“For the Sea” is the slogan and title of the 31st edition of the Trofeo Mario Formenton regatta which takes place in the waters of the archipelago of La Maddalena every year on 20 August, departing from Porto Rafael, near Palau. The regatta is organised by the Sporting Club Sardinia with the support of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Yacht Club Punta Sardegna, in collaboration with the One Ocean Foundation which brings the importance of safeguarding the sea to the regatta course – therefore right on the front line.

The event’s other partners are the Thetys Institute (scientific organ of the Pelagos Sanctuary for the study and conservation of cetaceans) and the Centro Velico Caprera sailing centre. The One Ocean Foundation will have a stand set up from the skippers’ briefing on the evening of Wednesday 19, through to the prize giving ceremony, on Thursday 20. At the stand the crews can sign the Charta Smeralda, pick up our water bottle and receive an information kit that explains how and why to engage personally in protecting the sea.

The trophy named in honour of Mario Formenton, who was the Director of Mondadori publishers in the 1980s, is a true sailing festival open to all types of boats. Although there are some combative hulls, decidedly aiming at first place, the majority of participants focus on the beauty of a day on the water among the islands, the awards ceremony in the small square of Porto Rafael and this year, for the first time, on the issues surrounding marine sustainability.