Summer Storm Wins Tre Golfi Offshore Race in Naples

10th May 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Storm Charge — TP52 Summer Storm celebrates line honours and overall victory in the 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi offshore race off Naples Credit: Studio Borlenghi

The American TP52 Summer Storm claimed line honours and overall victory on corrected time in the 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi offshore race off Naples. The race formed the offshore stage of the ORC World Championship 2026 and is a key event within Tre Golfi Sailing Week.

The fleet started from the Bay of Santa Lucia in Naples on Saturday evening. Forecasts predicted light winds, but crews instead encountered steady overnight breezes of 8 to 10 knots, with gusts approaching 20 knots.

Summer Storm powers to Tre Golfi offshore victory. Photo: Studio Borlenghi

A major tactical shift came mid-morning as winds switched from north-easterly to south-westerly. Boats leaving Ischia and Procida to port gained an advantage over the more traditional routing.

Owned by American sailor Andrew Berdon, Summer Storm crossed the finish line first and also secured victory on corrected time.

On board were Volvo Ocean Race winner Stu Bannantyne and tactician Joachim Aschenbrenner. “We are very happy,” Aschenbrenner said. “First of all for the line honours, but also for the win on corrected time, which is a really important result for the team and the boat.” He described the opening upwind leg as “tricky” and said the team relied on a combination of weather models and tactical sailing decisions throughout the race.

In Class 0, Summer Storm finished ahead of fellow TP52 Vudu and the Wallyrocket51 Django WR.

Class A honours went to the Swan 42 Morgan V of Nicola De Gemmis after a close tactical contest with Selene – Alifax. “It was a complex race, with unreliable weather forecasts that forced us to make continuous decisions,” said Morgan V tactician Manuel Polo.

Morgan V sails off Naples during the 71st Regata dei Tre Golfi as the Swan 42 claimed Class A victory in the ORC World Championship offshore race. Photo: Studio Borlenghi

Class B was won by the Italia Yachts 11.98 To Be of Stefano Rusconi, while Class C results were still pending at the time of publication.

A total of 108 boats returned to the harbours of Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento and Sant’Agnello after completing the offshore contest. Racing resumes with the inshore series from Monday through Thursday, when the ORC World Champion 2026 will be decided.

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