Porto Santo Stefano, on the Tuscan coast, has once again taken centre stage in international classic sailing. The programme of the 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy began this Wednesday, 24 June, an event organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano that runs until Sunday the 28th, in the Gulf of Argentario, in Italy. The races will be held between Thursday and Sunday.
The commemorative edition gains a special component with the presence of the Palinuro, the sail training ship of the Italian Navy, moored at the Garibaldi quay during the event. At 69 metres in overall length, the Palinuro was launched in 1934 and is mainly used in the training of students of the Italian Navy's School for Petty Officers. The vessel has approximately one thousand square metres of sail and represents one of the country's main references of maritime culture.
A fleet spanning 130 years of history
More than a sporting competition, the Argentario Sailing Week brings together true treasures of naval architecture. The most recent official list presents 45 vessels distributed across eight classes: Big Boats, Gaff Vintage, Marconi Vintage, Classic, Classic IOR, Cruiser, Spirit of Tradition and Swan Classic.
Among the highlights is the Cariad, launched in 1896 and turning 130 in 2026. Also entered are the Chinook and the Rowdy, both celebrating 110 years, in addition to the centenarians Hallowe'en, Margaret and Marilee. According to the organisers, the fleet as a whole represents almost 3,500 combined years of sailing and shipbuilding history. The list also includes boats of the Italian Navy itself, such as Artica II, Corsaro II, Penelope and Chaplin.
Four days of racing in the Mediterranean
Wednesday was set aside for registrations, measurement checks and team preparation. The first warning signal is scheduled for 11 am on Thursday, 25 June. The races continue daily until Sunday, when the winners will be known. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 6 pm, at the Race Village set up on the La Pilarella pier.
In addition to the class rankings, the programme includes special awards. The Miramis Trophy will be presented to the overall winner of the Vintage categories. The Trofeo Voscià – Giancarlo Lodigiani honours the former president of the Italian Vintage Sailing Association, who died in 2024, and will go to the best sailboat with a yawl rig. The Sixters Trophy will also be contested, awarded to the pair of vessels entered jointly with the best combined result.
A tradition that began with the "Silver Sails"
The event's history began in 1992, when members of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano organised a competition for classic vessels called Le Vele d'Argento ("The Silver Sails"). With the growth of international participation, the competition began to use the name Argentario Sailing Week in 1999. Since then, Porto Santo Stefano has established itself as one of the main meeting points for classic and vintage sailing in the Mediterranean.
The Yacht Club Santo Stefano, founded in 1960, has been chaired since April 2026 by the sailor and finance professional Alessandro Maria Rinaldi. The Argentario Sailing Week is part of the 2026 calendar of the Italian Vintage Sailing Association (AIVE).
Sailing, tourism and the Ocean Economy
The organisers estimate that owners, crew members, guests, professionals and sailing enthusiasts form a community of more than a thousand people during the week of the event. This movement goes beyond the boundaries of the competition: hotels, restaurants, suppliers, shipyards, port services, commerce and tourism experiences become part of a value chain activated by the arrival of the vessels and their participants.
In practice, the Argentario Sailing Week shows how naval heritage can be turned into a contemporary asset of the Ocean Economy, connecting sport, tourism, hospitality, culture, specialised maintenance and the international promotion of a territory. Miramis takes part for the first time as main sponsor and now officially becomes part of the event's name.
Until Sunday, the Gulf of Argentario will once again be the stage for a rare combination: vessels that have crossed generations, international crews, sporting competition and a territory that has learned to turn its maritime identity into culture, tourism and economic opportunities.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Marco Solari e Valerio Pollio
