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Porto Cervo, 29 June, 2025. The Invitational Smeralda 8888, an event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and part of the 888 Class circuit, ended today. After three days of racing, Millenium Falcon took the win, followed by Stay Rude and Vamos Mi Amor.  

Ten teams took part in the 2025 edition of the event, four of which represented the YCCS. These were Giada owned by Germano Scarpa, Bloody Mathilde owned by Nicolò Saidelli and Vittorio Lombardi Stronati’s BeCool who faced his brother, Guglielmo, aboard Stay Rude, also racing under the YCCS burgee. Other participating teams were: Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django, Silva De Longhi’s Ziva, Luigi Guarnaccia’s Capocaccia, Carlo di Borbone’s Vamos Mi Amor, Marco Favale’s Millenium Falcon and Martin Nweeia’s Paka.    

The Smeralda 88 Class events have always been characterized by a friendly yet competitive atmosphere. Confirming this was the presence of professional sailors like Daniele Cassinari, Giorgio Poggi, Gaetano Figlia di Granara, Stéphane Christidis, Andrea Casale, Giulio Desiderato and Ettore Botticini, former member of the Young Azzurra team during the 2020/2021 foiling campaign.

Following the official briefing on the YCCS panoramic terrace, racing began on Friday, June 27 when crews gathered on the race course in front of Porto Cervo for the event’s first starting signal at 2:30 pm CEST. A Mistral wind, which increased in intensity during the afternoon, allowed the three scheduled races to be held. The weather the following day also allowed three scheduled races to be completed. Today, the final day of the event, saw two windward-leeward races, again on a course located in front of Porto Cervo, for a total of eight races in the event.   

It was three intense days at sea, with the fleet compact from start to finish. The games remained open right to the end, with Millenium Falcon leading by 6 points at the end of the penultimate race followed by Capocaccia, Stay Rude and Be Cool who were all tied for points. Django trailed this group by just one point and Vamos Mi Amor by two.

The last race was decisive: Millenium Falcon wanted to capitalize on their advantage and take the victory while it was a heated battle for second and third place. Millenium Falcon got off to a good start but Giada, helmed by YCCS member Germano Scarpa, got off equally well and was in the lead until Millenium Falcon overtook her at the first downwind gate. From that moment on, the Yacht Club de Monaco team gradually extended their advantage to the finish line, thus sealing their victory both in the final race and at the event. Vamos Mi Amor, third at the finish line had a clean race, tailing Giada and fending off Stay Rude, always very close. A few errors took their toll on Capocaccia and BeCool who finished sixth and eighth respectively. Thanks to these partials, Stay Rude got second place followed by Vamos Mi Amor who got the better of Capocaccia by just one point.

The final awards ceremony was held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, where the winner was presented with a inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator made by Technical Partner Garmin Marine.    

The next appointment for the YCCS will be the Coppa Europa Smeralda 888 scheduled for 4 to 6 July.  For further information, results, entry list, program, photos, news visit the website www.yccs.com or contact the YCCS Press Office.

For further information, results, entry list, official documents, and photos please visit the YCCS website.