Atalanta II and Proteus emerged as the leading maxi yachts at the conclusion of the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia, one of the Mediterranean's premier offshore sailing events. The Yacht Club Italiano and Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez-organised regatta concluded in Genoa after the final classic yachts crossed the finish line following the offshore race.
Light-Air Test — IMA President Maurits van Oranje's Wally 80 Sud sails in the challenging light conditions that shaped the closing stages of the 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia offshore race. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
Overall honours among the smaller maxis went to Carlo Puri Negri's 70ft Farr/Felci-designed Atalanta II. The Italian yacht laid the foundations for victory with five wins from five inshore and coastal races before securing second place in the IRC 0 maxi division during the offshore contest. The result strengthens Atalanta II's lead in the International Maxi Association's 2025-26 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge standings, where she now holds a significant advantage over her closest rivals.
The IRC 0 maxi class in the offshore race was won by Guido Paolo Gamucci's Mylius 60 Cippa Lippa X. The canting-keel yacht also finished sixth overall in the 65-boat IRC fleet. "It was actually better than expected," said Gamucci. "We were nine miles ahead of Atalanta, then it reduced to 4.5 and then it got back up to 5.5 miles again. It all depended upon where you were, because we had shifts of 30-40 degrees very suddenly. So we lost a lot of time – it was tough."
Race Winner — Guido Paolo Gamucci's canting-keel Mylius 60 Cippa Lippa X powers through the Mediterranean en route to IRC 0 maxi victory in the Loro Piana Giraglia offshore race. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
Navigator Gabriele Bruni said the team benefited from a strong start and careful positioning throughout the race. "We had a very good start and we decided to go on the right in a bit more pressure and then we hoisted the Code 0 before the others and managed to stay in front of them," he said.
At the Yacht Club Italiano prize-giving in Genoa, Puri Negri received the award for Best Placed IMA Member overall. In the combined maxi standings, Atalanta II finished ahead of Cippa Lippa X and Benoît de Froidmont's Wally 60 Wallyño in the smaller maxi division.
The larger maxi class was won by George Sakellaris' Maxi 72 Proteus. Pier Luigi Loro Piana's My Song finished second, while Alessandro Del Bono's Capricorno completed the podium. The Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge continues with the Aegean 600, which starts on 5 July.
