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Some anniversaries seem destined to meet on the same quay. That is exactly what happens at the 2026 edition of Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, where the event’s 40th Anniversary coincides with the 130th Anniversary of Sangermani Shipyards and the 70th Anniversary of Artica II, the historic Italian Navy yawl built by the renowned Ligurian shipyard.Bringing these milestones together is a shared thread of classic yachting, craftsmanship and maritime culture. Sangermani yachts have taken part in Vele d’Epoca di Imperia since its very first edition in 1986 and, in this landmark year, the shipyard returns with a presence extending across every aspect of the event: four yachts entered, a dedicated exhibition space celebrating the history of the shipyard and, from 2 to 6 September, the presence of Giacomo Sangermani, the [...]

In the harbour, a sea breeze carries salt spray that clings to the skin. A foot leaves the quay and steps onto the wooden deck before the mind has even registered being aboard. A sheet runs through the hands of someone preparing the sails; a snap shackle clips onto the lifeline with a sharp click.The gaze travels up the mast to the telltales, then turns towards the sky. Even before casting off, reading the sky is the first instinct of anyone who goes to sea. The weather is holding.Now the eye drops, running from bow to stern across teak worn by years of racing, before reaching out towards the open sea. From here, the harbour of Imperia slowly receding astern is the last fixed point before a coastline that [...]

As Vele d’Epoca di Imperia celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the gathering of the “Queens of the Sea” welcomes an event of truly international significance. From 29 August to 1 September 2026, the Gulf of Imperia will host the 12mR GP World, a world-class event forming part of Imperia Sailing Week.Its inclusion broadens the international scope of the event and offers a unique opportunity to experience the International 12 Metre Class up close: yachts created under a rating rule that went on to become symbols of elegance, design innovation and top-level competitive sailing.A rating class that became an icon of international sailingThe enduring appeal of the International 12 Metre Class stems from a fascinating paradox: a technical rule succeeded in producing some of the most recognisable and admired yachts in [...]

Some cities look out at the sea from afar, admiring it as a distant horizon. Imperia carries the sea within its very identity.It can be found in its harbours and quays, in its maritime culture, in the colourful houses of its historic villages, in the stories of fishermen, in the flavours of its cuisine and in the unmistakable Mediterranean light that accompanies everyday life.Within this deep connection, Vele d'Epoca has found its natural home. Founded in 1986, the event has grown into one of the Mediterranean's most distinguished gatherings of classic yachts, perfectly at home in a city that has lived with the sea for generations and continues to tell its story through its maritime heritage.A City Built Around the SeaThe sea has accompanied Imperia's development throughout its history, [...]

Mauro Pelaschier, Ambassador of Imperia Sailing Week 2026There are names in Italian sailing that represent far more than an impressive list of achievements. They evoke images of legendary races, challenging starts, long nights at sea, crews gathered in silence before the starting signal, and yachts that have become part of a nation's sporting heritage.Mauro Pelaschier is one of those names.He will serve as the official Ambassador of Imperia Sailing Week 2026, the event that, from 28 August to 6 September, will bring together the timeless elegance of classic yachts and the excitement of world-class sailing in the city of Imperia.Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the event, Imperia Sailing Week 2026 combines two complementary moments united by the same passion for the sea. From 29 August to 1 September, the [...]