This morning at 09:00, with the expiration of the time limit, the long offshore race of the Loro Piana Giraglia 2025 officially came to an end.
The 72nd edition was marked by high pressure systems and light winds, yet remained as captivating and poetic as ever, with plenty of technical challenges.
Everyone searched for the faintest breeze, chasing patches of wind across the 200-mile course from Saint-Tropez to Giraglia and on to Genoa.
After the start at noon on Wednesday, June 11, the largest boats began to reach the finish line in Genoa at sunset on Thursday, June 12.
Two of the favorites in this light-wind Giraglia appeared on the Genoa horizon in a calm, glassy sea under the last light of the day: Maxi 100 Scallywag and Magic Carpet E crossed the finish line after more than 200 miles of close racing, with a mere 2 minutes and 13 seconds between them, in favor of the former. Their elapsed time: 32 hours, 58 minutes, and 47 seconds.
The Maxi skippered by David “Witty” Witt, the seasoned Australian sailor with numerous Ocean Races and Sydney-Hobarts behind him, commented on arrival:
“We knew what we were heading into, but we managed to sail well throughout and keep up a good pace — especially considering our boat is built for the ocean, not the Med.
With the Giraglia, following our victory at the Middle Sea Race, we’ve successfully wrapped up our European campaign, ahead of the Fastnet in August before heading back to Australia.”
There was some disappointment aboard the 100-foot Magic Carpet E of Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones.
Alongside the regular star-studded crew was Francesco De Angelis, legendary helmsman of Luna Rossa, who called tactics in a match-race-worthy tacking duel that lasted to the final meters.
Third over the line in Genoa was the Maxi Capricorno of Alessandro Del Bono, finishing at 21:29:34 — an excellent result for a boat that debuted only last year and measures several feet shorter (80’ versus the 100’ of its rivals).
As always, while Scallywag takes home the Loro Piana Trophy as first across the line, the overall winner of the Loro Piana Giraglia 2025 — i.e. first in corrected time in the largest grouping — is the Ker 40 Vito 2.3 of Gian Marco Magrini from Luxembourg, whose name is now engraved on the event’s top prize: the Loro Piana Challenge Trophy.
“Perseverance always pays off,” said Magrini at the finish. “We came close three years ago, nearly making the ORC podium. This year, in completely different conditions, we did it — in the gentle breezes of this edition.”
Indeed, it was quite a feat for the small Ker 40, just under 12 meters in length, managing to finish more than two hours ahead — in corrected time — of the second-placed boat: Capricorno, the JV 80 Maxi of Alessandro Del Bono.
With the awards ceremony held at 12:00 at the Yacht Club Italiano and the trophies officially presented, another memorable edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia has come to a close — with a warm arrivederci to all participants until June 2026!
As this edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia draws to a close, we are especially proud to celebrate the remarkable performances of our Club Members:
Congratulations to Alberto Magnani, our Sports Director, for the following exceptional achievements:
Inshore Races – ORC Group 1: 1st place
Offshore Race – ORC Double Handed Class: 1st place
Offshore Race – ORC Class 1: 2nd place
Congratulations also to Alessandro Del Bono and Capricorno for a spectacular performance:
Offshore Race – IRC Class: 2nd place
Winner of the “Sergio Guazzotti” Challenge Trophy
Top IMA Member in the Combined Overall Rankings (Inshore + Offshore) – IRC 0 Maxi A Group: 1st place
Special congratulations to Samurai of the Pavese brothers for their outstanding success:
YCI Classic Trophy (first classic yacht in real time)
YCI Heritage “Mario Gallini” Challenge Trophy
B&G Special Award – Best Performance
To Member Roberto Lacorte, who with FlyingNikka won the special award for the highest number of real-time victories in Group 0.
Congratulations to all the winners — and above all, to every participant who made this edition of the Loro Piana Giraglia truly unforgettable!
View the official photo gallery at
loropianagiraglia.com
