Close to 3,500 years of sailing history spread across 50 iconic yachts took to the sea for Day 1 of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy
Winds of between 12 and 16 knots and idyllic conditions made for an ideal start to this year’s 25th edition, where fifty classic and vintage yachts from ten countries kicked off a spectacular Day 1.
Porto Santo Stefano, 25 June: There was a large turnout this morning in the Council Chamber of the Monte Argentario Town Hall for the welcome ceremony inaugurating the 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy. The event took place in the presence of civil and military authorities, representatives of various institutions and the skippers of the 50 yachts taking part. The event began with the traditional exchange of honours between the Italian Navy’s tall ship Palinuro, the Municipality of Monte Argentario and the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, represented respectively by Commander Gian Luca Montella, Mayor Arturo Cerulli and the President of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, Alessandro Maria Rinaldi. The ceremony, marked by the presentation of the respective pennants and crests, highlighted the strong bond between the event, the local region and the Italian Navy.
During the ceremony, following an opening address by Mayor Arturo Cerulli and a speech by Commander Gian Luca Montella, Yacht Club President Alessandro Maria Rinaldi extended his greetings to the institutions, yacht owners, crews and the press, thanking the title sponsor Miramis, official partners Jefferies and Nuncas Marine, institutional partner Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., and technical partners Helly Hansen, Cantiere Navale dell’Argentario and Verdissimo. Speeches were then given by Roberta Davanzo, Area General Manager of Miramis Italy, and Luigi Rolandi, President of the International Mediterranean Committee (CIM). The morning’s programme on shore concluded with the Skippers’ Briefing, led by Commodore Marco Poma alongside the Race Committee, focusing on technical, operational and safety aspects ahead of the day’s races.
The fifty-strong fleet of classic and vintage yachts is divided into eight classes: Big Boats, Gaff Vintage, Marconi Vintage, Classic, Classic IOR, Cruiser, Spirit of Tradition and Swan Classic. Prizes will be awarded to the top three boats in each class.
Today’s regatta in the words of Marco Poma, Commodore of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano and director of maritime activities: “Day 1 of this 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy provided a clear demonstration of the characteristics that make this racecourse unique. The thermal breeze picked up right on schedule around midday, allowing the course to be set and the first starts to get underway shortly after 12.15. The wind, steady from the west at between 12 and 16 knots, and the calm sea provided ideal conditions for a technical and close race. As is often the case at the Argentario, the first upwind leg rewarded the crews best able to read the racecourse: those who stayed closest to the coast gained an advantage, while those who opted for a more offshore route proved less effective. On the water, we witnessed some very tight battles and spectacular crossings, particularly amongst the Big Boats, which, with six boats at the start, provided a fantastic spectacle. The NY 40 duels were also a thrill to watch, with Marilee, Chinook and Rowdy taking centre stage in a top-class match-race-style contest. This first race bodes well for a high-calibre event, both in sporting terms and in terms of the spectacle such iconic boats are capable of delivering.”
Today’s standings after Day 1:
BIG BOATS: In first place is HALLOWE’EN (Inigo Strez), followed by VIVEKA (Keith Mills) in second place and CAMBRIA (Chris Barkham) in third.
SPIRIT OF TRADITION: In first place is FLIGHT OF DURGAN (David and Alexandra Grylls), followed by FREYA (Luca Celeghini) in second place and PARELTJE (Pieter Taselaar) in third.
CRUISER: In first place is EUGENIA V (Samanna Yachting), followed by STAR SAPPHIRE (Jacob Glatz) in second place and VISTONA (Giovanni Battista Borea d’Olmo) in third.
CLASSIC: In first place is CRIVIZZA (Ariella Cattai), followed by the Italian Navy’s CORSARO II and, in third place, PENELOPE.
GAFF VINTAGE: In first place is SCUD (Patrizio Bertelli), followed by ROWDY (Donna Dyer) in second place and CHINOOK (Paolo Zannoni) in third.
CLASSIC IOR: In first place is OJALA’ (Susan Carol Holland), followed by AIRONE V (Albano Giuseppe) in second place.
MARCONI VINTAGE: In first place is LEONORE (Mark Faulkner), followed by STORMY WEATHER (Christopher Spray) in second place and EMILIA PRIMA (Luigi Guarnaccia) in third.
SWAN CLASSIC: In first place is MATCHLESS (Giacomo Bei), followed by LITHIAN (Cattaneo and Mascheroni Stianti) in second place and GRAMPUS II (Matteo D’Agostino) in third.
Full rankings are available here: https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/documents/13705/event
Spotted on the docks (Episode 1):
A line-up of world champions and America’s Cup veterans added extra lustre to the 25th edition of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy on Day 1: Mauro Pelaschier on LEONORE, Torben Grael, Max Galli and Francesco Binetti Pozzi on SCUD, Mauro Piani, Daniele Gabrielli (the Sor Maestro) and Enrico Passoni on LEONORE, Guido Cavalazzi on CARIAD, Beppe Zaoli on MARIELLA, Claudio Ciccio Celon on JILL and Nando Colaninno on CHINOOK.
Happy birthday Cariad (130 years – Gaff Ketch 36 m)
The Argentario Sailing Week is more than an international regatta. It is a thrilling four-day showcase of sport and beauty, where maritime history comes to life. And Cariad (36m) is the embodiment of such history, honouring Porto Santo Stefano by joining us for her incredible 130th anniversary.
Launched in Victorian England in January 1896 by Southampton shipyard Summers & Payne, Cariad (Welsh for “sweetheart”), the yard’s flagship designed by A.E. Payne, made her racing debut at Cowes Week before winning Lisbon’s Vasco da Gama Cup in 1898.Twice renamed (first to Fidra in 1913 before completing a Swedish-led circumnavigation in 1920-22, and then to Cariad I in 1933), she underwent extensive restoration in Antigua and Southampton in 1981-83, then cruised the Mediterranean before sailing from Malta to Japan. Rescued from abandonment in the early 1990s, she was repaired in Singapore and Taiwan and returned to Tokyo in 1993 as the Japan Charter Yacht Association’s flagship. A full-scale rebuild was completed in 2024. Now owned by Tim Hartnoll, Cariad arrives in Porto Santo Stefano as a pure embodiment of British sailing tradition and international nautical heritage. Her construction combines a teak deck and superstructure with a hull made of mahogany, pine, steel and teak, reflecting over a century of evolution in the spirit of tradition and craftsmanship.
A few specs: length 36.00 m, beam 6.60 m, draught 3.60 m, crew of 23, sail number A17.
69-metre tall ship Palinuro joins the 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy.
What makes this 25th anniversary edition even more special is the arrival of Palinuro, an iconic piece of maritime history. The Italian Navy sailing ship, a symbol of the country’s seafaring tradition, dropped anchor yesterday, Wednesday 24 June, at the Garibaldi quay in Porto Santo Stefano, where she will remain until Sunday 28 June. Check out the Argentario Sailing Week schedule to see when Palinuro will be open for visits on board during the event.
The Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy 2026’s numbers confirm the regatta’s international scope: fifty yachts entering from ten countries across three continents, as well as a community of over 1,000 people – from owners to crews, guests, organisers and yachting enthusiasts – who will bring Monte Argentario to life during a week brimming with events and top-notch sailing.
One number stands head and shoulders above all others in highlighting the historical significance and prestige of the stellar fleet of Grandes Dames taking part in this year’s Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy: a sum total of almost 3,500 combined years of sailing and naval architecture history will be represented by the 50 exceptional vintage and classic yachts registered to race against the Gulf’s spectacular backdrop. While the event itself celebrates its first quarter of a century, this year’s line-up will take sailors and onlookers on a journey spanning well over a century, covering 130 years of maritime tradition: starting with Cariad, launched in 1896 and now celebrating her 130th anniversary, followed by Chinook and Rowdy, both celebrating their 110th anniversaries, and the three centenarians Hallowe’en, Margaret and Marilee.The event will consist of four days of racing, from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 June. Following the crew briefing, the first warning signal will be given at 11.00 am on Thursday. The races will continue until Sunday, which will end with the award ceremony scheduled for 6.00 pm at the regatta village, located on the Pilarella jetty.
SPECIAL PRIZES
- The “Trofeo Voscià – Giancarlo Lodigiani” challenge trophy – inspired by the memory of the former President of the Italian Vintage Sailing Association who passed away in 2024 – is awarded to the Yawl-rigged yacht that achieves the highest score in the final standings;
- The Miramis Trophy is awarded to the overall winner in the Vintage classes;
- The Sixters Trophy is awarded jointly to the two yachts whose owners declare at the start of the event that they wish to compete together for the Trophy and who achieve the best combined results in the vintage sails category of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy. In the event of a tie, the trophy will go to the yacht in the category with the highest number of yachts registered and starting in the event.
The 25th edition of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy is organised with the support of title sponsor Miramis, official partners Jefferies and Nuncas Marine, institutional partner Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., and technical partners Helly Hansen, Cantiere Navale dell’Argentario and Verdissimo.
The event is organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, is held under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Tourism, the Region of Tuscany, the Province of Grosseto, the Italian Vintage Sailing Association, and the International Mediterranean Classic Yachting Committee, supported by the tangible contributions of the Municipality of Monte Argentario.The Argentario Sailing Week: a story of passion, tradition and successThe history of the Argentario Sailing Week begins in 1992, when a group of members of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano organised a regatta for classic yachts called Le Vele d’Argento (The Silver Sails). Over the years, the constant increase in registered boats, the area’s hospitality and consistently favourable weather conditions eventually contributed to the event becoming a central date on the international calendar of classic and vintage yacht regattas. In 1999 the event took on the name we know today: Argentario Sailing Week , confirming its role as a high-profile regatta and, at the same time, as a moment of refined culture and hospitality, where passion, history and craftsmanship come together on the Mediterranean, in the sublime setting of Monte Argentario. From 2026 onwards, the event’s official title includes that of its title sponsor: Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy.
Yacht Club Santo Stefano
Founded in 1960 and affiliated with the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), the Yacht Club Santo Stefano (YCSS) is based in Porto Santo Stefano, in the heart of Tuscany’s Argentario. The Club overlooks one of the most highly regarded regatta courses in the Mediterranean, a favoured destination for national and international sailing thanks to the unique combination of ideal technical conditions and the Argentario’s spectacular landscape. The YCSS organises flagship events on the international sailing calendar, including Pasquavela, the Lunga Bolina and the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy, and has been contributing to the promotion of sailing and maritime culture for over six decades. Alongside its competitive activities, the Club also runs sporting, educational and social initiatives aimed at promoting the values of sailing, maritime tradition and respect for the marine environment. A central role in this aspect is played by the Renzo Vongher Sailing School, affiliated with the Italian Sailing Federation and a leading centre for training young sailors and introducing new generations to the sea. Since May 2026, the Club has been chaired by President Alessandro Maria Rinaldi, a finance professional and long-standing sailor, who is committed to promoting the Club’s traditions and strengthening its role on the international sailing scene. www.ycss.it
