Please select your home edition
Edition
Belvedere

Jethou and Wallyño reign supreme in Loro Piana Giraglia inshores

by James Boyd/International Maxi Association 11 Jun 2024 15:46 PDT From 8 June 2024
2024 Loro Piana Giraglia © Loro Piana / Studio Borlenghi

A second 20 mile coastal race, this time from Saint-Tropez down to a turning mark off L'Escalet and back, rounded off the inshore series for the maxis competing in Loro Piana Giraglia.

With racing here organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, Loro Piana Giraglia's inshores for the Maxi A and B fleets, formed part of the International Maxi Association's 2024 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge.

Today's race was similar but shorter to yesterday's, but held in different conditions: the prevailing westerly fighting with a southeasterly leading to numerous transitions and shut-downs. This led to entertaining moments with neighbouring boats steering the same course on different tacks and or one boat being becalmed while another just a few metres offshore was sailing in pressure.

The Wallycentos, Chris Flowers' Galateia and Karel Komárek's V, were first through the transition exiting the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. By the time the next boats - Sir Peter Ogden's Maxi 77 Jethou and Peter Dubens' NorthStar - extracted themselves, Galateia and V were already most of the way across the Bay of Pampelonne. From here even the nimble former Maxi 72s were unable to make an impression on the 100 footers. Between the 100s the battle remained intense to the finish with Galateia just ahead enough to beat V by five seconds under IRC corrected time. Competition was similarly tight between Jethou and NorthStar with NorthStar correcting out ahead, albeit almost 24 minutes astern of Galateia.

The result was enough to give Jethou the overall Maxi A win, following on from her last victory here in 2022. Most recently Jethou was second at the IMA Maxi Europeans in Sorrento. "We did really well in Sorrento," acknowledged Ogden. "Historically we have been third or fourth, but now we are more consistent and in the hunt. It is nice to be back in the mix." Over the winter Jethou has been fitted with 1.35 tonnes of water ballast, restoring her righting moment to its 2022 level while being lighter with less lead in her keel. Also new this year is Ian Walker standing in for Brad Butterworth on tactics.

Among the 100s, Galateia won out ahead of Andrea Recordati's Wally 93 Bullitt, which suffered today after ripping her kite severely in the first transition. "We had all the seasons in one day!" commented Galateia tactician Kelvin Harrap. "We have upped our game since Sorrento and you can see that in the results: Starting, tactics and boat handling are better. V are sailing well and we have had some great races with them."

Of today's race navigator Simon Fisher added: "The decisive moments were how you wriggled through all the transitions. John [Cutler] and Markus [Weiser] did a nice job of getting us through them to make our long term plan pay." The strongest breeze was at the turning mark, but even here it was no more than 15 knots.

Elsewhere in Maxi A, the Swan 115 Jasi has been attempting to mix it up with the nimbler Wallycentos. This followed a shortening of her rudder and lead removal from her keel over the winter. Owner's coach Klabbe' Nylöf commented: "The week has been very good for us. We have improved upwind a lot, but the short inshore courses are tough and we couldn't get the sails up as quickly as we should. But it has been very good sailing every day - so we are happy."

A final bullet for Benoît de Froidmont's Wallyño, as Jean-Pierre Barjon's Botin 65 Spirit of Lorina, Guido Paolo Gamucci's Cippa Lippa X and Alex Schaerer's Swan 90 Strathisla fought it out ahead of her, secured the IMA President's Wally 60 the Maxi B prize, by a five point margin from Cippa Lippa X with Spirit of Lorina a further two astern.

"It was a very complicated week in terms of the weather, but that's usual in St Tropez and also why we like it," commented de Froidmont. "Today the breeze was very difficult but flat sea and 10-12 knots were really good for the boat." Wallyño and her crew, including tactician Cédric Pouligny, relish racing in Saint-Tropez - on these waters they secured the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenges in 2019 and 2023.

Scoring a surprise second today was Mexican Miguel Sanchez Navarro's Swan 77 Invictus, fresh out of refit in Southampton from where she was delivered to Saint-Tropez with a day to spare. "It was an amazing day with a beautiful boat," said Navarro, for whom this is his first sailing yacht. "After one year in refit we are super happy to be here and to have this result. We love being here - the atmosphere is beautiful."

Of the week, event sponsor and competitor on his ClubSwan 80 My Song, Pier Luigi Loro Piana commented: "As a sponsor we can be only happy. St Tropez represents a place with passion for sailing and beauty, a party and a sailing festival. We are honoured that the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez chose us to be their partner."

Tomorrow is the Loro Piana Giraglia offshore race to the Giraglia rock off north Corsica and on to Genoa. The forecast has a westerly mistral blowing the competitors downwind to the rock, then dropped for the usual light wind nail-biter finish into Genoa.

"We are going to have windy conditions downwind to Giraglia, mainly on starboard gybe with big gusts of 35-40 knots in the middle of the crossing," commented Chris Pratt, tactician on Jean-Pierre Dreau's Mylius 60 Lady First III, which is experienced in these conditions. "Maybe it will be tricky - right on the edge between the spinnaker and something smaller. The main objective will be reach the Giraglia without sail damage. After that it will be a more classic finish into Genoa with no wind."

Meanwhile many Wallycentos and former Maxi 72s after studying the forecast have bailed from the offshore race. As Sir Peter Ogden explained: "I made the decision on it - the latest forecast showed 25-32 knots which is dangerous since we can't reef the main. I do love the race so it is a big disappointment for everyone, but better safe than sorry."

For more on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com.

Results after six races available here.

More information on Loro Piana Giraglia available here.

Related Articles

Outer Reef Yachts launches 780 Adventure Hull 1
A 24-meter steel-hulled explorer yacht Outer Reef Yachts is proud to announce the successful completion of the all-new 780 Adventure, a 24-meter steel-hulled explorer yacht, meticulously built at the Outer Reef Netherlands shipyard. Posted on 22 May
Maritimo S60 Sedan Motor Yacht - Global launch
Enhancements to both the exterior and interior deliver great appeal Leading Australian luxury motor yacht manufacturer, Maritimo, will proudly display the first S60 Sedan Motor Yacht at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Posted on 21 May
Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht - Global launch
Setting the benchmark in long-range cruising motor yachts Maritimo, Australia's world-class luxury motor yacht builder, expands its next generation model line-up with the global launch of the all-new M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, May 2025. Posted on 21 May
Welcome aboard the M7
Available for private viewings at select Mediterranean locations this summer Unveiled at the Düsseldorf Boat Show in January 2025, the new M7 has already established itself as a standout in the world of multihull motor yachts. Posted on 21 May
Lazzara Yachts enters the expedition market
With sale of Lazzara EX 165 Lazzara Yachts (a part of Euro Marine Group) is proud to confirm the sale of its Lazzara EX 165, Lazzara's largest yacht to date. Posted on 20 May
Coast Guard proposes removing hundreds of buoys
Some buoys are in notoriously rocky and challenging bays and harbors on the Northern Atlantic Coast On April 15, the First Coast Guard District released an initiative proposing the removal of hundreds of navigational buoys, or Aids to Navigation (AtoNs). Posted on 20 May
Feadship Project 715 launched
The explore yacht slipped from her building hall in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands Feadship's latest entry into the genre of explorer yachts slipped from her building hall in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. Posted on 18 May
Riviera's 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II Premiere
Part of Riviera's 12 yacht showcase at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Riviera celebrates two World Premieres at this year's Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. The new generation 72 Sports Motor Yacht - Series II joins the exciting new 4300 Sports Express as part of Riviera's spectacular 12 yacht showcase. Posted on 18 May
CL Yachts unveils sporty new CLB65 SUV
New model being introduced ahead of the 2025 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show As the ever-popular CLB65 continues its grand tour - following its Asia-Pacific debut in Hong Kong and standout appearances at major boat shows across Australia and the US - CL Yachts is proud to unveil its latest concept: CLB65 SUV. Posted on 17 May
The Outer Reef 27 Crossover
The Outer Reef 27 Crossover The 27 (Meter) Crossover is the first in Outer Reef's Crossover Series and a standout member of our Adventure Sports Vessel (ASV) lineup. Posted on 14 May
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERPalm Beach Motor Yachts