Argentario Sailing Week 2025 at Yacht Club Santo Stefano - Overall
by Joseph Sawyer 22 Jun 18:34 UTC
18-22 June 2025
For the past four days, sailing history has come to life before crowds of enthusiasts, with yachts and sailors who have written its pages battling to claim first place at the Argentario Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano with the support Municipality of Monte Argentario.
Four days of fierce competition, yet without ever straying from a keen sense of sportsmanship, shared throughout the event between the over thirty crews and nine countries taking part.
Day 4 offered light winds but after an hour's postponement, the Racing Committee correctly spotted the perfect window and had all races set sail with 8 knots of wind from 295 degrees and calm sea. State-of-the-art manoeuvres and tactical choices made for an intense and compelling challenge for all to enjoy. Knowing how to read the wind while remaining focused and collected was key as the last victories came down to a matter of seconds.
Today's winners:
- Big Boats: HALLOWE'EN - Inigo Strez (NZL)
- Classic IOR: MATRERO - Rafael Pereira Aragón (ARG)
- Classic: CRIVIZZA - Ariella Cattai (ITA)
- Vintage: MARGA - Alessandra Angelini (ITA)
- Vintage Marconi: LEONORE - Mark Faulkner (GBR)
- Cruiser Yachts: BARBARA - Roberto Olivieri (ITA)
- Spirit of Tradition-Open: FREYA - Luca Celeghini (ITA)
Final overall rankings:
Big Boats:
1. HALLOWE'EN - Inigo Strez (NZL)
2. MARIELLA - Carlo Falcone (ANT)
3. ORLANDA - Iginio Angelini (ITA)
Classic:
1. CRIVIZZA - Ariella Cattai (ITA)
2. PENELOPE - Marina Militare
3. OPTIMISTA - Antonio Del Balzo (ITA)
Classic IOR:
1. MATRERO - Rafael Pereira Aragón (ARG)
2. ENCOUNTER (FRA)
3. MONTOMBI - Ollie Graffy (GBR)
Vintage Marconi:
1. LEONORE - Mark Faulkner (GBR)
2. SANTANA - Wendy Schmidt (USA)
3. FALCON - Paulo Mirpuri (POR)
Vintage:
1. SPARTAN (USA);
2. CHINOOK - Paolo Zannoni (USA)
3. MARGA - Alessandra Angelini (ITA)
Cruiser yachts:
1. BARBARA - Roberto Olivieri (ITA)
2. VISTONA - Gian Battista Borea d'Olmo (ITA)
3. EL ORO - Timothy Wilson (GBR)
Spirit of Tradition-Open:
1. LULUNIKKA - Roberto Lacorte (ITA)
2. FREYA - Luca Celenghini (ITA)
3. RROSE IV - James Cavagnari (GBR)
The final results are in with a fascinating mix of returning champions holding onto their crown and new winners adding their names to the Argentario Hall of Fame. Among returning champions: Crivizza achieves a golden hat trick in Classic, dominating her class now three years in a row. As for the Classic IOR class, the Argentinian Matrero takes home her second win in a row after last year's gold, as does Barbara in the Cruiser Yachts class. Twice class winner Leonore (2012, 2026) claims her third victory in the Vintage Marconi category while celebrating her 100th birthday. In the Vintage class, Chinook claims second place after winning first in 2014 and again ten years later in 2024. Last year's Spirit of Tradition winner Freya holds onto the podium, coming in second behind Argentario newcomer LuluNikka in the combined Spirit-Open class.
The complete rankings can be found at: www.argentariosailingweek.it/en/result
The "Trofeo Voscià - Giancarlo Lodigiani" challenge trophy, inspired by the late president of the Italian Vintage Sailing Association, Giancarlo Lodigiani, was awarded to the Yawl-rigged yacht that achieved the best score in the final results, Barbara.
This year, the Yacht Club Santo Stefano also established the Angelo Bonati Memorial prize, in memory of the unforgettable CEO of Officine Panerai, who recently passed away and who was a great fan of the Argentario racecourse. The prize was awarded to Hamish Easton's Manitou.
Marco Poma, Vice President and Sports Director of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano and race judge, spoke to us after the award ceremony: "Our satisfaction can be measured by that of the owners and crews. And what we are hearing is that this year has been one of the greatest editions to date, in terms of both quality and technicality. The Gulf of Argentario continues to stand out as a true sailing stadium, where truly great races are possible even when the wind is not on our side, like this morning after three perfect days."
Italian Navy Sports Squadron celebrates the Argentario Sailing Week
In recognition of the event's prestige and importance and to celebrate the coinciding end of the world-renowned Amerigo Vespucci's global tour this same month, the Italian Navy Sailing Sport Squadron, taking part in the Argentario Sailing Week aboard SY Penelope, presented all owners with a collectible special edition book of the Italian Navy's oldest active military vessel's world tour.
The tall ship's motto, "Not who begins, but who perseveres," perfectly embodies the Argentario Sailing Week's history of spent promoting the history, competition and elegance of classic and vintage yachts.
The 25th edition will take place from 17th to 21st June 2026
Partners of the Argentario Sailing Week 2025
The 2025 edition is organised with the patronage and tangible support of the event's institutional partner Municipality of Monte Argentario, and with the contribution of high-end hospitality brand Miramis by Swedish group Qarlbo AB, independent multinational investment bank Jefferies Group LLC, Banca Patrimoni Sella & C., ColleMassari Wine Estates, Mureadritta and casual clothing company Sea Dog-NYL FTS.
The 2025 Argentario Sailing Week enjoys the patronage of the Region of Tuscany, the Province of Grosseto, the Municipality of Monte Argentario, the Italian Navy, the Italian Vintage Sailing Association and the International Mediterranean Classic Yachting Committee. In addition to its patronage, the Municipality of Monte Argentario also provides tangible support to the event.
The Argentario Sailing Week is one of ten regattas part of the 2025 International Mediterranean Classic Yachting Committee Championship (CIM)
The Argentario Sailing Week: a story of passion, tradition and success
The history of the Argentario Sailing Week begins in 1992, when a group of members of the Yacht Club Santo Stefano organised a regatta for classic yachts called Le Vele d'Argento (The Silver Sails). Over the years, the constant increase in registered boats, the area's hospitality and consistently favourable weather conditions eventually contributed to the event becoming a central date on the international calendar of classic and vintage yacht regattas. In 1999 the event took on the name we know today: Argentario Sailing Week, confirming its role as a high-profile regatta and, at the same time, as a moment of refined culture and hospitality, where passion, history and craftsmanship come together on the Mediterranean, in the sublime setting of Monte Argentario.
The 25th Argentario Sailing Week will take place from 17th to 21st June 2026