Millevele IREN

The Gulf of Genoa was filled with sails for the 38th edition of the Millevele IREN, the major sailing event organized by the Yacht Club Italiano, which this year attracted 217 boats.

At 11:00 a.m., the firing of the starting cannon sent the fleet on its way, divided into three groups: Yellow, Green and Red. At the start, a northerly Tramontana breeze of around 10 knots carried the boats eastward before gradually easing as they approached the marks positioned towards Punta Chiappa.

After a period of light winds, a westerly breeze accompanied the fleet on its return towards Genoa. Near the finish line, positioned off Boccadasse, the wind shifted back to the north, making the final stages of the event particularly interesting.

First across the finish line in their respective groups were Paolo Brescia’s Melges 24 Melgina, representing the Yacht Club Italiano, in the Yellow Group; Claudio Terrieri’s Swan 45 Blu Sky (Yacht Club Monfalcone) in the Green Group; and Stefano Brunello’s Frers 60 Moonshine (Yacht Club Cortina d’Ampezzo) in the Red Group, where Remax One, the Baltic 65 owned by our member Dario Castiglia, finished in second place.

The Millevele also hosted the first event in the new challenge between the Yacht Club Italiano and the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano. The two clubs went head-to-head aboard YCI’s J/70s with mixed crews: in Genoa, our teams came out on top against those representing the Barcolana. The challenge will continue in Trieste, where a rematch will take place during the Barcolana.

The day concluded at the Yacht Club Italiano with the Crew Party for all participating crews, providing an opportunity to celebrate and come together after a day that once again highlighted the strong participation in the Millevele and the enduring bond between the event, Genoa and its sea.

The final appointment will take place on Sunday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m., at the 66th Genoa International Boat Show, with the awards ceremony for the Millevele IREN 2026.