Smeralda 888
One-design class · German Frers · Galetti · since 1991
- Boats
- 12
- Results
- 31
- Wins
- 13
- Races
- 6
- Length
- 8.88m
Why sailors choose the Smeralda 888
The Smeralda 888 is a small Frers one-design commissioned by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, using the Soling as a reference, and raced as a gentleman owner-driver class in the Riviera and Sardinia. Owners value the strict owner-at-the-helm rule, compass-only racing and the social side of a close-knit fleet. The fleet is tiny, with fewer than twenty boats ever built.
- Owner must steer; up to five crew
- No electronics beyond a compass
- Racing circuit in Monaco, Porto Cervo, Saint-Tropez and Cannes
- Strong social, club-based atmosphere
- Very small fleet of about 16 active boats
Our note
Specifications
One-design class
- Designer
- German Frers
- Builder
- Galetti
- First built
- 1991
- Length
- 8.88m
Club one-design commissioned by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
Published figures for the design; individual boats are often modified. Sources: yccs.it
What sailors and testers say · in our words, from the linked pages
He describes the boat as technically demanding yet easy and quick, raced by a close-knit owner-driver family across Mediterranean yacht clubs.
YCCS magazine, quoting class president Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies · Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, 2020
Against its rivals
The Smeralda 888 against four designs like it, from published figures. Swap any of the four. Each spoke is scaled to the largest of the five; a figure that isn't published sits at the centre (— in the table).
| Design | Length | Beam | Draft | Weight | Sail area | Power (SA/D) | Boats racing | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smeralda 888 | 8.9 m | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 13 |
| J/92S | 9.1 m | 3.05 m | 1.90 m | 2.5 t | 58 m² | 31.3 | 2 | 4 |
| Dehler 30 OD | 9.1 m | 3.28 m | 2.20 m | 2.8 t | 63 m² | 32.0 | 1 | 0 |
| First 28 | 8.6 m | 3.00 m | 1.72 m | 2.7 t | 44 m² | 23.0 | 1 | 5 |
| Elan 310 | 9.3 m | 3.22 m | 1.90 m | 3.9 t | 54 m² | 22.0 | 3 | 2 |
| Boat | Sail no. | Skipper or owner | Years | Results | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vamos Mi Amor | — | Charles de Bourbon | 2021–2026 | 8 | 5 |
| Millenium Falcon | — | Marco Favale | 2023–2026 | 3 | 3 |
| Black Star | — | Paolo Rotelli / Max Stimamiglio | 2021–2026 | 4 | 1 |
| Canard à l'Orange | — | Achille Onorato | 2023–2026 | 4 | 1 |
| Botta Dritta | — | Francesco Vauban Miani | 2021 | 2 | 1 |
| Django | — | Giovanni Lombardi Stronati | 2024 | 2 | 1 |
| Capocaccia | — | Luigi Guarnaccia | 2025 | 1 | 1 |
| Beda | — | Timifey Sukhotin / Marc Stevenazzi | 2021–2022 | 3 | — |
| Bloody Mathilde | — | Nicolò Saidelli | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Mascalzone Latino | — | Vincenzo Onorato | 2023 | 1 | — |
| Stay Rude | — | Guglielmo Lombardi Stronati | 2025 | 1 | — |
| Ziva | — | Silvia De' Longhi | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Race | Results of this design | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coppa Europa Smeralda 888 | 18 | 6 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Primo Cup – Trophée UBS | 9 | 5 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 |
| Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Raduno Vele Storiche Viareggio | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca | 1 | — | 2026 |
| Rolex Swan Cup | 1 | — | 2024 |