Geneva, 02 June 2026 - The 2026 edition of the Rolex TP52 World Championship will be held at the illustrious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, bringing together the finest grand prix sailing crews for an exacting week of elite competition from 15 to 20 June. As the pinnacle of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in world sailing and its title among the most coveted. An extraordinary level of preparation, precision and performance is demanded of every competing team. Emerging triumphant is widely regarded as an exceptional achievement.

The event’s return to the Costa Smeralda for the first time since 2014 unites three leading organizations with common values and a commitment to setting the highest standards in their fields. Rolex has supported sailing for almost 70 years, an alliance that includes a relationship with the YCCS that was forged in the early 1980s. Lying at the heart of the sport, it is no stranger to hosting the best sailors, and its emerald waters provide a fitting stage for top-tier competition. The TP52 class has roots dating back more than 20 years, and 2026 marks the 10th occasion Rolex has partnered its world championship and the 52 SUPER SERIES. With the stunning coastline of north-east Sardinia renowned for challenging and dynamic conditions, the regatta will reward only the most skilled, cohesive and well-drilled crew.

Robert Scheidt, a Rolex Testimonee, five-time Olympic medallist and past competitor at the Rolex TP52 World Championship, says:

"The TP52 is an incredibly difficult class in which to succeed. It takes considerable investment of energy, resources and time to build a campaign capable of performing at such a high level. You are up against teams that have raced together for many years and understand what it takes to win.”

A record fleet of 15 teams is expected to compete, including four new crews representing France, Brazil, Sweden and the Netherlands. According to Agustin Zulueta, chief executive officer of the 52 SUPER SERIES:

“The continued draw of the TP52 class underlines its status as one of sailing’s most exacting arenas. The international breadth reflects the widespread and enduring appeal of grand prix monohull racing as a proving ground, where both established and new contenders measure themselves against the very best.”

The TP52 is fast, light and extremely powerful, with designs adhering to a box rule that results in near identical yachts that race in real time with no handicap. The Rolex TP52 World Championship consists of up to 10 races, each one intense and both mentally and physically demanding. Crew members have to back themselves, trust each other and learn every day. Successful teams tend to treat each race as a point on a continuing journey, where accomplishment is measured in marginal gains as well as results. Process becomes all important, with the relentless pursuit of small improvements instilled in all personnel from the outset. Tony Langley, owner of 2024 Rolex TP52 world champion Gladiator, says:

“It is not about the individual, it is about the team and the process, which is absolutely sacrosanct. All teams are good, and the difference between each is minute.”

Such is the competition that the smallest technical issue or mistake in boat handling or decision-making can prove decisive. The difference between winning and losing is often measured in seconds.

Tom Slingsby, a Rolex Testimonee, three-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year and former tactician, says:

“At the Rolex TP52 World Championship you cannot leave anything to chance. The fleet is razor-sharp, and the margins between success and failure are tiny. You need to achieve a high level consistency which takes discipline and resilience. Every manoeuvre and every decision counts. The racing is intense, close, and brutally honest. If you want to win you have got to be on it every second.”

As such, the Rolex TP52 World Championship stands as a benchmark of achievement, where the challenge lies not only in outperforming competitors, but in mastering the process that leads to success.

This ethos is at the core of Rolex’s long-standing partnership with yachting, which encompasses the most prestigious events, institutions and sailors, all united by a shared pursuit of excellence.Winning the Rolex TP52 World Championship is one of the ultimate accomplishments in the sport, signifying the highest performance and securing a place among the most admired competitors. In recognition of this apex moment, the overall winner receives a specially engraved Rolex timepiece.

Rolex and Yachting 
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminates in defining moments – determined by a path followed, not just a trophy. Since the late 1950s, Rolex has championed perseverance and resilience in yachting across all its forms – from prestigious yacht clubs to pioneering feats of exploration, legendary offshore races and its most successful sailors. Today, the Swiss watchmaker supports the innovative future of sailing through its Title Partnership of the Rolex SailGP Championship, theworld’s leading sailing league where the best athletes compete on identical supercharged foiling F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous stretches of water.Furthermore, the brand is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events, from the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. Rolex also partners institutions that share its enduring commitment to sailing, including the New York Yacht Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Malta Yacht Club. Integral to this relationship are the towering figures in the sport and Rolex honours their unrelenting determination in the pursuit of excellence. From groundbreaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester to modern-day sailors, Rolex celebrates the individuals who embody adaptability, teamwork and precision. The Rolex family of Testimonees includes legends Paul Cayard and Robert Scheidt, the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie, and the heroes at the heart of the Rolex SailGP Championship, Hannah Mills, Tom Slingsby and Martine Grael.