Nautica, the magazine of Italian nautical science since 1962, brings its Next Wave project to La Spezia, the permanent window open to university teams that design and build sailboats. Six teams from six universities, featured throughout the year in the magazine, website, and social media. With the Nautica Next Wave awards, the editorial staff awards six awards to the university fleet: Green, Design, Tech, Story, Rookie, and Spirit, presented during the regatta from September 23 to 27, 2026, organized together with 1001VELAcup.

Nautica will also be present on the jury committee of the Mainaldo Maneschi Prize, with Eric Petersen Buchgeher, project manager of Nautica Next Wave, who follows the teams from the university construction site to the dock.The Award is dedicated to the figure of Mainaldo Maneschi and is awarded by adding together the ranking obtained for the best project and the number obtained during the 1001VELAcup® Trophy regattas.