What it is and why it is genuinely worth the trip
The Yacht Club Italiano was founded in 1879. That is not a trivial detail: it is the reason the Millevele is not simply a regatta, but a ritual. For over 37 editions — and for the 37th in 2025 with around 200 registered boats — every September the waters of the Gulf of Genoa fill with sailing vessels of every size and form, with a single minimum requirement: 5.95 metres in length. Beyond that, all are welcome. Catamarans, classic sloops, offshore dinghies, heavy-keel boats from the 1960s alongside the latest high-performance models: the Millevele is the democratic festival of Italian sailing.
The regatta is promoted and organised by the YCI in conjunction with the Genoa International Boat Show — one of the world's most important in the sector — and this coincidence transforms the week into a total event for anyone passionate about the sea. On the morning when the boats leave from Quarto, the port of Genoa is already an explosion of white against the blue September sky: thousands of people on shore follow the start, the support rib boats mark the course, the boats line up at the start with that quiet tension that precedes every great regatta.
The Millevele Classic category deserves special mention. With the YCI Heritage Trophy as its special award, this section celebrates historic sailing vessels of particular constructive and historical merit — lateen rigs, plywood hulls from the 1950s, mirror-polished wooden hulls that look as if they have sailed out of a museum. Seeing these boats navigate alongside the most modern designs is an aesthetic spectacle quite unlike anything else. For anyone with even a passing interest in Italy's maritime tradition, the Millevele Classic alone is worth the journey.
But the Millevele is not only for sailors. Those who prefer to stay on land have all of Genoa at their disposal: the Old Port with the Boat Show open to the public, the Rolli Palaces (UNESCO World Heritage) in the historic centre, the caruggi alleyways and their craft shops, the Aquarium among the largest in Europe. September is the finest time to visit Genoa: the summer heat has eased, tourist numbers are down from August, and the city regains the quality of life it partly loses in summer. For a guest based in Rapallo, Genoa in September is practically reachable daily in 35 minutes by train, making it possible to alternate perfectly between sea and city.
There are logistical details that distinguish the Millevele from other nautical events: the starts traditionally take place from Quarto, in the eastern part of Genoa, with the finish varying by edition. From the Quarto seafront or the Nervi promenade (reachable by bus from Brignole) you can watch the boats sailing during the day. In the evenings, crews gather at the Old Port or in the centre's bars for informal debriefs that last late into the night — the yacht-club atmosphere with the entire Gulf as the stage.
How to experience the Millevele week
The structure of the week is that typical of an offshore regatta: the start day is the most spectacular to follow from shore; subsequent days cover the intermediate stages and returns; the final prize-giving closes with a celebratory atmosphere. In between, the Boat Show at the Old Port offers a perfect alternative on days when the regatta is offshore. Planning two or three days in Genoa and using the rest of your stay to explore the Riviera di Levante from Rapallo is the ideal strategy.
