The 44Cup was honoured to attend the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's annual press conference, where they announced their top-level sporting season.

Milan, Italy, 6 March 2025 – The annual press conference organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) to present the 2025 sporting season took place at Casa Gessi in Milan. This year’s event held special significance, as it was dedicated to the memory of His Highness the Aga Khan, Founder and President of the YCCS, who recently passed away.

The 44Cup Porto Cervo, taking place in northeast Sardinia from 15–18 May, will be the first regatta of the season organized by the YCCS and will be followed by a full calendar of prestigious, high-quality racing.

Renowned as one of the world’s top yacht racing venues, the Costa Smeralda offers exceptional conditions, with strong northwesterly Mistral winds often funneling through the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica. The all-carbon-fiber RC44 class continues to thrive after 17 years, driven by its passionate owners and competitive crews. The fleet will expand from nine to twelve boats for the European leg, with three new teams set to be announced in the coming months.

Competitors will be based at the YCCS' stunning headquarters. "As a class, we prioritize racing at venues that provide the best sailing conditions. It’s a key reason why the 44Cup remains so strong after nearly two decades," said class manager Bertrand Favre. "Racing at YCCS is always an honor—the sailing is exceptional, the race management flawless, and the onshore experience truly special. We look forward to returning."

Following Porto Cervo, the 44Cup will head to Marstrand, Sweden, a favorite annual stop on the circuit. The fourth venue of the 2025 44Cup will be a new one: Scheveningen, the seaside resort district of The Hague, Netherlands. This event will also mark the competitive peak of the season, serving as the 2025 44Cup World Championship.

For the end of the season, the 44Cup will once again head south to the Canary Islands, where from 20–23 November, the fleet will be hosted by the Calero family and their marina group. However, while past visits have been limited to Porto Calero and Marina Lanzarote in Arrecife, both on Lanzarote, the final event of the 2025 44Cup will take place at the latest addition to Calero Marinas' portfolio: Marina Jandía on Fuerteventura.

For more information on the 44Cup, visit www.44cup.org.