LVST 2026 — Day 2 (29/09): Offshore conditions, ratings and corrected times
LVST 2026 — Day 2 (29/09): Offshore conditions, ratings and corrected times
Last update: 29 September 2026, 18:49
Service note
At this time — 18:49 — the complete results of the day are not yet available. The rankings will arrive, but on the organisers' schedule. If we can, we will update tomorrow morning. For now, this is what we know.
Dawn and weather: light inside, 15–18 knots outside
The day began with humid, heavy air. Around 06–07 in the morning, the air from the bay (20°C) condensed on car windows just over the hill, with the temperature 13–14°C.
But before the wind, the dawn was spectacular: infinite variations of red and yellow among infinite shapes of clouds.
Inside the bay: conditions not calm, wind not strong but good enough to start until 14:00–15:00. Attention to sailing close to the coast if you are not a pro and a fast modern racer (a.k.a. Tp-52 or Wally rocket
Outside: 15–18 knots. The crews who went out found satisfactory conditions and came back happy.
On the return: with the Maxis coming back from Pampelonne, the swell arrived too, raising the waves a little.
Cumulus in the evening: probably thermal, but consistent.
All starts were on time and regular. The J Class sailed two races.
Modern: 29/09 rankings
Here are the top finishers in the five IRC classes. For the first days' report we limit ourselves to the top 3–4.
IR0 — 11 starters
1. KNUTTE — Thomas Andersen — 03:27:38 — 1.00
2. INTERLODGE IV — Gwen Fragomen — 03:29:37 — 2.00
3. ARKAS BLUE MOON — Altay Serhat — 03:31:41 — 3.00
4. ALBATOR 3 — Frantz Philippe — 03:32:25 — 4.00
Note: Knutte wins. Spirit of Lorina (8th) disappoints compared to yesterday (1st).
IR1 — 27 starters
1. LISA R — Di Vincenzo Giovanni — 03:23:58 — 1.00
2. DRALION — Fernando Flethes — 03:30:35 — 2.00
3. SEARCHER 2 — Pete Smyth — 03:31:42 — 3.00
4. ZAPPYS — Wargny Christophe — 03:34:18 — 4.00
Note: Lisa R wins (yesterday 7th). Pretexte 2 (6th) disappoints compared to yesterday (1st).
IR2 — 27 starters
1. FREMITO D'ARJA — Levi Dario — 03:24:05 — 1.00
2. JWOW — Tschirikow Andrei — 03:24:07 — 2.00
3. FLIGHT OF DURGAN — David Grylls — 03:24:50 — 3.00
4. MEERBLICK — Pohlmann Otto — 03:33:01 — 4.00
Note: Fremito D'Arja wins (yesterday 2nd). Jwow (2nd) — yesterday 1st. Minimal gaps.
IR3 — 37 starters
1. LETTO DI PLETTO — Preuss Jorgen — 02:18:44 — 1.00
2. TOPAS — Harald Dr.Bruning — 02:18:53 — 2.00
3. EINSTEIN — Badent Rainer — 02:26:37 — 3.00
4. LE LUPIN — Rameil Jean — 02:27:01 — 4.00
Note: Letto di Pletto wins (yesterday 2nd). Topas (2nd) — yesterday 1st. Head to head.
IR4 — 22 starters
1. OVERDOSE NEO — Bretagne Lliyan — 02:25:28 — 1.00
2. FIRST LIGHT — Zamaria Mark — 02:30:24 — 2.00
3. CORTO MALTESE — Colasante Michele — 02:35:42 — 3.00
4. ISKAREEN — Bruhns Arnt — 02:35:58 — 4.00
Note: Overdose Neo wins (yesterday 3rd). Mikala (12th) disappoints compared to yesterday (1st).
Performance: best and bad, small and big
Two days of racing, and the patterns are becoming clear. The wind outside the bay — 15–18 knots — has rewarded some and punished others. Here is who came out on top, who struggled, and how boat size played its part.
Best: who performed above their rating
- KNUTTE (IR0) — 3rd to 1st. Rating 1.3800, lower than Spirit of Lorina (1.3980) and Daguet 5 (1.4470). In 15–18 knots, the lower rating converted into corrected time.
- LISA R (IR1) — 7th to 1st. Rating 1.2930, the highest in the top group. The wind outside gave her the power to use it.
- FREMITO D'ARJA (IR2) — 2nd to 1st. Rating 1.1350. Consistent, fast, and rating-friendly.
- LETTO DI PLETTO (IR3) — 2nd to 1st. Rating 1.0430. A Farr 30 that thrives in these conditions.
- OVERDOSE NEO (IR4) — 3rd to 1st. Rating 0.9960. Low rating, high performance.
- X MACHINE (IR3) — 18th to 8th. Rating 1.0330. The biggest jump of the day.
- MAX (IR4) — 12th to 5th. Rating 0.9380. The lowest rating in the class, and it shows.
Bad: who underperformed
- SPIRIT OF LORINA (IR0) — 1st to 8th. Rating 1.3980. Yesterday's winner, today's disappointment.
- DAGUET 5 (IR0) — 2nd to 10th. Rating 1.4470. The highest rating in IR0, and it hurt.
- PRETEXTE 2 (IR1) — 1st to 6th. Rating 1.1980. Could not repeat yesterday's form.
- MIKALA (IR4) — 1st to 12th. Rating 0.9980. A collapse from the top.
- JADE (IR4) — 13th to 23rd. Rating 0.9120. The lowest rating in the fleet, but no advantage today.
Small vs Big: how size played
In 15–18 knots outside the bay, the small boats had a chance. The big ones needed more wind to convert power into corrected time.
- Small (under 15 m LOA): Letto di Pletto (9.43 m), Topas (Farr 30), Overdose Neo (Sun Fast 3200), Max (First 31.7), X Machine (X 412). These boats thrive in 10–16 knots. They point well, accelerate fast, and their ratings work in their favour.
- Big (over 20 m LOA): V (30.48 m), Magic Carpet E (30.48 m), Leopard 3 (30.47 m), Galateia (30.48 m). These need 15+ knots to overcome their high ratings. Today they had it outside, but not enough to dominate.
- The middle (15–20 m): The IR1 and IR2 fleets. Lisa R (13.85 m), Dralion (Swan 42), Fremito D'Arja (Melges 32). This is where the racing is tightest.
Rating vs performance: the pattern
Two days, and the pattern is clear: in light air, low ratings win. In 15+ knots, high ratings can convert. Today, outside the bay, the wind was enough for some high-rated boats to perform (Lisa R, Fremito D'Arja), but not enough for the biggest maxis to dominate.
Maxi and J Class: waiting
For Maxi and J Class we do not yet have today's rankings. Yesterday (28/09) we had:
- J Class: Svea 1st, Rainbow 2nd, Hanuman 3rd
- Maxi 1: Jethou 1st, Northstar III 2nd, Balthasar 3rd
- Maxi 2: Lyra 1st, Twin Soul B 2nd, Inco 3rd
- Maxi 3: Why Not 1st, Yoru 2nd, Wallyno 3rd
- Maxi 4: Blue Oyster 1st, Sao Bernardo 2nd, Atalante 3rd
Today the Maxis and J Class raced, but the results are not yet available. If they arrive, we will update.
Classics: waiting
For the Classics too we have no rankings. Yesterday and today they raced (today with the Rolex Trophy at stake), but the results are not yet available.
Field observations
The crews who went outside the bay came back happy with the conditions they found. The exception is those queuing for protests — from yesterday and today.
Those who stayed ashore suffered the sun and the heat. I arrived at the last minute (07:00 local time), did not go out on the RIB, but prepared the tools for the reports thanks to the excellent relationships rekindled with friends and colleagues. Sometimes it takes little: a cup of ice cream, a handshake, a chat with those who share the same passion. And the day takes a different turn.
Forecast 30/09
The models are fairly in agreement: satisfactory conditions for racing, with wind from 10 to 16 knots, gusts up to 20 knots. The heat and humidity should continue, with cloud build-up overnight, but should thin out a little in time for the race.
The anticyclones over the Azores and Finland maintain a predominance from East-North-East.
It almost seems that the capital of Genoese sailing is providing, like an open boat show these days, a tongue of energy that jumps Monaco to arrive right in the bay of the VIPs.
Swell: depending on the model, from East-North-East or from South, under one metre.
What to expect: with 10–16 knots from ENE, the small boats (J/109, X-35, Wallyrocket) will again have an edge. The big maxis will need the gusts to make their rating work. The race will be decided by who reads the shifts best — and who knows when to go outside the bay.
Programme 30/09
- Modern: races
- Classics: races (Rolex Trophy)
- Maxi: Day Off, except:
- Club 55 Maxi Yachts Cup: Balthasar vs Tilakkhana II
- Rainbow vs Hanuman: format inspired by the America's Cup
- J Class: Day Off (they are Maxi)
Next update
If we can, we will update tomorrow morning with the complete results of Maxi, J Class and Classics.
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