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Ibiza JoySail 2026, nineteen superyachts between Ibiza and Formentera

The sixth edition of Ibiza JoySail welcomes an international fleet ranging from 80 to 147 feet to Marina Ibiza for coastal racing with a strong Corinthian spirit

From 17 to 20 September, Ibiza JoySail brings together 19 sailing superyachts for four days of racing between Ibiza and Formentera, competition and Mediterranean atmosphere

From 17 to 20 September, the waters between Ibiza and Formentera will once again fill with some of the largest sails in the Mediterranean. The sixth edition of Ibiza JoySail brings 19 sailing superyachts to Marina Ibiza, confirming a formula that has established its own place on the Mediterranean regatta calendar in just a few years.

It is more than simply a race. Ibiza JoySail was created around the idea of combining competition, sailing pleasure and the relaxed character associated with the Balearic Islands. The yachts are certainly there to race, but there is also room for owners, families, crews and friends, creating an atmosphere deliberately less rigid than many traditional racing events.

Nineteen different interpretations of the sailing superyacht

The 2026 fleet illustrates just how diverse the world of large sailing yachts has become. Lengths range from around 80 to 147 feet, with designs spanning everything from bluewater cruisers to performance yachts with a stronger racing focus.

Southern Wind is the best-represented shipyard with seven yachts, while Nautor Swan accounts for five. The fleet also includes yachts built by Vitters Shipyard, Baltic Yachts, Claasen, Pendennis, Wally, Y Yachts and J.O.M. Holland.

Returning participants include Aurelius, Cervo, Gelliceaux, Liberty Squared, Moat, Morgana and Nostromo. They are joined by newcomers such as Fortissimo II, Atalante, Nefertiti, Inoui, Kalantis, Ocho, Point Counter Point, Rose, Starfall and Win Win.

More than the size of the fleet itself, it is this diversity that makes the event interesting: yachts created around very different philosophies compete within a structure designed to respect those differences while still delivering meaningful racing.

Racing without transforming the yacht

One of Ibiza JoySail’s defining features is its Corinthian spirit. Owners are encouraged to race their yachts in their normal cruising configuration rather than radically transforming them into dedicated racing machines.

It is a principle that fits particularly well with the nature of the sailing superyachts taking part. These are yachts designed to be lived aboard, to cover long distances and to provide comfort, rather than simply serving as competition platforms.

Racing uses the ORCsy rating system, while the event follows Superyacht Racing Association guidelines. Up to four coastal races are scheduled, using islands, buoys and natural features in the waters around Ibiza and Formentera.

When the owner takes the helm

The major new feature for 2026 is the introduction of the Owner Driver Award.

In each class, the trophy will go to the first yacht driven by its owner, provided the owner remains at the helm for most of the race and also handles the start.

The idea fits naturally with the identity of the event. Ibiza JoySail does not seek to completely separate professional racing from the personal pleasure of sailing one’s own yacht.

Within a fleet of yachts of this size, placing owners directly at the centre of the racing also carries a particular meaning: ownership is not only about possessing the yacht, but continuing to experience the act of sailing it.

48 nautical miles against the clock

Before the main racing begins, Ibiza JoySail offers another challenge: the Mallorca–Ibiza Perpetual Trophy.

Between 15 August and 16 September, participating yachts may choose the most favourable weather window to cover the 48 nautical miles between Punta Cala Figuera in Mallorca and Tagomago in Ibiza in the fastest possible time.

The benchmark is a demanding one. In 2024, Maximus established the outright record at 3 hours and 31 minutes. Separate records also exist for different length categories.

Pure speed and weather strategy therefore come together in a challenge where choosing when to leave can be almost as important as sailing fast.

Ibiza and Formentera become part of the racecourse

From 17 September, the competition moves into the waters surrounding Ibiza and Formentera.

Four days of coastal racing are scheduled, with the first warning signal planned for 12:00 each day. Courses can change according to weather conditions and make use of the islands’ geography as an integral part of the competition.

This is perhaps where Ibiza JoySail’s identity is clearest. The setting is not merely a photographic backdrop: wind, coastline, islands and passages turn each day into a different combination of tactics and navigation.

For yachts of this scale, watching the fleet manoeuvre between Ibiza and Formentera also offers one of the most spectacular expressions of contemporary sailing in a distinctly Mediterranean setting.

After racing, the rhythm changes

When the yachts return to Marina Ibiza, the event changes pace.

The programme includes sundowners, barbecues, dinners and gatherings for crews and guests, leading up to the final prize-giving on Sunday 20 September.

This balance between sea and shore has become one of JoySail’s recognisable characteristics. Competition remains serious, but it does not erase the social character of the event.

It also helps explain why performance-focused yachts and large cruising yachts can share the same event: not everyone arrives in Ibiza with exactly the same objective, but everyone can find a reason to take part.

A young regatta that has already found its place

Ibiza JoySail was established in 2021 and is now an invitation-only regatta organised by STP Shipyard, part of IPM Group, with Marina Ibiza serving as the event base.

Six editions represent a short history compared with many established Mediterranean regattas, but they have been enough to create a distinct identity.

Perhaps the reason lies precisely in its refusal to choose between two different characters: competition and the pleasure of sailing.

From the performance yacht chasing every second around the course to the large cruiser retaining its original configuration, Ibiza JoySail brings together different interpretations of the same world.

And when the racecourse lies between Ibiza and Formentera, the final result becomes only one part of the experience.

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Ibiza JoySail

15 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Ibiza JoySail 2026, nineteen superyachts between Ibiza and Formentera
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