Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Django Team to represent Italy at the 2025 Admiral's Cup revival

by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 9 Jul 10:23 UTC 17 July - 1 August 2025
Django Team set to take part in the Admiral's Cup 2025 © Kevin Rio / Team Django 2025

After a 20-year hiatus, the Admiral's Cup is back - and Italy is ready to make a bold return to one of offshore sailing's most legendary stages. Representing the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), the Django Team, spearheaded by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, will compete with two boats: the innovative wallyrocket51 Django and the proven JPK 1180 Django. Both entries will fly the Italian flag as part of YCCS's challenge for the 2025 Admiral's Cup.

Known as the unofficial world championship of offshore racing, the Admiral's Cup returns this summer after two decades of absence, running from 17 July to 1 August 2025 in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in its centenary year, the event will culminate in the iconic Rolex Fastnet Race.

Italy's history with the Admiral's Cup is rich and passionate, with national teams competing from 1969 to 1999. The highlight came in 1995, when Italy secured its only overall win. It was a significant victory for the Italian team, who competed with three boats: Capricorno (ILC 46), Brava Q8 (ILC 40), and Mumm a' Mia (Mumm 36), captained by Rinaldo Del Bono, Pasquale Landolfi, and Paolo Gaia. In 2025, Django Team hopes to reignite the legacy of great Italian teams competing in the event.

Leading the charge in the Big Boat category is the wallyrocket51 Django, designed by Botin Partners.

The crew includes Vasco Vascotto, Guillermo Parada, Bruno Zirilli and Michele Paoletti to name a few, and brings top-tier experience from the main international sailing circuits and America's Cup campaigns.

Competing in IRC 2 will be Django JPK, a JPK 1180 already tested in battle during the Myth of Malham Race - a 235 nm offshore challenge with gusts over 30 knots and waves exceeding two metres. Onboard Django JPK is an elite crew skippered by Michele Ivaldi, including legends like Dirk de Ridder, Alberto Bolzan, Ross Halcrow, and Juan Vila.

The 2025 Admiral's Cup format includes six inshore races, two short offshore races, and the classic Rolex Fastnet Race as the grand finale. With 15 yacht clubs entered worldwide, competition will be fierce - but Django Team is poised to make a statement.

"The return of the Admiral's Cup is more than a race, it's a moment of heritage, passion, and national pride," said Giovanni Lombardi Stronati. "We are proud to represent YCCS and Italy with a team that blends experience, innovation, and commitment. The road to Cowes has just begun, but we are ready to give it our all."

"On behalf of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, we are very pleased to see the YCCS team, conceived and led by our member Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, taking part in the prestigious Admiral's Cup," added Andrea Recordati, Commodore of the YCCS. "The revival of this historic regatta after more than two decades marks an important moment for international sailing, and witnessing the YCCS colours once again represented in an event where several of our member-owners have achieved notable results in the past is a source of immense pride. Taking on such a demanding challenge speaks volumes about Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's passion and determination - qualities that reflect the very spirit of our Club. We wish the two Django teams fair winds, confident they will help write a new chapter of the Admiral's Cup under the YCCS burgee."

For Italy, the Admiral's Cup has always represented an intrepid sporting endeavour, rather than simply a celebrated regatta. The 2025 edition offers a renewed opportunity to write sailing history once again.

Related Articles

Luring with live bait
Keep your livewell in good working order and give live baiting a try if you haven't already Saltwater fishermen tend to fall into one of two camps; those who like using artificial lures, and those who prefer fishing with live bait. Posted on 30 Jul
A great day for conservation
Grady-White teamed up with the Dolphinfish Research Program for an adventure off North Carolina Grady-White teamed up with the Dolphinfish Research Program for an adventure off the North Carolina coast. Winds and waves didn't deter the Grady-White boat or our team, who caught and tagged eight fish. Posted on 29 Jul
Fishing: The Ghost of Fishing's Future
Meet the Mad Scientist Tackle Ghost Shad and elevate your rattlebait game Mad Scientist Tackle's Ghost Shad features powerful and proven UV coatings on a popular lure design Posted on 29 Jul
DAIWA: Palmable Powerhouse
For bigger baits and fish while still championing superlight jigging DAIWA's new 2025 SALTIGA® G 35/35L dominates the saltwater jigging scene with unrivaled power, smoothness, durability and ergonomics Posted on 29 Jul
Hover Rig: The finesse tactic you need now
Throw in a heavy dose of fishing pressure, and you have the recipe for disaster It's great when you flip a dock, laydown, or grass point and you immediately feel that hammer fall. Likewise, frogging's repetitive monotony becomes well worth the effort when that cannonball explosion shatters the stillness. Posted on 27 Jul
Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
TATULA is Tops at ICAST 2025
All out with the new 23 model lineup of cork handle bass rods DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025. Posted on 24 Jul
Owner shares why he loves his WorldCat 325DC
Chuck highlights the unique experiences and cherished moments created Embark on the adventures of Chuck Smith, proud owner of the WorldCat 325DC. In this short testimonial, Chuck shares the joys of sandbar outings, fishing escapades, and family travels made possible by the versatility of the 325DC. Posted on 23 Jul
Marine Auctions: July Online Auctions
Bidding to start 24th July and will end 30 July We are now accepting entries for our August Online Auction. Posted on 22 Jul
Mercury Marine expands V10 Verado lineup
With all-new 425hp outboard and enhanced 350hp model Mercury Marine today announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard. Posted on 22 Jul
Maritimo S SeriesPalm Beach Motor Yachts