THE EPIC CONCLUSION AND RESULTS OF THE ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK – MIRAMIS TROPHY 2026
Torben Grael aboard Patrizio Bertelli’s SCUD and Mauro Pelaschier aboard Mark Faulkner’s Leonore dominate their respective classes.69-metre sailing ship Palinuro bids farewell to the Argentario Gulf; fifty classic yachts bring the event to a close with an unforgettable day of racing.
The final day of the 25th Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy 2026, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, began with one of the most emotional moments of the entire event. “Before the start of the last day of racing,” recalls Alessandro Maria Rinaldi, Yacht Club President, “The tall ship Palinuro left the docks at Porto Garibaldi to resume her voyage, having graced the event with her presence and welcomed thousands of visitors on board during her stay on the Argentario Gulf. At 11.00 am, the traditional farewell ceremony brought together the entire Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy community. I was out at sea aboard the 6-metre Jill, leading the entire fleet of close to fifty vintage and classic boats as they passed alongside the 69-metre sailing ship Palinuro, while the ship’s crew, lined up on deck at attention, paid their respects with three gun salutes that echoed throughout the Gulf.” Particularly moving was the passage of the four Italian Navy yachts taking part in the regatta. Corsaro II, Penelope, Chaplin and Artica II and their crews lined up at attention on deck to pay their respects to their training ship. “A unique moment none of will ever forget,” concludes Rinaldi, visibly moved.
Meanwhile, on board Palinuro, the Commodore of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano, Marco Poma, was welcomed by Commander Gian Luca Montella for a farewell in person however the send-off was anything but a goodbye, both keen to repeat the ship’s visit at the 2027 edition of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy.
Winners of the 25th edition of the ARGENTARIO SAILING WEEK – MIRAMIS TROPHY honours went to the winners in each class, with Torben Grael on Patrizio Bertelli’s SCUD and Mauro Pelaschier aboard Mark Faulkner’s LEONORE, dominating the Gaff Vintage and Marconi Vintage classes respectively. In the Big Boats class, Inigo Strez’s Hallowe’en took the honours; in the Classics, Ariella Cattai’s Crivizza claimed first place (her fourth consecutive victory); in the Cruisers, Jacob Glatz’s Star Sapphire took her place on the top step of the podium, as did Susan Carol Holland’s Ojala in the Classic IOR class. Giacomo Bei’s Matchless triumphed in the SWAN CLASSIC class, while David and Alexandra Gryll’s Flight of Durgan won the Spirit of Tradition class.
The “Trofeo Voscià – Giancarlo Lodigiani” challenge trophy was presented to the Italian Navy’s CORSARO II, while Patrizio Bertelli’s SCUD won the Miramis Trophy and Alessandro Maria Rinaldi on JILL took home The Sixters Trophy.
Overall standings after the final day of racing: BIG BOATS: HALLOWE’EN (Inigo Strez) holds onto first place. VIVEKA (Keith Mills) holds onto second. MARIELLA (Carlo Falcone) is still in third. Gaff Vintage: SCUD (Patrizio Bertelli) leaps into first place. ROWDY (Donna Dyer) takes second. CHINOOK (Paolo Zannoni) still holds onto third.
Spirit of Tradition: Flight of Durgan(David & Alexandra Grylls) maintains her lead, followed by PARELTJE (Pieter Taselaar) in second, shifting FREYA (Luca Celeghini) into third place.
CRUISER: STAR SAPPHIRE (Jacob Glatz) holds onto her lead, followed by VISTONA (Giovanni Battista Borea d’Olmo) in second, and EUGENIA V (Samanna Yachting) in third.
CLASSIC IOR: OJALA’ (Susan Carol Holland) remains at the top. SAGITTARIUS (Thierry Laffitte) takes second, pushing AIRONE V (Giuseppe Albano) into third place.
CLASSIC: Still top of the class is CRIVIZZA (Ariella Cattai), followed by the two Italian Navy contestants: PENELOPE in second and CORSARO II in third.
MARCONI VINTAGE: LEONORE(Mark Faulkner) surges into first place, followed by JILL (Alessandro M. Rinaldi) in second, and EMILIA PRIMA (Luigi Guarnaccia) in third.
SWAN CLASSIC: MATCHLESS (Giacomo Bei) takes the class, leaping into first place, with LITHIAN (M. Cattaneo & F. Mascheroni Stianti) in second and GRAMPUS II (Matteo D’Agostino) in third place.
The 25th edition of the Argentario Sailing Week – Miramis Trophy 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 event 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. Almost fifty yachts are taking part, spread across eight classes: Big Boats, Gaff Vintage, Marconi Vintage, Classic, Classic IOR, Cruiser, Spirit of Tradition, and Swan Classic.
HALLOWE’EN: 100 years of a “perfect jewel”. (Marconi cutter, 23,25 m)
Launched in 1926 to a design by William Fife III, Hallowe’en is celebrating her 100th anniversary this year on the Argentario Gulf. She is a Marconi cutter inspired by the lines of the 15-Metre International Class. The year she was launched, she won the Fastnet Race, setting a record that remains unbroken to this day.
Throughout her long career, she has sailed across the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, Norway and the United States. Under the name Magda XII, she was often helmed by Prince Olaf, heir to the throne of Norway, while as Cotton Blossom IV she won numerous American regattas during the 1940s and 1950s.
After several changes of rig and a major restoration in the 1980s at the Classic Boat Museum in Newport, she was restored to her original Marconi cutter configuration in 1993. Today she is owned by Inigo Strez. William Fife III himself described her as “the perfect gentelman’s yacht, a jewel”.
A few specs: length 23.25 m, beam 4.42 m, crew of 18, draught 2.90 m, launched in 1926, sail number 2.
MARGARET celebrates a century of sailing history(International 8-Metre Class, 14.31 m)A century of sailing in her wake, Margaret is celebrating her 100th anniversary this year. Commissioned by Sir Ernest Rooney, silver medallist in the 8-Metre Class at the 1924 Paris Olympics, she was designed in 1925 by the Norwegian Johan Anker, who also designed the famous Dragon. With sail number K4, she is one of 52 yachts in the 8-Metre class, built of mahogany and oak, with a mast and boom made of spruce. Throughout her history, she has sailed from Scotland to the Mediterranean, via England, Denmark and Saint-Malo. In Denmark, she was renamed Conip and given the sail number D40. In 2004, a faithful restoration carried out by the Pezzini Shipyard in Viareggio restored her original sail plan. Today she is owned by Giulio Baldi. A few specs: length 14.31 m, beam 2.65 m, draught 1.95 m, crew of 6, launched in 1925, sail number K4.
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: close to 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.
