-3 days to VELA Cup Tuscany. 85 boats registered (and lots of Mylius!).
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We are three days away from the VELA Cup Toscana Special Edition 50 GDV. The name is long, we know, just like the program of events, celebrations and parties that awaits you at Marina di Cala de’ Medici from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 25. First of all, the Tuscan leg of Italy’s busiest racing circuit will host the Great Sailing Party organized to celebrate – together with all of you – the 50th anniversary of the Giornale della Vela. And then there will be the award ceremony for the Sailor of the Year 2025, where all the winners of the five categories will be discovered. We explain everything that will happen and why you can’t miss it.
Saturday at sea party starts
The party will begin in the morning on Saturday, right with the VELA Cup Toscana at sea. It starts (after last-minute registrations: to avoid them sign up now here) with the crew briefing at 9:30 a.m., and then the more than 80 registered boats will take to the race course to do battle starting at 11 a.m.
THE ROUTE. You start in front of the waters of Marina Cala de “Medici and, after turning the disengagement buoy, you head for the second buoy off Vada, a hamlet of Rosignano Solvay. For the third buoy you return in a northerly direction, the point where the third buoy is placed is in front of the port of Chioma, mouth of the stream of the same name, after which you return in front of the Marina di Cala de” Medici turning the disengagement buoy.
The boats registered for the VELA Cup Toscana
From small ones, like the Barberis Tequila “Bella del sole” (7.20 meters) to maxis like Riccardo De Michele’s Vallicelli 78 H2O, six-time winner of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo. At the VELA Cup the (winning) formula is always the same: all boats from 3 meters and up can participate (with no age, size or tonnage certificate limits) and no FIV membership is required for crews.
In front of the waters of Cala de “Medici you will also find yourself side by side with many X-Yachts (at the VELA Cup Toscana there will also be a gathering of the shipyard’s owners” association) and even with the legendary Vaurien, the small boats that have trained generations of sailors. The class – for the occasion – is making some boats available for those who want to try their hand at the VELA Cup (write to info@vaurien.it).
Mylius Yachts Rendez Vous
Among the many boats entered, some of the most eagerly awaited are those of the Mylius Yachts shipyard, an exceptional partner of the VELA Cup Toscana at Marina Cala de’ Medici, which will bring the Rendez Vous of its splendid boats to the dock and into the sea. For the occasion, a special ranking reserved for Mylius yachts will be drawn up, both for Saturday’s race and for the combined two-day race (VELA Cup Saturday and VELA Cup Triton Sunday). The overall winner of the combined will be presented with an exclusive Garmin Quatix watch, personalized by the shipyard.
The event will feature a number of top sailors, including multiple medalist Torben Grael, who will race aboard Twin Soul B, the 80-foot carbon yacht owned by Luciano Gandini, president of the Podenzano shipyard. Twin Soul B is one of the yard’s most successful yachts, combining cruising comfort with minimalist interiors and competitive racing performance.
There will be no shortage of Oscar 3, Aldo Parisotto‘s Mylius 65, a former winner of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo, ready to do battle with its elegant, high-performance lines to win the VELA Cup podium.
There is also great anticipation for the regatta debut of Jecalu, the newly launched Mylius 66, which in Cala de’ Medici will challenge its twin brother Schorch on the water in its regatta baptism.
Participating in the VELA Cup Toscana means having the opportunity to go out to sea alongside these beautiful boats, and other incredible boats like the ones we tell you about below.
What weather to expect in Cala de’ Medici
With 3 days to go before the regatta we are able, thanks to Riccardo Ravagnan of Meteomed, the weather partner of the VELA Cup, to give you the updated weather forecast for Saturday, the first day when we will take to the sea.
To make a long story short, we can tell you that there will be dry weather and stable breezes until the evening. Despite the presence of an incoming sac entering from northern Europe, with partial influence on north-central Italy, the Tuscan coast will in fact be protected by a band of dynamic high pressure.
Here is the wind and sea forecast along the route(85-90% reliability)
- Northwest direction in the morning, gradually turning westward
- Intensity between 10 and 12 knots stable in the time slot of the race
- Gusts up to 15 knots expected between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wave from west/southwest long and regular, height between 0.4 and 0.6 meters
- Sea generally shallow, rising slightly in the afternoon
Micrometeorological forecast(85-90% reliability)
We analyzed the vertical profiles of the atmosphere: key data to understand how “solid” or “nervous” the day will be from a weather perspective. Here are the key parameters and what they mean for you:
Mixing Layer active up to about 1000 m
- Warm air near the ground will be able to rise, mixing with the cooler air above, without creating instability.
- It implies a well-structured wind, which develops naturally due to the sun and follows the rules of the coastal breeze.
Very low CAPE index (<100 J/kg) and positive Lifted Index
- The atmosphere is stable, with no potential for the development of storm clouds or unexpected gusts.
- Ideal conditions for safe sailing with easily predictable weather.
Absence of wind shear (wind shear at high altitude)
- The wind on the ground will be consistent with the wind aloft, with no haphazard changes in direction or intensity.
- This facilitates sail adjustments and choosing the right edge.
Low humidity in the lower layers and clear skies
- Excellent visibility and no threat of cloud cover or haze.
- Safe and comfortable navigation, even for the inexperienced.
In the next update on our channels(follow us on Instagram as well!) we will give you even more precise information and weather indications also on Sunday when we will be back on the sea for the Vela Cup Triton.
VELA Cup doubles on Sunday
On Sunday 25 it’s back to the sea with the Triton Cup, the second edition of the regatta to promote marine and coastal sites, promoted by the LIFE-A-MAR NATURA 2000 project. Different name, same spirit as VELA Cup. Briefing at 9:30 a.m., regatta at 11 a.m., awards ceremony in the afternoon, with lots of prizes for all participants.
The LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project was created with the aim of enhancing the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, and around Cala de’ Medici there are quite a few!
First among themis Capraia Island, which is volcanic in origin, with seafloors rich in Posidonia oceanica meadows and coralligenous habitats rich in Poriferae. Surface stands are dominated by Cystoseira sp., a seaweed that indicates a high-quality marine environment. Some of the more distinctive species that can be encountered include the loggerhead turtle, bottlenose dolphin, lesser spotted dolphin, greater spotted dolphin, and sea jay.
Then there isGorgona Island, which with its rocky seabed up to 40-50 meters deep hosts five underwater cavities, including the Sea Ox Cave. Posidonia oceanica meadows surround the island, while coralligenous stands are particularly developed in the northern part of the island. In terms of fauna, caretta turtle, bottlenose dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, minke whale, Pinna nobilis (rare specimens) and corvina can be encountered in addition to marine and terrestrial birds such as lesser shearwater, Queen’s hawk, hen harrier and Corsican gull.
To s explore the geographical location of the sites you can download theAMAR Sea LIFE app for Android or iOS and learn about their flora and fauna, and stay constantly updated on the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project.
The other unmissable stages of the VELA Cup 2025
(click on the stage name for all the info and to sign up)
VELA Cup Puglia
Friday, May 30 / Sunday, June 1 (regatta: Saturday, May 31)
Brindisi, Marina di Brindisi
Friday, June 27 / Sunday, June 29 (regatta: Saturday, June 28)
Porto Rafael / Palau
VELA Cup Sardinia/2
Wednesday, August 20 / Friday, August 22 (regatta: Thursday, August 21)
Gulf of Cugnana / Porto Rotondo, Marina Cala dei Sardi
VELA Cup Procida
Friday, September 26 / Sunday, September 28 (regatta: Saturday, September 27)
Procida Island, Marina di Procida
VELA Cup Sicily
Friday, Oct. 3/Sunday, Oct. 5 (regatta: Saturday, Oct. 4)
Capo d’Orlando/Eolie, Capo d’Orlando Marina
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