Battle in the Adriatic: The Nastro Rosa Tour Fleet Converges for a Nail-Biting Finish in Vieste

A race shaped by unpredictable weather, where tactics and mental resilience made the difference until the very last mile. The Offshore leg from Cattolica to Vieste, the second stage of the prestigious Giro d’Italia Vela 2026 and a highlight of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour, delivered a dramatic finish worthy of the finest sporting thrillers, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the first light of dawn.

A windless corridor for the Figaro 3 fleet

The approximately 180 nautical miles separating the Romagna coast from the Gargano Peninsula turned into a true light-air trap for the ten competing crews. The wind gods offered little assistance, forcing the sailors aboard the high-performance Bénéteau Figaro 3 one-design yachts into a relentless and exhausting search for every breath of wind. Despite the challenging conditions and painfully slow progress, the competitors never gave up, turning the race into a tense battle of nerves, strategy, and constant sail adjustments.

Night sprint: Aeronautica Militare claims victory

The decisive moment came in the middle of the night. Crossing the finish line in Vieste at 4:20 a.m., the Aeronautica Militare team, expertly sailed by Giancarlo Simeoli and Niccolò Bertola, secured a hard-fought victory.
What made the race truly remarkable, however, was the incredibly close finish across the entire fleet. All ten boats completed the crossing within just 23 minutes, with the final yacht finishing at 4:43 a.m. Such a compact arrival after nearly 180 nautical miles is clear evidence of the exceptionally high and evenly matched level of competition in this year’s event. Claiming second place were Angelica Monti and Carlo Barbieri representing CN Sanbenedettese, while Kups and Koczorowski of Team Poland completed the podium with an impressive third-place finish.

From offshore endurance to inshore spectacle

With the Offshore challenge completed, attention quickly shifted to the spectacular Inshore competitions. Against the stunning backdrop of Vieste, the “flying” boats took centre stage as Waszp and WingFoil athletes prepared to battle close to shore.
Competitors reached the race area around 11:10 a.m., but once again light winds delayed the action, leaving sailors and race officials hoping for a thermal breeze strong enough to lift the foiling craft onto their foils and deliver the thrilling high-speed racing spectators have come to expect.

The celebration continues ashore at the Sailing Village

While the competition continues at sea, the excitement has also moved ashore. Vieste’s harbour has been transformed into the vibrant heart of the event with the opening of the Sailing Village.
More than just a logistical base for the teams, the village serves as a lively gathering place for visitors and locals alike. Throughout the stopover, it will host a packed programme of live entertainment, DJ sets, open-air cinema screenings, and activities designed to celebrate sailing, the sea, and the unique character of the Gargano region.