ClubSwan Season Kicks Off as Nautor Swan Celebrates 60 Years

The 2026 ClubSwan season launches this week with a two‑continent opening: the Swan Bonifacio Challenge in the Mediterranean and the USA Nations League Event 2 in Pensacola. Across both venues 35 one‑design yachts will race, signalling the start of a calendar that blends competitive intensity with the lifestyle and heritage that have defined Nautor Swan for sixty years.

A focused opening — fleet and format

Racing will begin in Bonifacio with the ClubSwan 28 class and proceed through the full one‑design fleet. The opening fleet across the two events comprises four classes and 35 entries in total:

• 12 ClubSwan 28
• 7 ClubSwan 42
• 6 ClubSwan 36
• 10 ClubSwan 50

Hosted for the third consecutive year in the port of Bonifacio, the event will run on two race areas framed by one of the Mediterranean’s most dramatic coastlines. Simultaneously a growing ClubSwan 28 fleet will open the American season from Pensacola, Florida.

People and programmes — growing participation and inclusion

For 2026 the season not only expands in numbers but also in scope. Three new entries join the fleet, including Marlin 3 in the ClubSwan 50 class and two ClubSwan 36 yachts entered in partnership with The Magenta Project. That initiative — part of the ClubSwan Academy — is specifically designed to promote women in elite sailing through a three‑boat programme across EU and US Nations League events. A panel of professional female sailors, including Abby Ehler, Sara Stone, Josie Gliddon and Annie Lush, supported the selection process for the ClubSwan 36 team.

Luisa Bambozzi, Managing Director of ClubSwan, framed the season as one of growth and inclusivity: “This will be an important season for the ClubSwan community, which continues to grow and evolve, always centred on celebrating our passionate owners and sailors while welcoming those who are not exclusively focused on competitive racing. We begin in Bonifacio, with its extraordinary scenery, and we are shaping a season rich in memorable moments, both on and off the water”.

The sea and the social stage

The Yacht Club de Bonifacio and the city provide the on‑shore setting for the opening chapter. Michel Mallaroni, President of the Yacht Club de Bonifacio, underlined the local commitment: “The admiration for the ClubSwan world has led me this year not only to organize the event with the municipality but also to participate personally with the ClubSwan 28 Team Corse powered by Denza.” As is customary across ClubSwan events, racing will be accompanied by a curated social programme that reinforces the lifestyle element intrinsic to the brand.

Automotive partner DENZA will bring the Z9 GT EV to Bonifacio, aligning design, performance and sustainability with the event’s premium presentation.

Key dates and the season arc

The 2026 programme interweaves heritage, one‑design competition and flagship regattas. Highlights announced for the year include:

• Swan Heritage Reunion — 19–21 June, island of Capraia, Tuscany (celebrating classic Swans designed up to 1999)
• Rolex Swan Cup — September, Porto Cervo (the 23rd edition, coinciding with Nautor Swan’s 60th anniversary)
• ClubSwan 50 World Championship — 27–31 October, Naples, Italy
• ClubSwan 28 Gold Cup — 10–14 November, Fort Lauderdale

Longstanding partners supporting the season include Rolex (Official Timepiece), Denza (Official Automotive Partner), Henri Lloyd (Official Sportswear Partner) and Banor (Wealth & Asset Management), alongside new collaborators joining the ClubSwan programme this year.

Why this season matters

Beyond the immediate competition, 2026 is a moment of consolidation for the ClubSwan ecosystem. It pairs increased one‑design activity with deliberate steps toward inclusion — most visibly through The Magenta Project — and honours six decades of Nautor Swan’s design and production lineage. The calendar’s geographic spread, from the tight tactical courses in Bonifacio to the transatlantic ties with Pensacola and a crescendo in Porto Cervo, underscores Swan’s dual identity as a performance marque and a curator of yachting culture.

The season ahead promises not only decisive racing but also a sustained narrative about legacy, innovation and community within modern yachting—where regatta results are one element of a broader, evolving Swan story.

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