The TP52 World Championship is the crown jewel of the 52 Super Series calendar, and in 2026 it returns to Porto Cervo on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, one of the most prestigious yacht club addresses in the world. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, founded by the Aga Khan in 1967, has hosted the best in Mediterranean sailing for nearly six decades, and the World Championship brings the circuit’s most intense competition to its emerald waters.
The Costa Smeralda’s sailing conditions are defined by the Mistral, a northwesterly wind that channels between Sardinia and Corsica, and the thermal breezes that build from the east in the afternoon. June typically offers the best balance: enough gradient wind to provide power but not so much that racing becomes survival. The Tyrrhenian Sea around Porto Cervo has a crystalline quality that makes the deep greens and blues beneath the TP52s visible from the helicopter camera, creating some of the most beautiful sailing broadcast imagery in the sport.
Racing starts at 12:00 CEST (UTC+2) daily over six days. In London, that is 11:00 BST. New York sees 06:00 EDT, while Dubai gets a 14:00 start. Sydney at 20:00 AEST has the evening slot. The extended six-day format means the World Championship produces more races than any other event on the calendar, typically 10-12 windward-leeward races that reward consistency over single-race heroics.
The TP52 World Championship decides who holds the class title for the year, separate from the overall Super Series championship. The distinction matters to owner-drivers who invest heavily in crew, design, and preparation. Teams typically bring their strongest possible lineup for the Worlds, with America’s Cup tacticians, Olympic medallists, and seasoned navigators filling the 14 crew positions.
Porto Cervo as a venue adds a layer of social prestige that the TP52 circuit values. The YCCS clubhouse, the restaurants along the marina, and the granite-studded coastline create an environment where serious racing meets serious hospitality. It is not uncommon to see TP52 owners entertaining guests on superyachts anchored in the bay while their racing boats are being tuned for the next day.