On 16 May 2026 eight crews played the Pevero green; the next day they raced J/70s off Porto Cervo, and the final score added the two events together. It is the Vela & Golf, and it is not the only place in Italy where sea and fairway meet.
Sailing and golf have more in common than it seems: both are played outdoors, both depend on the wind, both are measured with a handicap and both get retold in the clubhouse. In Italy there are places where you can do both in the same week, sometimes on the same weekend.
The Italian places for sailing and golf
| Place | Sailing | Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Porto Cervo (Sardinia) | Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, founded in 1967 | Pevero, 18 holes |
| Biodola, Elba | Private jetty and mooring field of the Hermitage | Acquabona, 9 holes |
| Stresa, Lake Maggiore | Lake sailing, according to Villa Aminta | Iles Borromées, 18 holes |
| Punta Ala (Tuscany) | Yacht Club Punta Ala | Punta Ala, 18 holes |
| Pula (Sardinia) | Sailing academy at Forte Village | Is Molas, 27 holes |
Porto Cervo: the regatta that is also played at golf
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was founded on 12 May 1967 by the Aga Khan, Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti and Luigi Vietti, according to the club's history. Since 2005 its calendar has included the Vela & Golf, which in 2026 reached its twentieth edition: from 15 to 17 May, eight crews from different clubs (among them the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, the Marina Militare and the Pevero Golf Club itself) played on Saturday 16 on the Pevero green and on Sunday 17 in the club's J/70s, about two miles off Porto Cervo. The final score was the sum of the results of the two events, and the lowest won.
The winner was the Yacht Club Italiano, with the skipper and 470 champion Alessandra Dubbini, ahead of Monaco and the YCCS. At golf the Yacht Club Italiano had also come out on top, followed by the Pevero Golf Club; at sea, with the mistral blowing between 16 and 20 knots at the starting line, the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein won the first and third races and the YCCS, helmed by member Germano Scarpa, the second.
The Pevero Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 course by Robert Trent Jones, opened in 1972; in 2026 the green fee runs from 120 to 180 euros, with the highest rate from 20 July to 16 August. For 2026 the YCCS also publishes other regattas, such as the Rolex TP52 World Championship (15-20 June) and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (6-12 September). For a place to stay, the Hotel Pitrizza lists the Pevero as its course, and its concierge arranges sailing trips to the La Maddalena archipelago or as far as Bonifacio.
Elba: the Hermitage jetty and nine holes above the gulf
On the Isle of Elba the Hotel Hermitage, at Biodola, has a private jetty and a mooring field in the nearby Bay of the Elephant for guests arriving by boat; on the beach there are an SSI diving centre and rental of windsurfers, canoes, inflatable boats and water-skiing equipment. The golf is the Golf Club Hermitage, nine holes behind the hotel (eight par 3s and one par 4, 1,275 metres), open from April to October.
Anyone who wants to play 18 holes can choose the Elba Golf Club Acquabona, between Portoferraio and Porto Azzurro: nine holes with double tees (par 68, 5,144 metres), opened in 1971 and, according to the club, among the first courses built on an Italian island. The 2026 price list is the same every day: 55 euros for 18 holes, 40 for nine.
Lake Maggiore: sailing with a view of the Borromean Islands
At Stresa, Villa e Palazzo Aminta has a private landing stage from which motorboat excursions depart, and lists sailing, wakeboarding and SUP among its lake activities. The nearest course, according to the hotel, is 5 km away: the Golf des Iles Borromées, an 18-hole, par 72 course of 6,122 metres at about 600 metres above sea level. In 2026 the green fee is 70 euros on weekdays and 85 on weekends and holidays. From the 10th hole, on clear days, you can see four lakes and the skyscrapers of Milan.
Punta Ala: a course with the sea in the background
At Punta Ala the Golf Club has been playing since 1964: 18 holes, par 72, 6,168 metres through the Maremma scrub, with a view of the sea. The 2026 price list runs from 85 to 120 euros for a day ticket. Sailing enters this story because the Yacht Club Punta Ala was among the eight crews at the 2026 Vela & Golf, with the skipper Alessandro Masini.
Forte Village and Is Molas: the sailing school and the 27 holes
The Forte Village in Pula has over thirty sports academies, from tennis to sailing, according to the hotel, and its reception can point the way to the 27 holes of Is Molas, a course that has hosted four Italian Opens. The 2026 green fee for 18 holes on weekdays runs from 80 euros in low season to 135 in August.
When to go
If you want to watch or take part in a regatta, the YCCS publishes a 2026 calendar running from May to October: the Vela & Golf is in May, while the J/70 Cup and Italian Championship is scheduled from 29 September to 4 October 2026. For 2027 dates, check the club's website, which at present publishes the 2026 programme.
Curiosities
- One race won, a podium finish. At the 2026 Vela & Golf the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda won the second race at sea and finished third overall, behind the Yacht Club Italiano and the Yacht Club de Monaco.
- A fixed tradition. The Vela & Golf has been on the YCCS calendar since 2005.
- Azzurra. In 1981 the YCCS promoted Italy's first America's Cup challenge; in 1983 the twelve-metre Azzurra finished third in the selection races at Newport.
Frequently asked questions
When was the 2026 Vela & Golf held?+
From 15 to 17 May 2026 at Porto Cervo: golf at the Pevero on the 16th, sailing in J/70s on the 17th.
Who won the 2026 Vela & Golf?+
The Yacht Club Italiano, with the skipper Alessandra Dubbini, ahead of the Yacht Club de Monaco and the YCCS.
How much does it cost to play the Pevero?+
In 2026 the 18-hole green fee runs from 120 to 180 euros, depending on the season; the club requires a card from a recognised federation and a maximum handicap of 54.
Can you go sailing from the Hotel Pitrizza?+
The concierge arranges sailing trips to La Maddalena or as far as Bonifacio, according to the hotel.
Where can you play golf on Elba?+
At the Golf Club Hermitage, nine holes behind the hotel, and at Acquabona, between Portoferraio and Porto Azzurro.
How much does golf cost on Elba?+
At Golf Acquabona the 2026 price list is 55 euros for 18 holes, 40 for nine, with the same price every day.
