George Chryssikos had not sailed for three decades when he first saw an RS21 in May. In Cannes, his Greek team Grivalia won the Corinthian world title as Andrea Rossi’s Mela took the overall crown.
When George Chryssikos saw an RS21 for the first time in May, he had not sailed for 30 years. Six months later, his team Grivalia (GRE 359) left Yacht Club de Cannes as Corinthian World Champions.
“I saw this boat for the first time back in May and immediately fell in love with the RS21,” said Chryssikos. “This is the reason I came back to sailing. I hadn’t sailed for 30 years.”
His brand new boat arrived in Cannes in time for the RS21 World Championship, held from 28 to 31 October. Forty teams from 13 nations raced across four days of light winds. The established fleets from Italy, the UK and the Netherlands were joined by newcomers, among them Greece and Hungary, both racing at the Worlds for the first time.
A Fleet Built in One Season
Chryssikos has done more than race in the class. Working with the Yacht Club of Greece, he helped launch the Hellenic Sailing League, which after a single season has grown to 20 RS21s and more than 100 active sailors.
“We’ve already held a number of regattas in Athens, and the fleet keeps growing,” he said.
That first season of racing at home turned out to be the ideal preparation for the world title. His crew of Stavros Alevras, Filippos Koulouris and Konstantinos Chryssikos put two sailors in their 50s alongside two in their 20s. “It’s really nice that we’re mixing two generations of sailors,” Chryssikos said.
At the prize giving, RS Sailing’s Greek dealer Babis Charalampolos was recognised for growing the Greek fleet from zero to 20 boats in a year. The Greek fleet is expected to challenge the size of Italy’s fast-growing fleet in the near future.
Four Points Decide the World Title
Tactics counted for more than raw speed in the light conditions, and the leaderboard kept changing all week. The title stayed open until the final day.
Frida Racing (ITA 330), skippered by Paolo Cordiglia with 2024 World Champion crew member Niccolo Bianchi aboard, led before slipping just off the podium. Defending champions Les Freaks (HKG 295) climbed to third, while Andrea Rossi’s Mela (ITA 241) held their nerve to win the world title.
Torpyone (ITA 239) finished second, four points behind. Edoardo Lupi skippered the boat, and America’s Cup sailor Francesco “Checco” Bruni called tactics. Bruni was making his RS21 World Championship debut only days after announcing his move from Luna Rossa to Tudor Team Alinghi.
“For years, I’ve always wanted to race with the RS21, but I never managed it because of other commitments. It’s a really fun boat. It’s really reactive, and I like it very much,” Bruni said.
For Cordiglia, fourth place still marked a remarkable turnaround. “Last year I wanted to stop after finishing last at the first Italian Cup event. One year later we’re here,” he said. “The level is incredibly high, but the most beautiful thing is the family feeling in the class.”
An Offshore Legend Back Close to the Water
Italian offshore sailor Furio Benussi raced Frecciablu (ITA 293). He has won the Barcolana several times and skippered maxi yachts including ARCA SGR, Alfa Romeo and Jena.
“It’s a great pleasure being back on a one-design boat after so many years,” he said. “I’m re-learning to sail closer to the water, where nobody gives you anything.”
Benussi compared the way the RS21 responds to a dinghy. “You tack and gybe as if they were dinghies. Every centimetre counts.” He also praised the class’s use of technology: “I’m also learning the Vakaros system, and I must say it’s fantastic.”
Women’s and Under 23 Titles
Magique et Terrible (ITA 230), helmed by Malika Bellomi, defended the Women’s title and also finished third in the Corinthian division. Michiel Geerling, RS Sailing’s Head of Commercial, said his daughter, who is six, was captivated by the women’s crew throughout the week. “They truly inspire generations on the water,” he said.
The French youth team RS France (FRA 222), skippered by Charles Trolard, won the Under 23s title and placed second in Corinthian.
Off the water, the programme included evenings at the club, nights out in town and a rooftop prize giving overlooking the Bay of Cannes. “The socials were iconic,” said Geerling. “Cannes delivered everything it’s known for: great food, great drinks, and my wallet might be a little lighter after some very fun few days in the French Riviera.”
Weymouth Next
RS21 International Class Manager Liam Willis outlined the calendar ahead. National circuits are confirmed in Italy, Canada, Greece, and the UK and Ireland, and a new Dutch series starts in March 2027.
The class heads next to the European Championship in Scarlino, followed by the 2027 World Championship in Weymouth. It will be the first time the Worlds are held in the UK.
“Weymouth is the National Sailing Centre and Olympic venue for a reason,” said RS Sailing Managing Director Alex Newton Southon. “It delivers fantastic racing in the bay, and the inner harbour provides another world-class racecourse when conditions demand it. We can’t wait to welcome the world to the UK and showcase everything the RS21 class is about.”
Yacht Club de Cannes hosted the championship and ran the racing with its race committee and volunteers. Code Zero Digital covered the action throughout the week.
RS21 World Championship 2026 Results
Overall
1st ITA 241, Mela, Andrea Rossi (Club Nautico Marina di Carrara), with Simon Sivitz Kosuta, Stefano Orlandi, Giulio Desiderato
2nd ITA 239, Torpyone, Edoardo Lupi (Varazze Club Nautico), with Lorenzo Lupi, Vittorio Zaoli, Francesco “Checco” Bruni
3rd HKG 295, Les Freaks, Marco Pocci (Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club), with Giacomo Ferrari, Giorgia Bertuzzi, Giovanni Meloni
Corinthian
1st GRE 359, Grivalia, George Chryssikos (Yacht Club of Greece), with Stavros Alevras, Filippos Koulouris, Konstantinos Chryssikos
2nd FRA 222, RS France, Charles Trolard (Yacht Club Mauguio Carnon), with Merlin Kerfourn, Quentin Bourrust, Guillaume Jacolin
3rd ITA 230, Magique et Terrible, Malika Bellomi (Circolo Vela Arco), with Sofia Giondi, Elisa Ziletti, Lucia Marchi, Chiara Degli Angioli
Women
ITA 230, Magique et Terrible, Malika Bellomi (Circolo Vela Arco), with Sofia Giondi, Elisa Ziletti, Lucia Marchi, Chiara Degli Angioli
Under 23s
1st FRA 222, RS France, Charles Trolard (Yacht Club Mauguio Carnon), with Merlin Kerfourn, Quentin Bourrust, Guillaume Jacolin
2nd ITA 193, Massimo Bettinardi (Yacht Club Cala dei Sardi), with Riccardo-Hai Gessa, Salvatore Garippa, Riccardo Serra, Giorgio Nocella
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