Presented in Milan, in the Napoleonic Hall of Palazzo Serbelloni, the 2025 sporting calendar of the Yacht Club Italiano
A large audience of Members, sailors, and sailing enthusiasts attended the presentation, moderated by sports journalist Guido Meda. During the evening, the Club also highlighted its ongoing activities — in 2024 it celebrated its 145th anniversary — focusing on promoting sailing among young people, the achievements of its Members on racecourses around the world, and its strong commitment to charitable, solidarity, and environmental initiatives. Alongside Meda, speakers included YCI President Carlo Cameli, Vice Presidents Nicolò Caffarena and Gregorio Gavarone, and Sports Director Alberto Magnani.
During the event, special acknowledgments were presented for significant support given to the Club — in particular to Stefan Müller, General Manager of Rolex Italia, for his strong support of youth sailing programs; Edoardo Garrone, President of the Fondazione Gaslininsieme, and Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Swan, who contributed to the ClubSwan36 YCI campaign that raised important funds for the renovation of the beach at the Genoa children’s hospital. Finally, Pigi Loro Piana took the stage — a figure who has given great momentum to the sailing world, leading the company he serves as Vice President to become title partner of the Giraglia, which last year officially became the Loro Piana Giraglia.
A highly anticipated and exciting season ahead
The 2025 season will kick off on January 31 with the first leg of the International Winter Contest — a series of three winter weekends dedicated to Optimist, ILCA, and one-design classes — and will continue with the great spring and summer classics.
Among the novelties is the inclusion of the J/70 Class within the Genoa Sailing Week.
Another new entry arrives in April with the first edition of the Trofeo Porto Carlo Riva, scheduled from April 12–13 on the route Genoa – Rapallo – Genoa.
From April 25–27, attention turns to the Regate di Primavera Portofino, once again held under the successful invitation-only format and featuring some of the most prestigious international shipyards. The regatta is reserved for yachts over 50 feet.
The highlight of the season will be the celebration of the Loro Piana Giraglia, which in 2025 reaches its 72nd edition and further consolidates the partnership between YCI and its title partner, Loro Piana. The event will take place in Saint-Tropez from June 7–14, with four days of inshore races in the beautiful French gulf, followed by the 241-mile offshore leg finishing in Genoa.
Overall, the Yacht Club Italiano continues to offer a nearly year-round racing season — ten months of activity out of twelve — with the first regatta of 2025 on January 31 and the last on October 26.
January – March
The Club’s commitments begin with the three winter weekends of the International Genoa Winter Contest.
The first two (Jan 31 – Feb 8) are dedicated to Optimist and ILCA 4/6/7; the third and final (Mar 15–16) to one-design classes H22, J/24, J/80, and 5.5m S.I. — an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the Gulf of Genoa’s winter conditions, often featuring strong tramontana winds and flat seas.
Also in March, from March 28–30, the fifth edition of the Genoa Sailing Week will take place. The event, which traces its roots to the Club’s earliest regattas, will again host ORC and IRC classes, and — new for 2025 — will be open to J/70s.
April
From April 5–6, the Gentlemen Challenge will take place — a regatta organized with the Società del Casino and reserved by invitation for the Clubs affiliated with the UCI (Unione dei Circoli Italiani), raced aboard the Club’s fleet of J/70s.
The following weekend, April 12–13, will see the debut of the Trofeo Porto Carlo Riva, with yachts racing the Genoa–Rapallo–Genoa route, including a Saturday evening event hosted at the new Marina di Rapallo.
Then, from April 25–27, the Regate di Primavera Portofino return. The village of Portofino and the Yacht Club Italiano once again inaugurate the 2025 sporting season for large yachts, with Belmond and Banca Passadore as partners. The regatta is open to yachts over 50 feet, following the now well-established invitation-only format.
May
Among the confirmed events for 2025 is the Regata della Gallinara – Trofeo della Cappelletta, from May 17–18, a much-loved YCI race held in collaboration with CNAM Alassio along the route Genoa–Alassio–Genoa.
May also marks the return of the Dinghy 12’ fleet with one of the Club’s most cherished events: the Bombola d’Oro – Trofeo Siad. Taking place from May 23–25 between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, this regatta has become a true classic for the Dinghy 12’ Class. Competitors in both VTR and Classic categories will compete for the coveted trophy, which in 2025 reaches its 28th edition.
June
The Loro Piana Giraglia — the ultimate classic — in 2025 further strengthens the link between Saint-Tropez and title partner Loro Piana.
This year’s edition will feature an expanded Regatta Village in Saint-Tropez, opening on Friday, June 6, with four days of inshore races (June 7–10) leading up to the start of the 241-mile offshore leg on Wednesday, June 11, along the classic triangle Saint-Tropez – Giraglia – Genoa.
The week will conclude with the award ceremony on Saturday, June 14, at the YCI headquarters in Genoa.
In Saint-Tropez, the new Regatta Village — with an even more innovative layout for 2025 — will be the social hub throughout the racing days.
September
On Saturday, September 20, the spotlight turns to the Millevele IREN, Genoa’s great sailing parade that continues to grow in popularity and participation, and which has become a key event integrated into the Salone Nautico Internazionale.
October
The sporting calendar ends on a high note with the Lowrance Fishing Tournament, an event dedicated to sport fishing, held on October 4–5, now in its fourth edition with a growing number of participants.
On October 11–12, the Regata Sociale will take place aboard the Club’s J/70 fleet (with nearly 20 member crews in 2024).
The season will officially close with the 61st edition of the Coppa Poggi, the traditional dinghy regatta scheduled for October 25–26.
Partners and Sponsors
All regattas and events are made possible thanks to the invaluable support of the Yacht Club Italiano’s institutional partners:
Rolex as Official Timepiece, SIAD and Banca Passadore as institutional sponsors, and technical partners Gruppo Boero, Gruppo Navico, North Sails, and SLAM.
