The 2026 Italian Fireball Championship sets sail for Punta Ala

From 10 to 13 September, the battle for the Italian Fireball title will take place at PuntAla Camp & Resort, with up to nine races and a programme designed to combine sport, spectacle and a holiday on the Maremma coast.

From 10 to 13 September 2026, the waters in front of the private beach at PuntAla Camp & Resort will host the Italian Fireball Class Championship, one of the highlights of the national dinghy sailing season.

Organised by Centro Velico Punta Ala A.S.D. under the authority of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), the Championship will bring together crews competing for the Italian title on the Gulf of Follonica racecourse, one of the most highly regarded in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

There are currently 20 crews registered, but the number may still increase. The fleet will also include a number of international crews who, while not competing for the Italian title, will add further technical and sporting value to the event and make the battle for the overall standings even more interesting. The Italian Fireball Champion title will be awarded to the highest-placed Italian crew, with further prizes for the leading Fireball Classic, Under 25 and mixed crews.

The event will begin on Thursday, 10 September with registration and the skippers’ meeting. Racing will start on Friday, 11 September and continue until Sunday, 13 September, with up to nine races scheduled, normally with a maximum of three races per day.

The crews will compete on a triangle-windward/leeward course in a stretch of water framed by the Maremma coast, Elba and the other islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. The shape of the Gulf of Follonica provides good protection from strong currents and rough seas, while its generally regular, moderate thermal breezes often create ideal conditions for dinghy sailing. It is a technically interesting racecourse, where the sea usually remains relatively calm even when the wind picks up.

For three days, starts, crossings and mark roundings will animate the waters directly in front of the resort, turning the regatta into a spectacle that can be enjoyed straight from the beach. It is a privileged viewpoint from which to follow the crews’ manoeuvres and watch the Fireball sails against the backdrop of Elba.

As is tradition at PuntAla Camp & Resort, the event will continue after the boats return ashore. The social programme will complement the racing with a happy hour, the crews’ dinner and the final awards ceremony.

Saturday evening’s dinner will take place at Bubula – Cucina di Maremma, a restaurant that has become a firm favourite at Centro Velico events thanks to the quality of its food and the warm welcome it offers every crew. The menu will showcase local flavours with a selection of cured meats and cheeses, pici pasta with meat sauce, mixed grilled meats with oven-roasted vegetables and tiramisu, together with a choice of wines from the Tuscan Maremma.

The dinner will also be open to accompanying guests at a cost of €45. Reservations must be made at the Centro Velico Punta Ala Race Office by Friday, 11 September.

PuntAla Camp & Resort will serve as both the logistical base and the heart of the event, with the boat park, Race Office, beach, services and accommodation all located within easy walking distance. Crews, families, staff and accompanying guests will be able to share the Championship experience both on and off the water, surrounded by the welcoming atmosphere of the seaside pine forest.

While the crews are racing, accompanying guests can watch the action from the beach or choose from the resort’s many outdoor activities, including MTB, e-MTB and gravel tours, sailing, windsurfing, SUP, kayaking, tennis, CrossFit and the Sport Beach Arena. With a choice of camping pitches, glamping and holiday homes, the Italian Fireball Championship also offers the perfect excuse to enjoy a late-summer holiday on the Maremma coast.

The event will take place from 10 to 13 September 2026 at Centro Velico Punta Ala.

For the full programme, Notice of Race and all event information, visit: 
https://www.centrovelicopuntaala.it/regate/fireball-campionato-italiano-2026/

 

Information

Centro Velico Punta Ala A.S.D.

Tel. +39 349 881 6427 
Email: info@centrovelicopuntaala.it 
www.centrovelicopuntaala.it