European Maxi, champagne sailing in Sorrento: Bella Mente dominates the 30 fleet

Champagne sailing finale for the European maxi in Sorrento, where the event’s program ended with three fine days of inshore sailing with a mix of between-the-buoys and inshore racing. Conditions were always nearly optimal for the 30 maxis in the regatta, with a breeze that always blew between 9 and 15 knots on the three days. The Sorrento coastal regattas thus closed Tre Golfi Sailing Week, which also encompassed the Mediterranean ORC Championship and the Regatta of the Three Gulfs, for an event that year after year becomes more and more cult.

The winners of the European Maxi

With the victory of American owner Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente and with Terry Hutchinson at the helm, the curtain falls on Three Gulfs Sailing Week 2025. For the second year in a row, the U.S.-based Maxi 72 won the IMA Maxi European Championship, confirming it as the circuit’s benchmark boat. Also on the final podium were Peter Harrison’s Jolt with Michele Ivaldi as tactician, second, and Peter Dubens’ North Star, a member of Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, third.

“I’m so proud of the team and the work we’ve done, and we’re really grateful to our owner Hap Fauth for everything he does for us, for bringing us here to compete in this regatta,” commented Terry Hutchinson, Bella Mente’s tactician. “The team worked very well all week and we fought hard: the conditions were challenging and the two stick races yesterday were really decisive. We were consistent all week, we didn’t always do everything perfectly, but we were always there to play for it. We are really proud of our success in this edition of the regatta-I think the work we did during the winter and the regattas we participated in, which proved to be crucial in the coasts, helped us a lot. It is really exciting. A big thank you to Sorrento, to the sponsors Rolex and Loro Piana for everything they do for our sport, for their support of these amazing regattas. I mean … how lucky are we to be where we are, doing what we love, with the people we love? It’s just spectacular!”

The overall ranking clearly rewards the Maxi 72s (Group 2 Grand Prix), which occupy the top four places-a fact that confirms their extraordinary balance of performance and rating.

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Among the Multihulls, absolute domination for Riccardo Pavoncelli’s Gaetana, a member of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, who won all five races on the program, winning the 2025 IMA Tre Golfi Multihull Trophy with authority.

Instead, receiving the prestigious Loro Piana Challenge Trophy, intended for the best crew in Maxi Group 1, was Galateia, the author of a smooth and competitive week in the category of large hulls over 80 feet, as many as nine in total-and some three of the most elegant, technological and high-performance boats in the fleet.