IE University Regatta 2025 closes MBA Sailing League in Cascais with a gold sustainability seal

IE University once again brought its flagship IE Regatta to the Atlantic, returning to Cascais, in Portugal, for the second consecutive year. From September 18–21, the event gathered 23 boats across three classes (J/70, Grand Surprise, Cruising) and 147 participants representing 32 nationalities, making it one of the highlights of the MBA League sailing calendar. The final event of the season placed SDA Bocconi, IE University, and POLIMI on the winners’ podium. This year’s edition had a strong focus on ecology and sustainability, earning the Clean Regattas Gold Certification from Sailors for the Sea – Portugal, recognizing initiatives such as reusable water bottles, refill stations, responsible food-waste reduction and awareness-building on the local marine ecosystem. 

The regatta brought together international business schools including SDA Bocconi, HEC Paris, IMD, INSEAD, Oxford, POLIMI GSoM, RSM, WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management, LBS and the hosts, IE University. 

Beyond the competition, the weekend program included two full days of racing hosted by Clube Naval de Cascais—renowned for its world-class events and long-standing association with international championships—along with networking sessions, a master class, and a gala awards ceremony. Vasco Serpa, CEO of SailCascais and 2025 European Champion in the J/70 class, closed this ceremony with remarks to the fleet and partners, thanking crews for their sportsmanship and spotlighting the community that powers the regatta.

As part of the efforts on sustainability, the regatta also featured an expert master class with Bernardo Queiroz from the Mercedes-Benz Oceanic Lounge, who offered insights into Iberian orca behavior around sailing boats, deepening participants' understanding of the local ecosystem and promoting safe interactions at sea.

Organized by the IE University Sailing Club with the support of IE University, IE Foundation and the Cascais City Hall, the regatta blended spirited racing with a strong sense of community. “The IE Regatta is much more than a sailing competition. For over a decade, students and alumni from different schools and generations come together to celebrate the diversity of our community, our entrepreneurial spirit, and our commitment to sustainability,” said Maggie Constantino, Alumni President of the IE Sailing Club.

At the closing event, the student presidency passed from Horacio Salamanca to Marco Albimonti. “I’m honored to take the helm. We will keep making sailing more accessible, by welcoming new sailors, and growing this community where everyone feels part of the crew. It’s a simple yet ambitious objective, and we look forward to coming back to Cascais in 2026 with the 12th edition of the IE University Regata,” Albimonti highlighted.