A decisive final day in Imperia

Race 7 & 8 – A decisive final day in Imperia

The final day of the 2026 ITMA 12 Metre World Championship opened with Race 7 in a light but initially steady breeze.

The first race was sailed on a 080° bearing, with the course initially set at 1.4 nautical miles. With around 12 knots of wind at the start, the course was extended to 1.6 nautical miles during the race as conditions allowed.

As the wind began to decrease, 7-8 knots  from the east , however, the second race of the day , the course had to be shortened to 1.2 nautical miles and made the final race a real test of concentration and patience.

With the championship still requiring both races to be completed, Race 8 proved crucial. In the end, Kookaburra II delivered another strong performance, taking the race win, followed by Kiwi Magic and French Kiss.

The final race brought the 2026 ITMA World Championship to a close after a challenging and varied series of racing in Imperia — from light and shifting breezes to much stronger conditions earlier in the week.