The Adriatic Sprint: La Duecento Regatta 2026
Looking
for the next step after an Advanced Course? Join the racing crew for La Duecento (The 200) – the
high-intensity younger sister of the famous La Cinquecento.
Unlike open-ocean marathons, this is a tactical sprint. It’s 200 miles of non-stop racing from Caorle (Italy) to the sandy island of Susak (Croatia) and back, demanding constant focus and active trimming.
Veruda Sailing School has a proven track record in demanding offshore conditions, having, among others, in 2025. successfully completed 2300 NM Pula-Malta-Pula offshore sailing course including Rolex Middle Sea Race regatta – one of the world's most revered offshore yacht races.
The school also boasts numerous regatta victories (1st place in group in prestigious Argonaut cup, in 2023. & 2024.), including successes in offshore races (1st place in group in Pesaro-Pula in 2024.), among others, demonstrating our expertise and commitment to excellence in competitive sailing.
Your instructor will provide unparalleled hands-on experience and a wealth of tactical and practical knowledge to guide you through the demanding conditions of the course.
La Duecento & Caorle
Organized by the prestigious Circolo Nautico Santa Margherita
(CNSM), La Duecento is a cornerstone of the North Adriatic racing calendar. Created as the "sprint"
version of the legendary La Cinquecento, this 200-nautical-mile
race attracts the best sailors from Italy, Croatia, and Austria.
While
shorter than its 500-mile sibling, La Duecento is often more intense. The course forces crews to navigate
the treacherous Kvarner Gulf twice. The tactical highlight is rounding the island of Susak – a
unique geological phenomenon made of sand—where local currents and wind shadows often reshuffle the
leaderboard in the middle of the night. It is a race where one bad tactical decision costs more than pure
boat speed can recover.
Our
race base is the historic town of Caorle, often described as "Little Venice" without the crowds.
With its iconic cylindrical bell tower dating back to 1048 and vibrant colored houses, Caorle has a
maritime history stretching back to Roman times.
For
a sailor, the atmosphere in Porto Santa Margherita before the start is special. The docks buzz with crews
making final rig checks and analyzing weather models, offering our students a true immersion into the
Italian regatta culture before the starting gun fires.
What to Expect:
- Crew & Vessel Readiness: Comprehensive preparation of crew and vessel for optimal regatta performance.
- Strategic Navigation Planning: Regatta navigation preparation, focusing on forecast conditions (wind, sea state, tide).
- Racing Regulations Mastery: In-depth understanding and application of the Racing Rules of Sailing and regatta event rules modifiers.
- Start & Event Tactics: Effective strategies for race starts and optimizing performance throughout the regatta.
- Sail & Rig Optimization: Expert techniques for trimming sails and masts to maximize speed and efficiency.
- Spinnaker & gennaker: characteristics, preparation, hoisting and lowering techniques, maneuvering, maximizing speed.
- Plus everything covered in our Advanced Course and much more.
Prerequisites:
- Basic Sailing Skills: You should be comfortable with basic sailing maneuvers, terminology, and have some experience handling a sailboat.
- Navigation Knowledge: A basic understanding of navigation principles, chart reading, and compass use is beneficial.
- Safety Awareness: Familiarity with basic safety procedures and equipment on board is essential.
- Physical Fitness: Offshore sailing can be physically demanding, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
- Dependability and Responsiveness: Be prepared to perform roles and assignments as they are designated by the skipper, demonstrating flexibility and a proactive approach to teamwork.
- Team Spirit: A positive attitude and willingness to work as part of a team are crucial for a successful offshore experience.
- Resilience and Enthusiasm: A sense of humor and an open mind are vital. You should possess a genuine love for sailing that endures even when conditions get wet or challenging.
Route:
Pula, Croatia → Caorle, Italy → Grado, Italy → Susak, Croatia → Caorle
→ Pula
Ready for an adventure?
Don't miss out on the opportunity and secure your place in the course today!
For general information about our advanced courses, the boat and the skipper: