S.R.: LPG2026 73° Giraglia – Day 3: The wind returns, the ratings decide, and a Wallycento finally flies
S.R.: LPG2026 73° Giraglia – Day 3: The wind returns, the ratings decide, and a Wallycento finally flies
The day started overcast. For a while, nobody was sure if we would race. Then, just in time for the starts, the sky opened. And the wind came back – from 060°, East-Northeast, around 10 knots.
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| Atalanta ITA-204 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
That's not the usual thermal that builds from the land. That's a true offshore direction. I had a hunch the left side of the beat, towards the open sea, might pay. But in these conditions, you never know until you try.
Third inshore day. After Sunday's cancellation, the maxis finally returned to the water. The small fleet? Back on the coastal course. Let's go in order.
Maxi A and B: windward-leeward, 2.5 NM per leg
Windward-leeward in Pampelonne Bay. Distance from the committee boat to the windward mark: 2.5 NM. Multiple laps depending on the class and race.
Maxi A – two races. Total distances (official ORC data): 10.4 NM and 8.0 NM.
Maxi B – two races. Total distances: 10.0 NM and 6.8 NM.
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| MY SONG ITA-2311P - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
Sustained wind around 10 knots at the start, light chop. Real racing conditions.
Maxi A: V finally unleashes her power
The story of the day: V (CAY-111) – Karel Komarek's Wally Cento – won both races. On the water and on corrected time.
From the start, I saw her tack early to get to the left side. With the wind at 060°, that looked like the move. The highest rating in the class (1.798) needs real wind to be overcome – and a clear lane to use it. Yesterday, she got both.
My Song (ITA-2311P) – Pier Luigi Loro Piana with Paul Cayard on tactics – finished with two fourth places. Still on the overall podium, but the gap widened. I noticed they tacked early to hold the right side. Paul Cayard doesn't make random moves – so it was a deliberate choice. Maybe they felt forced there, maybe not. Either way, while My Song worked the right, V kept finding the better pressure on the left.
Jethou (GBR-74R) surprised: third and second. I noticed the crew was busy on deck – unconfirmed rumour about water coming over the side, but nothing certain.
Leopard 3 (MON-100) – the fastest on paper – couldn't convert raw speed into corrected time. Rating 1.782 is a heavy anchor above 8 knots.
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| Cippa Lippa X ITA87952 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
The Maxi A series is still wide open. V leads, but Galateia, My Song, Jethou and Leopard 3 are all within a few points.
Maxi B: Atalanta II is a perfect machine
Two races. Two wins. Again.
Atalanta II (ITA-204) – Carlo Puri Negri's Farr/Felci 70 – won everything. Four races, four wins total. Untouchable.
Behind her, Cippa Lippa X (Mylius 60), Wallyno (Wally 60) and Sud (Wally 80) are fighting for the rest of the podium. Aegir (Rogers 82) and Baruna complete the chasing pack.
Rough day for some: Luce Guida (FRA-53361) didn't finish any race. Moonshine and Free at Last – retired or absent.
The small fleet: coastal course, one lap, no drama
While the maxis battled in Pampelonne Bay, the 100+ boats of Groups 1 and 2 (IRC1, IRC2, ORC1, ORC2) did a simple coastal race: one lap, no loops. Distances: 14 NM for IRC1/ORC1, 12 NM for IRC2/ORC2.
Quiet wind compared to the maxis, but still steady. A short day for them.
The duels that matter
IRC 1 – Django WR vs Spirit of Lorina. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati's Wallyrocket 51 won the race on the water (1'26" vs 1'27"), but on corrected time the gap shrunk. Spirit of Lorina keeps the series lead thanks to her lower rating (1.398 vs 1.410). The most beautiful duel of the regatta.
ORC 1 – Thetis vs Crabx. Luca Locatelli's Swan 45 and Roberto Bosio's XR-41 are tied at the top with 7 points each. Thetis won R2, Crabx won R1 and R3. Wide open.
ORC 2 – J-109 vs J-109. Chestress (Leonardo Petti) leads the series with 7 points, Fremito D'Arja (Marcello De Gaspari) follows at 8. Two sister ships, two crews, a tight battle. Black Magic (J 35) inserted herself with a stage win.
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| Young Crew after the race - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
IRC 2 – Selma Racing (J/122) leads the series. Flying Dolphin (Dufour 40) and Invictus (JPK 10.50) chase. J/Boats dominate the class.
The J/Boats confirm their dominance
One pattern from the previous days is holding firm: the J/Boats are dominating. J/109, J/112, J/122, J/35 – they fill the top ranks of IRC 2 and ORC 2. It's not a coincidence. Reliable designs, well-sailed, and ratings that work.
The big picture after Day 3
- Maxi A: V showed her muscles, but the series is still wide open. Anything can happen offshore.
- Maxi B: Atalanta II is unbeatable. The rest fights for second.
- IRC 1: Django vs Spirit of Lorina – one point apart. Rating decides.
- IRC 2 / ORC 2: J/Boats everywhere. The backbone of the fleet.
- ORC 1: Thetis and Crabx tied. L'IMMENS and DXARMA chase.
Tomorrow, the last inshore races. Then, the BIG.
UPDATE
The long race: what the wind (and experience) tells us
Tomorrow, the long one. Saint-Tropez to Giraglia, then Genova. Direct course – no Fourmigue, no detours. Just the sea, the rock, and the night.
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| V CAY111 and Leopard 3 MON-001 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
The forecast? SW wind, 5 to 10 knots. Peaks at 10 early on, then settling. And then the night thermal, which could change everything.
What the wind tells us
SW at 5–10 knots means a tight beat from the start. Light, shifty, with the fleet heading roughly northeast towards Giraglia.
In these conditions, the usual rules apply:
- Light boats with good pointing ability (J/109, X-35, Wallyrocket 51, Swan 42/45) gain an early edge.
- High-rated maxis (V, Galateia, Leopard 3, My Song) need real wind to convert power into corrected time. Below 6 knots, they suffer.
- The rating game becomes brutal. A low TCC is gold. A high one is a burden you carry all night.
What experience tells us
I've seen this movie before. 2012, 2018, 2021, 2025 – each time with variations of the same script.
In 2012, the wind was strong and the record fell. Tomorrow is not 2012.
In 2018, the wind was uncertain and Fourmigue created separation.
In 2021, we started from Sanremo, and the night rewarded those who went left (towards Corsica).
In 2025, the course was shortened, but the same lesson applied: left paid.
With SW light wind, the left side of the beat (Corsica) has historically offered more pressure and steadier breeze. The right side (Italy) often becomes a trap when the thermal dies.
The critical moment: the Corsica Channel at night
This is where the race is won or lost.
If the night thermal comes from the land (NE), it will clash with the SW and create a hole in the middle of the channel. Boats on the left (Corsica) may stay in pressure. Boats on the right (Italy) may park.
If the thermal comes from the sea (SW), it reinforces the breeze and keeps the fleet compact – but the left side still tends to be more stable.
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| Tommaso Chieffi on ELO II ITA-11970 - copyright © photo Alexander Panzeri |
The fleet will be spread across miles of dark water. The ones who read the sky best will gain hours.
Who has a real chance
- Maxi A: V, My Song, Galateia. High ratings, but if the wind holds in the downwind leg, they can recover. If it dies, My Song's lower rating (1.700 vs 1.798) gives her an edge.
- Maxi B: Atalanta II is the machine. Untouchable so far. Cippa Lippa X and Wallyno fight for the rest.
- IRC 1: Django WR vs Spirit of Lorina – one point apart. Rating decides. Lorina's lower TCC (1.398 vs 1.410) is an advantage in light air.
- IRC 2 / ORC 2: The J/Boats are the backbone of the fleet. J/109, J/112, J/122, J/35 – reliable, well-sailed, and rating-friendly. They are the favourites in their classes.
- ORC 1: Thetis (Swan 45) has experience and a solid rating. Crabx (XR-41) is fast but may struggle in a light beat.
Tactical takeaway
- At the start: look left. Corsica has historically paid in these conditions.
- During the night: watch the thermal. If it comes from the NE, stay left. If it comes from the SW, the fleet stays compact – but left is still safer.
- After Giraglia: downwind in light air. Keep the boat moving. Coastal thermals near Genova may help the late finishers.
- Rating matters: below 6 knots, low TCC wins. Above 10, raw speed takes over. Tomorrow's race will be decided in the grey zone between.
The big picture
This race will be decided in the Corsica Channel, sometime between midnight and dawn. The choice between left and right – and the ability to read the thermal – will matter more than boat speed.
We've seen it before. We'll see it again tomorrow.
May the breeze hold, and the ratings be kind.
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