Official Marine Power Partner
Suzuki Marine
Power, reliability and technological efficiency at the service of the 34th World Championship fleet. Suzuki drives the champions' boats through the most demanding challenges on the open sea.
World Championship34th Big Game World Championship
Where a passion for the sea meets world-class excellence. More than eighty elite anglers, over twenty teams from across the globe, three days of competition in the waters of the Adriatic.
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Organised by
Under the patronage of
Welcome
The sea of Ancona, world capital of sport fishing
From 7 to 13 September 2026, the eyes of the international sailing and sporting world will be on Ancona and the magnificent setting of Marina Dorica. Club Amici del Mare ASD, together with FIPSAS and FIPS-M, is proud to organise and host the 34th Big Game Drifting World Championship.
More than eighty elite anglers, in over twenty teams from around the world, will take to the rich waters of the Adriatic to compete for the world title — a contest at the highest competitive level, built on respect for the environment, fair play and the great seafaring tradition of Ancona.
“Under the flag of Sport, Ancona welcomes the world’s finest big game anglers for an unforgettable week of competition, fair play and care for our sea.”
80+Elite anglers
20+Teams worldwide
3Competition days
100%Catch & release
Dates
7 – 13 September 2026
Venue
Marina Dorica, Ancona
Discipline
Big Game Drifting
Organisation
Club Amici del Mare ASD
With
FIPSAS · FIPS-M
Main Sponsors
Championship partners
Official Technology & Data Partner
Deep Europe
The digital infrastructure reshaping outdoor sport. From competition metrics to real-time standings: the telemetry and AI of the Championship are Powered by DEEP.
Fishing grounds
The Conero waters and the target species
The competition takes place in the waters off the Conero and Ancona coastline. The official rules provide for the capture and measurement of the three flagship species of the Adriatic offshore waters.
01
Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
The great predator of the Adriatic and the most coveted trophy of the event.
02
Little Tunny
Euthynnus alletteratus
Fast and hard-fighting, it tests both the technique and the stamina of the crews.
03
Mahi-mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Spectacular in colour and acrobatics, a star of the late-summer days at sea.
Sustainability
100% catch & release
The 34th World Championship stands as an international model of environmental sustainability. Every catch made by the crews is validated through high-definition video, measured in the water and released alive at sea straight away, with zero impact on fish stocks.
100%
Released at sea
- Every catch validated by high-definition video
- Measured in the water and released immediately
- Zero impact on Adriatic fish stocks
Programme
The official programme
7 September
Monday
Crew arrival and accreditation
Crews arrive at Club Amici del Mare, via Mascino 5/H (tel. +39 071 53724), for accreditation and collection of the competition material. Welcome toast and dinner in the evening.
Welcome
8 September
Tuesday
Official meetings and opening ceremony
The Parade of Nations crosses the centre of Ancona along Corso Garibaldi, from Piazza Roma to Piazza della Repubblica.
- 09:00Skippers’ meeting
- 10:00Captains’ meeting
- 13:00Lunch at Marina Dorica
- 17:30Opening Ceremony and Parade of Nations
- 20:00Buffet and dinner at Marina Dorica
Ceremony
9 September
Wednesday
Official practice
Practice day on the open sea, run with the same organisation as the competition days.
- 06:00Breakfast at the hotel
- 07:00Pocket lunches and chum handed out
- 08:00Official practice begins
- 19:00Buffet and dinner at Marina Dorica
Practice
10 – 12 September
Thursday to Saturday
The three days of competition
First, second and third competition days: dawn start from Marina Dorica and return in the afternoon. The schedule is the same on all three days.
- 06:00Breakfast at the hotel
- 07:00Pocket lunches and chum handed out
- 08:00Start of racing
- 15:00End of racing
- 19:00Buffet and dinner at Marina Dorica
Competition
13 September
Sunday
Competition day, prize-giving and gala dinner
With the three scheduled days cancelled because of the weather, the jury has designated Sunday as an official competition day, alongside the training day of Wednesday. Boats fish at anchor on the spot each crew chooses, after the roll call at the meeting point indicated by the jury. The day closes with the proclamation of the World Champions and the gala dinner.
- 05:00Sardines and packed lunches collected at the Club
- 06:00Boats free to leave Marina Dorica, no roll call
- 07:00Roll call at the meeting point, then boats move to their fishing spot and anchor
- 07:30The competition director starts the competition
- 14:30End of the competition
- 18:00Prize-giving at Marina Dorica
- 20:00Gala dinner at Marina Dorica
Competition
Standings
Final standings
The championship was decided over two days: the official practice of Wednesday 9 and the competition of Sunday 13, after bad weather had cancelled the three scheduled days. Below are the top ten of the twenty teams entered; the full ranking, day by day, is in the official document.
| Pos. | Nation | Captain | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montenegro | Denis Mandić | 4 |
| 2 | Italy B | Luca Miserocchi | 7 |
| 3 | Croatia A | Gordon Svalina | 7.5 |
| 4 | England B | Jack Challis | 12 |
| 5 | Italy A | Franco Bellini | 14 |
| 6 | Mexico A | Jorge Angulo Cota | 15 |
| 7 | Spain B | Juan Jose Bonet Vidal | 16.5 |
| 8 | Mexico B | Martin Armando Botello Rubalcaba | 17.5 |
| 9 | Croatia B | Josip Brkić | 17.5 |
| 10 | Slovenia | Miran Benda | 18.5 |
Each day awards every team a score equal to its placing: the lowest total over the two days wins.
Full standings (PDF)
Media
Video and photo gallery
The official promotional video of the event, produced by Club Amici del Mare. Below, the competition week told in pictures: the opening ceremony, the parade of nations, the fleet at sea and the fights alongside the boat.
Supporters
Institutions, sponsors and partners
Organiser
Under the patronage of
Main Sponsor
Premium Sponsor
Official partners
List being updated.
Our thanks to our friend Sergio Tontarelli for his contribution to our event.
Organisation
Club Amici del Mare ASD
Marina Dorica — Ancona
In cooperation with FIPSAS and FIPS-M
Event venue
Marina Dorica
Via Mario Cardinali — 60125 Ancona
7 – 13 September 2026