mardi 9 juin 2026
- Wally owners compete for the new Wally Performance Trophy
- Tre Golfi Sailing Week began Wally’s Med racing programme
- Galateia, owned by Chris Flowers and David Leuschen, claimed line honours in the Tre Golfi offshore race, while V, owned by Karel Komarek, secured the IMA Maxi European Championship.
- Growing wallyrocket fleet
- Over a dozen competitively raced Wallys in action
Milan, June 9, 2026 - 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 high-profile 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.