72nd edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia, the oldest offshore regatta in the Mediterranean is ready to start tomorrow. One hundred thirty-nine yachts are set to line up on the starting line, with a schedule that includes four days of inshore racing in Saint-Tropez, from Saturday, 7 to Tuesday, 10 June, and the offshore leg starting at noon on Wednesday, 11 June.
First held in 1953, the Loro Piana Giraglia officially kicks off tomorrow with the opening of the Race Village in Saint-Tropez. The port is already beginning to "change clothes": the motor superyachts that usually call it home are giving way to a spectacular fleet of sailing yachts—large and small—ready to take part in this iconic event.
The list of entries is complete, featuring 139 yachts of all sizes and categories. The number of maxi yachts is imposing: 29 boats over 60 feet. At the top of the fleet is the SWS 102’ Almagores II, owned by Federico Borromeo, followed by several 100-footers such as Scallywag, Magic Carpet E, Arca SGR, V, Galateia, and an exceptional group of 80-footers, including My Song (Pier Luigi Loro Piana), Capricorno, Nice, and the 72-foot Jethou, Northstar, Proteus, the foiling yacht FlyingNikka, and a wide array of other entries. The smallest of all is Figaro 1 Vox Sea, skippered by Gaia Pizzini, measuring just 9.14 metres.
The shared goal? Winning the offshore regatta, which sets off at noon on Wednesday, 11 June. The course departs from Saint-Tropez, rounds the Giraglia islet off Corsica, and finishes in Genoa—a theoretical total of 241 nautical miles.
Schedule
- Saturday 7 – Tuesday 10 June: Inshore races – Loro Piana Giraglia Race Village with DJ sets, drinks and daily prize-givings;
- Wednesday, 11 June: Start of offshore regatta;
- Thursday 12 / Friday 13 June: Boats finish, 24h welcome service, Happy Hour from 18:00 to 21:00;
- Saturday 14 June: Official Prize Giving Ceremony.
This year, the Loro Piana Giraglia Village features a new layout, stretching along the outer breakwater to the Tour de Portalet. Designed as a crew village, it will serve as the vibrant social hub of the event, with daily awards, DJ sets, and drinks each evening for all participants in this latest edition of the Giraglia.
The Loro Piana Giraglia
The first Giraglia regatta took place on 11 July 1953, with 22 yachts competing on the Cannes–Giraglia–Sanremo course, covering 196 miles. Seventeen boats crossed the finish line, and a French yacht took the win in just over 31 hours. In the second edition, the start and finish ports were swapped, but the Giraglia rock remained the central marker—an unchanging reference point that would become a cornerstone of global yachting.
Over the decades, the Giraglia has earned legendary status. The race blends technical skill and poetic tradition, and for many sailors, it marks a rite of passage. "I’ve done the Giraglia" remains a badge of honour in the sailing world.
Participation has grown steadily, while course times have dropped dramatically. In 2016, a record 302 yachts started the race. The fastest crossing to date was achieved by Esimit Europa 2, skippered by Igor Simcic, who shattered the previous record in 2012 with a time of 14 hours, 56 minutes, and 16 seconds.
Since 1998, the format has been stable: Saint-Tropez in mid-June, three days of coastal racing in the bay, a beach party on the eve of the offshore leg, and then the 241-nautical-mile race to Genoa via the Giraglia rock.
After its 70th anniversary celebrated in 2023, the Giraglia entered a new era. In 2024 Loro Piana became the title sponsor, confirming the prestige of the event and giving it fresh energy. The inshore racing has been extended to four days, and the Race Village has expanded to foster even greater camaraderie among crews. The formula has proved a winner, attracting increasingly high-calibre teams, particularly those chasing records. The 2012 benchmark remains unbeaten—though in recent years, it has come very close to falling. Will anyone manage to outperform Igor Simcic this year? We'll see.
