Loro Piana Giraglia Regatta 2026

Loro Piana is writing a new chapter in the history and tradition of sailing by once again serving as the official partner and title sponsor of the Giraglia Regatta 2026, one of the most important events in top-level Mediterranean sailing. Organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, with the collaboration of Loro Piana, this regatta will be held from June 12 to 20.

Supporting one of the world’s most prestigious regattas further strengthens the Maison’s position as a provider of timeless elegance in sailing. This is a significant moment that reflects the Maison’s values of tradition, fair play, dignity, and ultimate performance.

The Loro Piana Giraglia begins with coastal races along the Saint-Tropez coastline, held over four days from June 13 to 16. The main event takes place on June 17: an exciting offshore sailing race covering 241 nautical miles from Saint-Tropez, via the Giraglia rock off northern Corsica, to Genoa. As in previous years, Pier Luigi Loro Piana, Vice Chairman of the Maison, will participate in the race with his crew aboard the fifth yacht in the series, named My Song. The Loro Piana family’s passion for sailing is part of the Maison’s DNA and aligns with its philosophy of creating elegant, versatile clothing that seamlessly transitions from sea to city life.

During the event, the Maison will host boat owners, friends of the Maison, and sailing enthusiasts at the Loro Piana Giraglia Lounge overlooking the port of Saint-Tropez and in a dedicated area within the race village. The lounge, complete with an outdoor terrace, features beige, green, and brown tones, furnished with Loro Piana Interior pieces and olive trees, creating a warm and enveloping atmosphere enhanced by soft lighting.

The race village will also display the historic silver trophy provided by the Yacht Club Italiano, the Loro Piana Giraglia Cup. This trophy will be awarded at the regatta’s prize-giving ceremony on June 20 in Genoa, Italy, to the winner of the largest offshore race group based on corrected time. Additionally, Loro Piana’s Defender Jacket will be presented at the ceremony to the Line Honours Yacht (winner on elapsed time), the winner of the largest group on corrected time, and the overall winner combining coastal and offshore races.

About the Giraglia Regatta

First held in 1953, this sailing race connects Saint-Tropez and Genoa via the Giraglia island off northern Corsica. Each year, over 200 boats, including 30-meter yachts and maxi yachts, participate. Organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and supported by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the race follows coastal races in Saint-Tropez Bay, then proceeds via the waters near Giraglia Island to arrive in Genoa, Italy, covering a total distance of 241 nautical miles (450 km). Now in its 73rd edition, the Giraglia is a prestigious event attracting hundreds of crews and boats from around the world, both amateur and professional.

On July 11, 1953, 22 boats started along the triangular route from Cannes to Giraglia Island to Sanremo, with 17 crossing the finish line to compete in the first Giraglia’s 196-mile course. The winning boat, from France, recorded a time of 31 hours. The following year, the start and finish ports were reversed, and participation reached 31 boats. However, due to lack of alternatives, the Giraglia rock remained unchanged, and Giraglia became one of the world’s yachting landmarks.

Over the years, this offshore race has gradually taken on a mythical character. Seamanship blends technical skill with poetic spirit, and for many young enthusiasts, completing the race signifies a rite of passage in sailing. The sense of achievement—“I did it too”—becomes a cherished badge etched in every sailor’s heart.

In the 1970s, participation consistently exceeded 100 boats, sometimes surpassing 150. Considering yachting is a niche field, this was an exceptional number. Until the 1990s, the start and finish alternated between Italy and France. In those days, when entire crews lived aboard and participated in boat transfers, taking part was almost an adventure. The Giraglia race witnessed the transition from wooden to fiberglass boats, with vessels becoming increasingly lightweight, refined, and faster.

The number of participating boats has increased year by year, inversely proportional to the time required to complete the course. The current record for boats at the starting line was set in 2016 with 302 entries. The shortest recorded time was achieved by Igor Simčič’s yacht Esimit Europa 2 in 2012, completing the course in 14 hours, 56 minutes, and 16 seconds.

Since 1998, the race format has remained unchanged. In mid-June, participants gather in Saint-Tropez for three days of coastal racing in the beautiful bay, followed by an unforgettable beach party the night before the offshore race. The next morning, they set off on the long 241-nautical-mile journey, passing Giraglia Island en route to Genoa. The event concludes as it did in 1952, welcomed at the historic clubhouse of the Yacht Club Italiano.

However, in 2023, the Giraglia celebrated its 70th anniversary and once again transformed its format. In 2024, with the arrival of prestigious new title sponsors like Loro Piana, new elements have been added to make the regatta even more event-like. The coastal races have been extended to four days, and the regatta village has been expanded, deepening camaraderie during the Saint-Tropez days.

The organizing committee has designed several new courses to make the Saint-Tropez Bay races even more engaging. Meanwhile, the offshore race course—241 nautical miles around the natural triangle of Saint-Tropez, Giraglia, and Genoa—remains unchanged.

Loro Piana and the World of Sailing

Sailing, as both a sport and a lifestyle, shares many values with Loro Piana—tradition, dedication to excellence, passion for perfection, and the joy of shared moments with friends. The Loro Piana family has always maintained a deep and genuine passion for sailing, which began on the lakes near Valsesia and later developed in Sardinia. Pier Luigi Loro Piana continues to participate in regattas aboard his yacht My Song, sharing a profound connection with the sea, like his brother Sergio, spending time sailing with family primarily in the Mediterranean. For them, it is less a sport than a lifestyle. Sailing represents both communion with nature and research—an outdoor laboratory where Loro Piana continuously tests high-performance and innovative fabric solutions.

Loro Piana has a long history of sponsoring and participating in prestigious sailing events. The Maison, in collaboration with Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia, has supported 200