Organized by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the Loro Piana Giraglia takes place under the aegis of the Federazione Italiana Vela and the Fédération Française de Voile.
Launched in 1953, this year’s 73rd edition will bring together over 140 yachts from around the world to compete in four days of coastal racing in Saint-Tropez, from June 12 to 16. This will be followed by a 241 nautical mile offshore race starting on June 17. The offshore course starts in Saint-Tropez, passes the Giraglia rock off the coast of Corsica and ends in Genoa.
The list of participants shows that the event is much more than just a race. It’s a gathering of nations, styles and nautical ambitions, with boats from over 20 countries, identifiable by their sail numbers. Italy has the largest fleet, followed by Great Britain and France, giving the event a strong Mediterranean heart within a truly international fleet.
The Loro Piana Giraglia 2026 fleet brings together elegant classic yachts, modern racing cruisers, ocean racing machines and majestic Maxis. It’s a meeting place for world-class professionals, seasoned ocean racing teams and passionate amateur crews.
Organization
The Loro Piana Giraglia is organized by the Yacht Club Italiano, in collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, under the patronage of the Yacht Club de France, the Yacht Club Sanremo and the Yacht Club de Monaco, and with the support of the Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL) and the International Maxi Association (IMA).
The event is organized with the support of the city of Saint-Tropez, the city of Genoa and the Liguria region.
La Giraglia is a qualifying event for the Mediterranean IRC-UNCL championship and part of the Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2026, organized by the International Maxi Association (IMA).
History
On July 11, 1953, 22 boats set off on the very first Giraglia, covering a 196-mile course between Cannes, La Giraglia and Sanremo; 17 yachts crossed the finish line. The first edition was won by a French yacht in 31 hours. The following year, the start and finish ports were reversed, the number of participants increased to 31, and the Giraglia rock remained the race’s emblematic landmark, ensuring its place among the world’s most prestigious nautical events.
Over the years, this ocean race has become legendary. It combines sailing technique and poetry, becoming a rite of passage for many young sailors. To be able to say “I did it too” is a prestigious honor for any sailor.
The number of participants is set to increase, while race times have fallen considerably. The record for the largest number of boats on the start line was set in 2016, with 302 entries, while the fastest time belongs to Igor Simcic’s Esimit Europa 2, which smashed the previous record in 2012 with an astounding time of 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds.
The format has remained virtually unchanged. In the 1970s, over 100 boats regularly took part, sometimes exceeding 150 – remarkable figures for the highly specialized world of sailing. Until the 1990s, start and finish locations alternated between Italy and France. Back then, taking part in the race was a real adventure, with all crew members sleeping on board and helping to transfer the yachts.
La Giraglia has witnessed the transition from wooden to fiberglass boats, from heavier models to lighter, more sophisticated yachts, and increasingly rapid crossings. Since 1998, the format has remained unchanged: gathering in Saint-Tropez in mid-June, breathtaking coastal races in the Gulf, a big party before the offshore start, then the 241 nautical mile challenge which, just like in 1952, always ends in Genoa after rounding the Giraglia rock.
All information is available on the event website: loropianagiraglia.com