Matteo and Andrea Vigano are the 2026 Italian Formula 18 Champions

Press Release from Alessandro Pelliccia, Italian F18 Press Office and Website – all pictures from ITA F18

Vigano brothers (ITA 303) rounding the gate

General

Three first places out of three regattas held on the final day. With this perfect finish, Matteo and Andrea Viganò won the 2026 Italian Formula 18 Catamaran Championship, which concluded over the 18-20 September weekend at the Punta Ala Sailing Center.

Played with over twenty crews on the Maremma coast, not just Italians. Despite three days of light and unstable breezes, the Race Committee managed to complete seven of the nine scheduled races, completing a championship that was valid and fought to the last metre.

Regatta Chronicle

Friday

After a rain-affected morning, the race course opened with a northwest wind between 8 and 14 knots, allowing the first two races to take place. The initial ranking had immediately shown great balance at the top, with Maurizio Stella and Davide Recalcati (Centro Vela Dervio) paired with Elia Mazzucchi and Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso).

Saturday

Class Assembly elected the new board of directors. The fleet went out to sea with light airs from the western quadrants (5-7 knots). Amid frequent gusts of wind and drops in intensity, the Race Committee took home two more races, bringing the standings to mid-event with as many as three shared boats in first place with 11 points.

Sunday

On the decisive day, races were sailed in a westerly wind around 7 knots. The pressure at the starts prompted two general recalls before the black flag was displayed, which unlocked the start of the seventh and final race.

The final ranking

  • The Viganò brothers (Centro Vela Dervio) made the decisive push by scoring three bullets in the three closing races, winning the Italian title with 11 clear points.
  • Silver medal for Maurizio Stella and Davide Paolo Recalcati (Dervio Sailing Center), second with 15 points.
  • The podium is completed by Elia Mazzucchi and Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso), third with 16 points.
  • Next in fourth place are the crew composed of Andrea Sanzone and Leonardo Ruggeri (CV Anzio Tirrena, 21 pt), while in fifth place are the Dutchmen Remco Kenbeek and Jelien Taselaar (34 pt).

The 2026 racing season of the Formula 18 Italia class ends with the Punta Ala stage.

Final standings (after one discard):

  1. ITA 303 – Matteo Viganò / Andrea Viganò (Centro Vela Dervio) – 11 pt
  2. ITA 2 – Maurizio Stella / Davide Paolo Recalcati (Centro Vela Dervio) – 15 pt
  3. ITA 69 – Elia Mazzucchi / Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso) – 16 pt
  4. ITA 1701 – Andrea Sanzone / Leonardo Ruggeri (CV Anzio Tirrena) – 21 pt
  5. NED 1 – Remco Kenbeek / Jelien Taselaar (NED) – 34 pt

Complete results here.

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