Seven out of nine races and a hard-fought finish: the twins from the Dervio Sailing Center clinched the title with a three-for-one sweep on the decisive day.
Three days marked by light and shifting winds, with the championship title decided only in the final race. And so, with an intense final day full of twists and turns, the 2026 Italian Formula 18 Catamaran Championship—organized by the Punta Ala Sailing Center—came to a close, crowning twins Matteo and Andrea Viganò of the Dervio Sailing Center as Italian champions.
In the Gulf of Follonica, the wind was slow to pick up each day, putting the crews and organizers to the test. The Race Committee and the staff on the water were able to take advantage of every favorable window, stepping in repeatedly to adjust the course to the constant changes in wind direction and strength and to complete most of the program.
The first two days each featured two races. On Friday, the late onset of wind and approaching thunderstorms over the Island of Elba limited the schedule; on Saturday, it was once again the reduced wind strength and frequent shifts that tested the fleet’s patience and required constant adjustments to the race course.
After four races, the top of the standings was completely tied: Mazzucchi–Lisignoli, Stella–Recalcati, and Viganò–Viganò all went into the decisive day tied at 11 points. The championship was still wide open.
On Sunday, the Committee moved up the start time to take advantage of every favorable window. With a westerly wind of around 5–7 knots, three more races were completed, bringing the total to seven. These were light conditions for catamarans accustomed to performing at their best in much stronger winds, but they were sufficient to produce an extremely technical and closely contested finish.
Matteo and Andrea Viganò made all the difference, winning all three races on the final day. This hat trick allowed them to turn the standings around and be crowned the 2026 Formula 18 Italian Champions with a total of 11 points after discarding their worst result.
Behind them, the battle remained wide open until the very last start. With just a few points separating the leading crews, the tension at the starting line mounted: two starts were called off before the Committee raised the black flag and finally gave the go-ahead for the decisive race.
Second place went to Maurizio Stella and Davide Paolo Recalcati, also from the Centro Vela Dervio, with 15 points. Elia Mazzucchi and Jacopo Lisignoli of the Circolo Vela Canottieri Domaso took third place on the podium, just one point behind with 16 points.
Andrea Sanzone and Leonardo Ruggeri of the Circolo della Vela Anzio Tirrena finished fourth with 21 points. Rounding out the top five was the Dutch crew of Remco Kenbeek and Jelien Taselaar, who placed first among the foreign crews with 34 points. The fleet comprised a total of 21 crews, who arrived in Punta Ala from numerous Italian sailing clubs, along with representatives from the Netherlands, Finland, and Germany.
Managing the course required constant effort on the part of the Race Committee, the buoy tenders, and all support staff. Frequent changes in wind direction and strength necessitated delays, course adjustments, and quick decisions, allowing the organizers to make the most of the available wind windows and complete seven technically valid races.
Away from the water, the usual hospitality of PuntAla Camp & Resort made for a pleasant stay, with opportunities for socializing—from aperitifs on the beach to the class dinner and the closing awards ceremony.
For many crews, the weekend has also become an opportunity to share the trip with their families and treat themselves to one last beach vacation, taking advantage of the resort’s amenities and the still-pleasant days of September.
For the Punta Ala Sailing Center, the Championship marked a new chapter in its long-standing relationship with the Formula 18 class. The event that just concluded was the nineteenth regatta dedicated to the class organized in Punta Ala, a history that began with the 2004 World Championship and has continued through numerous national and international events. It is a partnership that the Punta Ala Sailing Center hopes to continue for many years to come, hosting new events dedicated to the class in Punta Ala.
Sunday’s awards ceremony also brings to a close two consecutive weeks of top-level sailing at the Punta Ala Sailing Center, which began with the Italian Fireball Championship and concluded with the F18s. This was a major organizational undertaking, made possible by the work of the Race Committee, the buoy crew, the volunteers, and the entire staff.
The Punta Ala Sailing Center would like to thank the Formula 18 Italia Class, the PuntAla Camp & Resort, the race officials, the support staff, and all the crews who took part in the event.
Photos and videos by Alessandro Pelliccia
