The 73rd Loro Piana Giraglia enjoyed near-perfect sailing conditions on Monday as a steady north-easterly breeze delivered fast and competitive racing off Saint-Tropez. Cloudy skies gave way to sunshine shortly before racing began, with a 14-knot breeze filling the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and producing ideal conditions across all fleets.
Groups 1 and 2 raced on coastal courses under colourful spinnakers, while the Maxi fleet enjoyed balanced windward-leeward racing offshore in the Bay of Pampelonne.
In the Maxi division, Karel Komarek's Wallycento V strengthened its grip on the leaderboard with two race wins. The yacht claimed victory in both races after IRC time correction and now holds a five-point overall lead heading into the final day of inshore competition. Chris Flowers and David Leuschen's Wallycento Galateia remains second overall, with Pier Luigi Loro Piana's My Song third.
Maxi Motion — Wallycento V leads the Maxi fleet off Saint-Tropez on a strong day at the Loro Piana Giraglia. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
In Maxi B, Carlo Puri Negri's Atalanta II also completed a clean sweep, winning both races and extending its overall advantage to seven points.
The battle in IRC 1 remains finely balanced. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Wallyrocket 51 Django won the day's race and leads the standings by a single point from Spirit of Lorina, with Musica close behind.
ORC 1 is even tighter. Crabx – Aquarama – Fraber and Thetis are level on points, with the lead decided only on countback. One of the standout stories of the regatta remains ELO II, Yacht Club Italiano's youth development programme. The Sorda 43 prototype sits seventh in a highly competitive 35-boat ORC 1 fleet and remains within reach of a podium finish.
Veteran Italian sailor Tommaso Chieffi is mentoring the young crew. "When I was young, I was given the opportunity to sail on very competitive boats," Chieffi said. "To transmit these experiences and bring them forward to the next generation is very important."
Young crew member Gysel Grossi described the experience as invaluable. "To do this race with Tommaso is very special," she said. "I learned a lot so far, and I am sure I will continue to do so." She added, "The Loro Piana Giraglia is magical because sailing here in Saint-Tropez is magic."
Spray Day — Crews push hard in lively conditions as the Loro Piana Giraglia inshore racing nears its Saint-Tropez finale. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
Competition remains intense in IRC 2 and ORC 2. Flying Dolphin leads IRC 2 by just one point from Noisy Oyster, while Chestress tops ORC 2 by a single point ahead of fellow Italian rival Fremito D'Arja.
With one final day of inshore racing remaining before the offshore race to Genoa, margins across several classes remain razor-thin. "The crew wins the class, the weather wins the overall," said Chestress helmsman Leonardo Petti, summing up the challenge that lies ahead.
The inshore series concludes on Tuesday with further racing scheduled in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the Bay of Pampelonne.
