Luduan 2.0, the Grand Soleil 48 owned by Enrico De Crescenzo, was the undisputed star of the 2025 Grand Soleil Cup—the 23rd edition of the event organized by Cantiere del Pardo in collaboration with the Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario. The yacht clinched first place overall in the All Sails category, capping off two unforgettable days of racing.
The 2025 Grand Soleil Cup took place in the stunning waters off the Argentario coast, set against the backdrop of Marina di Cala Galera, from May 23 to 25. The event once again proved its significance on both the Italian and international sailing scenes, bringing together nearly 40 Grand Soleil yachts for a weekend of spirited competition, a shared love for the sea, and the strong sense of community that has always defined the brand. And now the spotlight shifts to the next stop in the Adriatic, set for June 13–15 in Portopiccolo.
The 2025 Grand Soleil Cup: Race Highlights
On Saturday, the fleet took on a coastal course heading toward Giannutri: the race began with a light breeze of 2–3 knots and finished with over 20 knots of mistral on the return leg, offering a technical and thrilling sail. On Sunday, the Grand Soleil Cup 2025 racecourse delivered perfect conditions for windward-leeward races, with wind building from 6 to 15 knots and one of the most scenic tacking moments near the Formiche di Grosseto.
During the closing ceremony of the 2025 Grand Soleil Cup, Marcello Veronesi, CEO of Cantiere del Pardo, and Marco Carletto, CEO of the Oniverse Group, reaffirmed the group’s strategic commitment to build quality, the development of new models, and increasingly tailored services for Grand Soleil owners. They also emphasized their goal of strengthening the international community that makes this brand truly unique.
One of the standout moments of this year’s event was the official debut of the new Plus Line, represented by four models: the GS Plus 72 Performance SHANTI, the brand-new GS Plus 65 Performance RIBELLE, freshly launched, and two GS Plus 65 Long Cruise models, HALIMEDE and MELIGUNIS. Also notable was the presence of four GS 44 yachts—recently awarded “Boat of the Year”—and crews from Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, and Canada, confirming the brand’s growing global reach.
But the Grand Soleil Cup isn’t just about racing. The onshore program also offered moments of connection and celebration in a truly distinctive atmosphere—from the elegant welcome cocktail on the CNVA terrace, to toasts at the dockside pasta party, the Saturday sunset dinner, and Sunday’s closing cocktail. The event was a perfect showcase of the strong social spirit that unites Grand Soleil owners, crews, and sailing enthusiasts.
Rankings and Special Awards
OVERALL Ranking – ALL SAILS Category
1st place – GS 48 Luduan 2.0 – Enrico De Crescenzo
2nd place – GS 44 Wall E2 – Francesco Marsella
3rd place – GS 56 AXA Paolissima – Luca and Paola Poli
Group 1 – ALL SAILS Category
1. GS 56 AXA Paolissima – Luca e Paola Poli
2. GS 65LC Meligunis – Andrea Cavagnis
3. GS 58 Fenice 2 – Blasco De Felice
Group 2 – ALL SAILS Category
1. GS 48 Luduan 2.0 – Enrico De Crescenzo
2. GS 44 Wall E2 – Francesco Marsella
3. GS 52LC Trec – Carlo Bertani
Group 3 – ALL SAILS Category
1. GS 43 Raffica 3 – Walter Tronconi
2. GS 40 Fra Paolele – Stefano Zecchi
3. GS 42LC Tobalu del Mar – Marco Carletto
1st Overall in Real Time – ALL SAILS Category
GS 65LC Meligunis – Andrea Cavagnis
WHITE SAILS Category – Overall Ranking
1. GS 45 Amaran – Giorgio Gallo
2. GS 46LC Nau Blue II – Paolo Lucarelli
3. GS 43 Quimera I – Guido Mancini
During the closing ceremony of the 2025 Grand Soleil Cup, the traditional special awards were also presented, designed to celebrate the spirit and diversity of the Grand Soleil fleet. The Alba Trophy, awarded to the youngest crew, went to GS42 Gilda owned by Laura Denti; the Rosa dei Venti Trophy, recognizing the crew with the highest number of women on board, was awarded to GS42LC Eleven skippered by Paolo Borricchi. he Latitude Trophy, for the yacht that came from the furthest distance, was won by GS65LC Halimede owned by Patrick Smith, who came all the way from Australia. Finally, the Arsenal Trophy, celebrating the oldest yacht in the regatta, was awarded to Blu, a GS34 from 1980, owned by Sara Nocella.
These awards reflect the stories, passion, and remarkable diversity of the Grand Soleil community.
