COA 2026 Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup
Event Date: Saturday, 18 April 2026
Get ready to hoist the sails and heat up the pans – the 2026 COA Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup returns on Saturday, 18 April for its 9th edition!
This unique event combines two exciting challenges into one unforgettable day: a 2-hour speed cruising session followed by a creative onboard pasta cooking competition. Teams will compete for overall honours based on a combined low-point scoring system across both sessions.
On the Water: Speed Meets Strategy
The day kicks off at 10:00 sharp, with all boats setting off for a 2-hour freestyle speed cruising session within a defined sailing area. Competitors can choose their own course within the boundaries, balancing speed and strategy to maximise their corrected distance sailed before finishing at 12:00 in Stanley Bay .
Smart navigation is key – with only two hours on the clock, crews must plan their route carefully to ensure they cross the finish line on time.
In the Galley: Creativity Meets Competition
Once anchored in Stanley Bay, the challenge shifts from sails to sauce. Crews will have just one hour to cook their best pasta dish onboard – no pre-preparation allowed!
Each team must:
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Cook enough to feed the crew and three judges
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Submit their dish anonymously for blind judging
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Showcase creativity, flavour, and presentation
Ingredients, teamwork, and a bit of culinary flair will all play a part in claiming victory .
Prizes & Results
Prizes will be awarded for:
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Speed Cruising Performance
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Pasta Cooking Competition
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Overall Combined Results
With additional prizes at the discretion of the race committee, there’s plenty to play for. This year a 24-carat gold plated horse will be awarded to the best chef.
The Perfect Blend of Racing & Relaxation
After racing and cooking, crews can relax, enjoy their pasta creations, and share a bottle of wine provided by the sponsors – the perfect way to round off a day of friendly competition on the water.
Ready to Join?
Whether you’re trimming sails or seasoning sauce, this is your chance to prove you can master both sea and kitchen.
Bring your best crew, your secret ingredients, and your competitive spirit.
Registration is now open – and more details will be served up soon.
Don’t miss the boat… or the pasta! 🍝⛵
If you want to know more about this event check out past editions here and here!
Race Recap & Result
Under warm skies and a steady 26°C, this year’s Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup delivered a day that was as challenging as it was memorable. With light winds ranging between just 4–7 knots, the speed cruising session quickly turned into a true test of patience, strategy, and endurance.
Boats set off from their home harbours, plotting their own course toward Stanley Bay—but the lack of wind proved unforgiving. Those who ventured too far, including toward the east side of Lamma, found themselves battling the clock as the 12:00 PM finish loomed closer.
In the end, only two boats—Kyte and Saphira—mastered the conditions, sailing smart and staying within reach of the finish. Saphira claimed the top performance, achieving the greatest corrected distance.
For the rest of the fleet, it became a slow and tactical grind. Every adjustment mattered, every puff counted. Five boats ultimately fell into the DNF category, where Harmony led the group with the longest distance sailed, followed by Krampus, Amphitrite, MoHan, and Fairmile.
From Racing to Cooking
Once safely anchored in Stanley Bay, the atmosphere shifted from tactical sailing to culinary creativity. A waiting mothership and a panel of seven judges set the stage for the next challenge.
With just one hour on the clock, crews transformed their boats into floating kitchens, producing 12 unique pasta dishes. Each plate was judged on consistency, doneness, flavour balance, creativity, and overall presentation.
Standing above the rest was Galene, whose seafood pasta captured the judges’ unanimous praise—described as both delicious and beautifully harmonious. Their reward: the coveted 24-carat gold-plated horse, awarded to the best chef of the day.
The Perfect Finish
With racing and judging complete, crews finally had the chance to relax, enjoy their creations, and share a well-earned glass of wine—kindly provided by Winecloud, sponsor of this year’s event.
From light winds and tactical battles to creativity in the galley, the 9th Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup once again proved that the best days on the water are about more than just racing—they’re about community, resilience, and a shared love of sailing (and pasta).
What is the Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup?
The Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup is one of the most distinctive events on the COA calendar, combining competitive sailing with a creative onboard cooking challenge.
The day begins with a 2-hour speed cruising session, where boats sail freely within a defined area, choosing their own course to maximise performance and strategy before finishing in Stanley Bay. Success on the water depends not only on speed, but also on smart navigation and time management.
After racing, the focus shifts from sails to stoves. Crews anchor in the bay and take on a one-hour onboard pasta cooking challenge, preparing a dish from scratch with no pre-cooking allowed. Each team must present a dish for blind judging, with emphasis on flavour, creativity, and presentation.
Overall results are determined using a combined scoring system, rewarding teams that can excel both on the water and in the galley.
Blending racing, teamwork, and a shared love of food, the Solaris Pasta Cooking Cup offers a unique and enjoyable experience that brings the sailing community together in a relaxed yet competitive setting.
Previous Editions
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2024 Gallery
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