ARCA SGR 100ft Wins Barcolana58 in Trieste for Fourth Straight Year

A fourth consecutive Barcolana triumph

Furio Benussi and the crew of the 100-foot maxi yacht ARCA SGR have won Barcolana58 in Trieste for the fourth consecutive year. The October 11 race brought 1,858 boats to the start and involved more than 15,000 sailors, reinforcing the Italian regatta's distinctive position among the world's largest mass-participation sailing events.

The winner crossed the finishing line at 11:35:09, recording a time of one hour, five minutes and nine seconds. Prosecco DOC Schockwave3 finished around three and a half minutes later, with Marta 07 following roughly another minute and a half behind.

The result was not inevitable from the opening moments. ARCA suffered an electrical fault and remained stationary for approximately two minutes before recovering, making her subsequent lead a demonstration of both speed and tactical judgement.

An easterly Bora creates a demanding course

After uncertain forecasts in the days leading up to the event, an easterly breeze arrived from roughly 110 degrees as the fleet prepared to race. The unusual Bora direction required competitors to choose their approach to the first leg carefully while a large collection of yachts shared the same starting area.

Once ARCA recovered from the initial problem, Benussi and his crew gained ground towards the first turning mark. They rounded it about 18 minutes after the start and steadily increased their advantage as the race unfolded.

Prosecco DOC Schockwave3 challenged early and secured second place, while Marta 07 completed the leading trio. Further back, the mix of small cruising yachts and serious race boats produced a different challenge, with crews trying to maintain clear water and adapt to changes in the breeze.

Why a 100-foot yacht stands out in this fleet

A 100-foot maxi is a very different sailing proposition from the smallest yachts taking part at Barcolana. Sail area, crew coordination and the ability to respond to wind shifts can provide considerable speed advantages, but the crew must still manage manoeuvres with precision while navigating around slower traffic.

In the opening stages, an electrical issue can rapidly complicate the work required at the helm and on deck. The recovery on ARCA illustrates why reliability, skilled hands and practiced procedures matter as much as outright performance on a racing platform.

The event is notable for allowing very different sailing communities to share a starting line. Professional crews can compete for the overall result while recreational sailors take part for the experience of sailing amid thousands of other boats in the Gulf of Trieste.

Beyond the first boat across the line

The leading yacht completed the course in just over an hour, but the larger Barcolana story extends well beyond that finish time. Many participants were still sailing their own races, negotiating changing conditions and enjoying a spectacle that brought considerable attention to the city and its waterfront.

Organising a fleet of this size requires careful coordination between race officials, safety crews and the many participating clubs and owners. A celebrated result by a highly competitive maxi yacht does not diminish the separate achievements of crews sailing smaller and less specialised boats.

Barcolana's organisers confirmed the 2026 result on October 11. The photograph accompanying this article comes from the actual event coverage, not from another regatta or a generated rendering, and the result is reported as a completed race rather than a forthcoming competition.