan fleet spreads across the waters of the Costa Smeralda during racing in Porto Cervo.

Swan yachts round the rocky coastline during the Rolex Swan Cup in Porto Cervo.

Swan 128 BeCool represents the latest generation of Nautor Swan's maxi yachts.

Racing in Porto Cervo

The first day of racing on 16 September saw the record fleet take to the waters around the Costa Smeralda in light conditions.

The Race Committee set a short coastal course beginning in the Gulf of Arzachena, taking the fleet through the Passo delle Bisce and towards the lighthouse on Isola dei Monaci before the finish.

Racing continues through Saturday 19 September, when the final prizegiving will conclude the anniversary edition.

The Rolex Swan Cup was first held in 1980 and has developed into one of the cornerstone events for Swan owners and crews, combining competitive racing with a substantial shoreside program in Porto Cervo.

This year’s record turnout provides an especially fitting celebration of Nautor Swan’s 60-year history, bringing together the yacht that started the story and the latest generation carrying it forward.

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