High octane racing signals
Awarded in both the wallyrocket and the maxi classes after each regatta
High octane racing signals the start of Wally’s biggest ever Med season
Wally’s Mediterranean race season got under way in spectacular style last month with the festival of racing that is Tre Golfi Sailing Week. Building on Wally’s hugely successful Caribbean programme, the focus has now shifted to the hallowed waters of the western Med, as some of the world’s most iconic boats compete for the brand-new Wally Performance Trophy.
Awarded in both the wallyrocket and the maxi classes after each regatta, the ultimate prize is the overall trophy marking the climax of the season at the Voiles de St Tropez.
Tre Golfi Sailing Week in May fired the gun on the start of Wally’s summer campaign, with two high profile
events rolled into one. Unfurling against the backdrop of the spectacular Bay of Naples and Sorrento, the
prestigious ORC World Championship produced a slew of strong performances from the Wally fleet, while
the IMA Maxi European Championship provided another opportunity to see the breathtaking wallyrocket71
Django 7X in action alongside the wallycentos V, Galateia (Chris Flowers and David Leuschen) and Tilakkhana
II, plus Wally 94s Sensei and Astra I.
Wally shines
It marked a key proving ground for the developing wallyrocket fleet, which has been growing in strength.
RocketNikka, Django and Kilara II competed hard in the ORC event, and their crews were able to harness
flashes of the potential that underlie the innovative wallyrocket51 platform. They recorded an impressive
string of first and second place finishes across the eight-race series. RocketNikka, helmed by Roberto
Lacorte, finished the European Championship in 3rd place, tied on points with the second-placed boat,
while Django achieved 4th place. Nikka was also awarded the Wally Performance Trophy as the best
performing Wally. The growing competitiveness and consistency of the wallyrocket51 fleet is confirming
the platform as one of the most exciting new high-performance concepts in offshore and inshore racing.
Despite different levels of experience among the different owners, remarkably close performance between
the boats is already reinforcing the wallyrocket’s one-design DNA.
Wallycento V, raced by Czech entrepreneur Karel Komarek, comfortably won division one of the IMA Maxi
European Championship. Hot on their heels in third place was sister ship Galateia, taking line honours in the
150-mile offshore race after a 17-hour duel with V which saw both boats finish within four minutes of each
other. The Wally 94s Sensei (sailed by Jean Decaux) and Astra I (Marco Tomas and Vivian de la Pedrosa) also
competed hard in division 3, while in the Maxi Grand Prix division, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati’s Django 7X
showed moments of the form that won her last year’s Cup. Ultimately, just two points separated her from
the top spot in an incredibly tight series.
All eyes on Porto Cervo
The focus shifted to Porto Cervo next for a brace of regattas that demonstrated both the breadth of the Wally
fleet and its depth, as crews and owners faced the technically demanding conditions typical around the north
of Sardinia.
It kicked off at the end of May with the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, which provided a refined, but no
less competitive, stage for the sublime Wally 94 Vantanera. Then, during the first week of June, the
wallyrocket51s were once again in action, tussling at the Range Rover Sardinia Cup, which has made a highprofile
return to the IRC circuit after a hiatus of more than a decade. The testing 130-mile offshore race faced
strong northeasterly winds that saw nearly half the fleet retire. But the versatile wallyrockets Django and
RocketNikka powered through to a close second and third place respectively. After seven days of hard-fought
racing, team Django comfortably took second place, with RocketNikka coming a well-deserved third.
As the season progresses, a range of Wally yachts will be present at the key events, weaving a diverse race
programme into a structured narrative.
With more of a boutique feel to it, the Cyclades Cup in mid-June draws superyachts from all over the Med.
Camaraderie and strong social events ashore on Antiparos do nothing to dilute the high-octane racing around
the pristine waters of the Aegean. No fewer than four Wallys will be there, including Vantanera and the 33m
yachts Wally B, Barong D and latest wallywind110 Galma. Wally will also join the event as Gold Partner for
the first time this year.
The Loro Piana Giraglia shines among the brightest in a star-studded racing programme. Wally is traditionally
well-represented at this iconic offshore race from St Tropez to Genoa, and 2026 will be no exception. On the
maxi side, V and Galateia will be looking to write the latest chapter in their epic rivalry, alongside the
formidable SUD, while wallyrocket51s Kilara II and Django will also aim to confirm their qualities in the queen
of offshore regattas.
Dramatic finale
As ever, the culmination of the summer’s racing will come from 26 September to 4 October at the
incomparable Les Voiles de St Tropez. It is one of the most iconic gatherings in international sailing, and a
long-standing reference point in the Wally universe.
Set against the backdrop of the French Riviera, Les Voiles provides the natural stage for the conclusion of
Wally’s 2026 season. After six days of intense competition, including dedicated match races for the
wallyrocket51s, wally maxis and wallynano, the inaugural Wally Performance Trophy will be awarded to the
yacht that has delivered the strongest overall performance during the season.
More than ever, Wally is establishing itself as one of the few brands capable of combining elite yacht
racing, cutting-edge design and a truly international owner community. From the BVI to St Tropez, Wally
unites sporting excellence, heritage and lifestyle. Actively supporting its owners at dozens of key regattas
across the world’s most iconic sailing settings, Wally’s approach is unique. It builds competitive momentum
with each season, binding the fleet together through shared values.
