⛵ The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup is no ordinary regatta. It is one of the toughest and most technical offshore races in the European nautical calendar.
Organised by the Real Club Marítimo de Marbella, the Club de Vela Vendaval de Ceuta and the Real Club Marítimo de Sotogrande, this competition, which counts towards the Andalusian Offshore Sailing Championship, has been challenging the world's best sailors since 2018.
The total course of 94 nautical miles is divided into three stages: Marbella–Ceuta (40 miles), Ceuta–Sotogrande (30 miles) and Sotogrande–Marbella (24 miles). The great attraction: crossing the Strait of Gibraltar twice, one of the most complex maritime areas on the planet, with currents that can exceed 4 knots, winds that change in minutes, sudden fog banks and very heavy maritime traffic.
It is not a pure speed race, but one of strategy, reading the sea and endurance. The fastest boat does not always win; the winner is the one that best interprets the current, the gusts and the transition zones. In its eighth edition, held from 30 April to 3 May 2026, 21 boats and more than 250 crew members participated.
When is The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup?
📅 The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup will be held from 30 April to 3 May 2026.
The detailed schedule for the 8th edition will be:
- 30 April – checks and skippers' meeting
- 1 May – start of the first stage (Marbella–Ceuta) at 10:00
- 2 May – second stage (Ceuta–Sotogrande) start at 09:00
- 3 May – third stage (Sotogrande–Marbella) start at 10:00, with the first boats arriving around 14:00 and the trophy ceremony at 19:00
The best time to enjoy The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup as a spectator is precisely these early days of May, with pleasant temperatures (22-26°C) and a high probability of thermal wind.
We recommend arriving on Thursday 29 April so as not to miss the run-up, which includes a crew presentation dinner and an opening party at Sunday Sunset Ritual — La Plage Casanis. The Sun Places offers you accommodation from Thursday so you can experience the full event.
📍Where is The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup located?
The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup takes place in three main locations.
The nerve centre for spectators on the Costa del Sol is the Marbella Marina, just a 5-minute drive from Puerto Banús and the Marbella Municipal Market.
The start and finish of the first and third stages take place there, as well as the trophy ceremony.
The improvised stands on the Muelle de Ribera allow you to see the boats preparing and the exciting arrivals. In Ceuta, the arrival of the first stage can be seen from the Ceuta Marina.
In Sotogrande, the second stage ends at the Sotogrande Marina, where the famous Polo in Sotogrande is also held weeks later.
The proximity to iconic spots is absolute: from our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús it takes less than 10 minutes by car to Marbella harbour. You will also be 15 minutes from the Real Club Marítimo de Sotogrande and 10 minutes from the best Beach Bars of Marbella.
During the stages, it is possible to rent a private yacht to follow The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup from the water, an experience that The Sun Places can arrange for you with crew and catering included.
The perfect plan with The Sun Places for The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup
Experiencing The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup with The Sun Places is synonymous with exclusivity and comfort.
We propose a plan that begins on the Thursday before the regatta.
Arrival at our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús.
At 20:00, a crew presentation dinner at La Plage Casanis, where you can meet some of the skippers and sailors.
On Friday, the day of checks, we dedicate to relaxing in the beach bars of the area.
On Saturday 1 May, at 09:00, our private driver takes you to Marbella harbour to see the start of the first stage. You will enjoy a preferential area with an open bar.
At 18:00, follow the arrival in Ceuta on a giant screen.
On Sunday, follow the second stage from the Sotogrande Sailing Club, combined with an express visit to Polo in Sotogrande.
On Monday, the grand finale: start of the third stage, arrival in Marbella and trophy ceremony with a glass of cava included. This is how The Sun Places turns a regatta into an unforgettable experience.
📜 History of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup
The history of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup began in 2018, when the sailing clubs of the three cities decided to create a regatta that would honour the seafaring tradition of the Strait.
The 1st edition was modest: 12 boats and only 80 sailors, but the success was immediate due to the spectacle of crossing the Strait. During the 2020 pandemic, the competition was suspended. The 3rd edition (2021) already had 18 boats.
In 2022, the Cup was declared a qualifying event for the Andalusian Offshore Sailing Championship, which boosted its prestige. The 5th edition (2023) had to be temporarily neutralised in Ceuta due to an easterly storm that reached 40 knots. The 6th edition (2024) broke participation records: 27 boats. The 7th edition (2025) was won by the Ceuta Mahersa.
The name "Intercontinental" refers to the fact that it connects two continents (Europe and Africa) via Ceuta. Over the years, it has earned the nickname "the toughest regatta in the western Mediterranean".
The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup will be remembered for the feat of the Castañer Yachts, which, with skipper Iñaki Castañer and a crew from the Real Club Marítimo de Sotogrande, won the overall classification against boats with a larger length.
For The Sun Places, this regatta is an unmissable event in our calendar of nautical experiences.
🏢Who organises The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup?
The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup is organised by three top-level sailing clubs: the Real Club Marítimo de Marbella (main headquarters and host organiser), the Club de Vela Vendaval de Ceuta (management of the stopover in the autonomous city) and the Real Club Marítimo de Sotogrande (coordination of the second stage).
Institutional collaboration comes from the Andalusian Sailing Federation, the Ceuta Sailing Federation, the Marbella City Council (through Marbella Destino 5 Estrellas), the Autonomous City of Ceuta (Ceuta Sí brand) and the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Campo de Gibraltar.
The main sponsor in 2026 will be Coleman (nautical equipment), with collaboration from Estrella Galicia and Puerto Banús.
The Regatta Committee will be chaired by Juan Luis Fernández, vice-president of the Andalusian Sailing Federation.
🏅What The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup means for Marbella, Andalusia and The Sun Places
For Marbella and Puerto Banús, The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup represents a return to the destination's seafaring roots, beyond superficial luxury. It is an event that attracts high-spending tourists with cultural and sporting interests.
For Andalusia, it is a key piece in the promotion of nautical tourism and offshore sailing, positioning the Strait as a world-class regatta venue.
For Ceuta, it is the city's main sporting showcase of the year.
For The Sun Places, this regatta is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús are much more than a place to sleep: they are the operations centre for experiencing a complete event that combines sport, nature, the gastronomy of the beach bars of Marbella, the glamour of the Sunday Sunset Ritual — La Plage Casanis and the tradition of Polo in Sotogrande.
We want our guests to feel the breeze of the Strait from their private terrace, to touch the winning boats in the harbour and to share a table with the champions. That is the essence of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup for us.
🌊 The three stages of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup
The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup consists of three extremely demanding stages.
The first stage, Marbella–Ceuta, is the longest (40 miles) and the one that runs entirely through the Strait. The boats leave Marbella harbour and hug the coast as far as Tarifa, where the currents are strongest, before crossing to Ceuta. This stage is considered the toughest.
The second stage, Ceuta–Sotogrande, is 30 miles long and runs parallel to the African coast before crossing the Strait again towards the Bay of Algeciras and the port of Sotogrande.
The third stage, Sotogrande–Marbella, is the shortest (24 miles) but the most tactical, with changing winds upon reaching the height of Cala del Moral and Marbella.
Spectators can follow The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup from land at the starts and finishes, or via GPS tracking on the official website. The Sun Places offers giant screens in our VIP areas so you don't miss any details of the real-time positions.
🍽️ Where to eat during The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup
During the days of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup, the gastronomic offering of Marbella and Puerto Banús is fully focused on the event.
The Beach Bars of Marbella are the protagonists:
- La Plage Casanis offers special menus for sailors and spectators
- Trocadero Arena is ideal for sardine skewers while following the regatta from its terraces.
- El Ancla, very close to the harbour, is the meeting point for many crews after the stages.
- Nikki Beach and Ocean Club Marbella are also recommended for a more festive atmosphere. For haute cuisine, nearby Michelin-starred restaurants include Skina and Messina, as well as Beef by Dani García and Leña.
You can't leave without trying the Almadraba bluefin tuna, the white prawns from Motril and the Andalusian fried fish. The Sun Places manages reservations for you at the best restaurants with harbour views so you don't miss any of the celebrations of The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup.
🏆 How to experience The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup with The Sun Places
Booking your experience for The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup with The Sun Places is very simple.
Just contact our team through the form on our website.
Indicate the dates you wish to attend and the number of people.
We will offer you three options.
- VIP Experience: all of the above, plus private transport to the starts and finishes, access to the floating grandstand with open bar, and a gala dinner on Monday.
- Platinum Experience: all of the VIP plus following one of the stages on a private yacht, a meeting with the winners and a professional photo session.
The Sun Places guests have priority and special discounts. Don't hesitate: places to experience The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup in total luxury are limited.
The perfect plan with The Sun Places for The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup
We end with a summary of our perfect plan for The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup.
- Thursday: arrival and presentation dinner.
- Friday: relaxation and pre-event
- Saturday 1 May: start of the first stage viewed from our VIP grandstand, plus an optional pilgrimage in the morning.
- Sunday: second stage viewed from Sotogrande, combined with polo and sunset ritual.
- Monday: grand finale, trophy ceremony and gala dinner
All this with accommodation in our Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, private transport, and the personalised attention of our team.
This is how The Sun Places turns The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup into the experience of a lifetime. Are you going to miss it?
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your experience at The 8th Marbella–Ceuta–Sotogrande Intercontinental Cup. Sailing, luxury and the Strait in your hands. ⛵🌊
But if you prefer other destinations, The Sun Places also has ready for you: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville
We look forward to seeing you!