The sporting phase of the 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy began in grand style in the Gulf of Argentario. After the official opening of the programme, the classic and vintage vessels took to the water this Thursday, 25 June, starting four days of racing in Porto Santo Stefano, in Tuscany.
The first day confirmed the conditions that have turned the region into one of the most prized race courses in the Mediterranean. With a westerly wind between 12 and 16 knots, a calm sea and good visibility, the crews found the ideal setting for a technical, balanced race marked by close crossings between vessels that carry decades, and some even more than a century, of history. The organisers reported the participation of 50 classic and vintage yachts, from ten countries and distributed across eight classes.
The ceremony brings together authorities and Italian maritime tradition
Before the start, the Council Chamber of the Monte Argentario Town Hall hosted the competition's official welcome ceremony, with civil and military authorities, institutional representatives and the boats' skippers. One of the highlights was the traditional exchange of insignia between the Palinuro training ship of the Italian Navy, the Municipality of Monte Argentario and the Yacht Club Santo Stefano.
Taking part in the ceremony were the commander of the Palinuro, Gian Luca Montella; the mayor of Monte Argentario, Arturo Cerulli; and the president of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, Alessandro Maria Rinaldi. Representatives of Miramis and of the International Mediterranean Committee for Classic Sailing also took part.
The thermal wind arrived at the expected moment
According to Marco Poma, commodore of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano and director of maritime activities, the thermal breeze began to settle around midday, allowing the first starts to take place shortly after 12:15 pm. Reading the race course played a decisive role: the vessels that sailed closer to the coast found more favourable conditions on the first leg upwind.
Among the Big Boats, six vessels produced some of the most impressive moments of the day. Another highlight was the clash between Marilee, Chinook and Rowdy, three representatives of the NY 40 design that turned part of the race into a genuine match-race-style contest.
Provisional leaders of the first day
After the first race, the Hallowe'en, skippered by Inigo Strez, took the provisional lead of the Big Boats category. In the other classes, the front-runners were: Gaff Vintage: Scud (Patrizio Bertelli); Marconi Vintage: Leonore (Mark Faulkner); Classic: Crivizza (Ariella Cattai); Classic IOR: Ojalà (Susan Carol Holland); Cruiser: Eugenia V (Samanna Yachting); Spirit of Tradition: Flight of Durgan (David and Alexandra Grylls); Swan Classic: Matchless (Giacomo Bei). The rankings were provisional and could change over the following days.
Torben Grael and world champions reinforce the level of the competition
The commemorative edition also brought together names that have marked the history of international sailing. The Brazilian Torben Grael joined the crew of the Scud, alongside Max Galli and Francesco Binetti Pozzi. A two-time Olympic champion and one of the most recognised sailors in the world, Grael added even more sporting relevance to the competition. Also seen were names such as Mauro Pelaschier (Leonore), Guido Cavalazzi (Cariad), Beppe Zaoli (Mariella), Claudio "Ciccio" Celon (Jill) and Nando Colaninno (Chinook).
Cariad celebrates 130 years back on the water
Among the protagonists of the edition is the Cariad, a 36-metre sailboat launched in January 1896 by the Summers & Payne shipyard in Southampton, England. Designed by A.E. Payne, the vessel began its sporting career at the traditional Cowes Week and won the Vasco da Gama Cup in Lisbon in 1898.
Throughout its history, the sailboat passed through different owners, name changes, international voyages and a circumnavigation carried out between 1920 and 1922. After facing periods of neglect and successive restoration processes, the Cariad underwent a complete rebuild, finished in 2024. Now owned by Tim Hartnoll, it arrived in Porto Santo Stefano as a symbol of British nautical tradition and of the work of preserving international naval heritage.
Palinuro enhances the spectacle in Porto Santo Stefano
The Palinuro training ship, 69 metres long, remained moored at the Garibaldi quay and was part of the commemorative programme until Sunday, 28 June, with periods of public visits on board. The presence of the Palinuro created a special meeting between different generations of navigation: on one side, the classic and vintage yachts preserved by owners and specialised teams; on the other, a vessel dedicated to training new professionals of the sea.
More than preserving historic vessels, the competition shows that these boats remain alive, sailing and facing high-level contests. In Porto Santo Stefano, the history of sailing is not only on display: it is on the move once again.
By: Redação Mundo Mar
Photo: Marco Solari e Valerio Pollio
