Loro Piana Giraglia: the long one started, it will be war of nerves in the light wind

With high pressure and light winds looming over the fleet, the offshore race of the Loro Piana Giraglia started from Saint Tropez. A total of 107 boats are taking part in the Giraglia offshore race, divided between ORC (52) and IRC (55), which as the largest classification will award the overall victory. The Race Committee, given the light wind expected, has decided to shorten the course, which after the start from Saint Tropez plans to head directly to the Scoglio della Giraglia, avoiding the coastal part of the course, then heading back up to Genoa for a total of 200 miles.

Loro Piana Giraglia 2025, who will be there

As we will tell you in a moment, it will be an unpredictable regatta in terms of weather, with breezes favoring the lighter, more sailable boats. The battle for the line of honor, which will not count for the record this year anyway, as the course is shortened, will be among the 100-footers in the race. ARCA SGR and Magic Carpet E are the two most “racing” 100s in the regatta, but also watch out for the small group of 80′ among which is Capricorn, which in low wind conditions could be very dangerous, also and above all for the IRC handicap ranking. Also to be monitored is the debut of the Wally Rocket 71 Django.

Interesting and large fleet in ORC as well, where there are no maxis in the race but the race is valid for the Italian Offshore Championship standings, with many top boats in the ORC fleet racing.

TRACKING THEIR FLAT GYRE

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Weather at the Giraglia

Meteomed specialist Riccardo Ravagnan, who works with the Spanish Olympic team as a weather consultant and is the official meteorologist of our VELA Cups as well, analyzed the 2025 edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia in its weather scenarios.

The baric pattern is clear: a solid, static high-pressure field, with nearly flat isobars and a pressure hovering just between 1016 and 1019 hPa. The result? A weak thermal gradient, breezes struggling to form, and a wind that, when it comes, should be listened to as one would a whisper. No front in sight. No spectacular rotation. Just the slow breaths of the Mediterranean.

Stages of the regatta: a regatta in three acts

Act I – The initial push (today, June 11)

The fleet found a good ENE wind between 8 and 10 knots, ideal for taking them out of Saint Tropez Bay. Those who were able to read the coastal tilt and take advantage of the favorable channel may have gained decisive miles. This is where the race is won for those who can push hard before the curtain falls.

Act II – The Great Calm (on the night of the 11th-12th)

All models agree on one point: from late evening onward the wind dies down. Meteomed’s Meteorotta, consulted exclusively, shows winds less than 3 knots from variable direction, often from S-SE, with pressure flattening and currents weakening.

Here one does not race with sails, but with nerves. This is the time when the skipper becomes a philosopher and the trimmer turns into an air dowser. Every knot will be a gift. Every choice, a calculated risk.

Act III – The Silent Ascent (12 evening to 13)

Those who survive the heart of the lull will find themselves edging toward Genoa with gradually rotating winds from S to OSO to ONO. An ascent made up of hunches, small accelerations, and lots of attention to local patterns. Those who can stay hooked even at 4 real knots will still be able to make a difference. The race will not be over until the last edge.

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Loro Piana Giraglia, who won the coastal races.

In Group A Maxi, Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou, with American legend Brad Butterworth at tactician, took first place, ahead of Proteus and Capricorn. Worth mentioning is the last race victory of Django 7X, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s brand-new Wallyrocket71, making her overall debut right in Saint-Tropez, with Vasco Vascotto at tactician.

In Group B, final twist as Guido Paolo Gamucci’s Cippa Lippa X sprinted past Spirit of Lorina, Jean Pierre Barjon’s Botin 65 (runner-up), and SUD, Lorenzo Muratore’s Wally 80.

ORC/IRC:
In IRC1, absolute dominance of Adrien Follin’s French Cape 31 Give me Five, which held the lead from the first to the last race. Also in IRC2, Willem Ellemet’s Flying Dolphin is confirmed at the top, finishing in the lead after four trials.

In the ORC group, the top five positions are monopolized by the Swans (45, 53, 48), with Alberto Magnani’s Tenghér setting the seal on the final ranking with an excellent series of partials (1,5,1,1). There was also clear domination among the ORC2s: Farfallina 3, Davide Noli’s Italia 11.98, closes with 3 victories out of 4 races held.