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Portofino's notable regatta line-up

Italy's Portofino harbour

PORTOFINO, Italy -- The Mediterranean's premier spring regatta in Portofino, Italy, has once again attracted an impressive fleet of racing yachts and owners.

The 21st Ermenegildo Zegna Trophy is exclusively for yachts over 17 metres (55 feet) because of space limitations in Portofino harbour.

Top of the line-up is the fleet of Wally Yachts, a new range of semi-custom built cruiser-racers conceived by Luca Bassani for style, elegance, speed and ease of sailing.

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Tiketitoo, Bassani's own Wally 88, which has recently been sold to a German owner, is painted in shimmering bronze from the tip of the carbon mast to the custom built 70 knot tender.

The boat features fully automated hydraulic furling sail controls, a tacking bulb keel, water ballast and four canard trimming foils.

Other Wally owners enjoying the special charm and intimacy of Portofino are L'Oreal cosmetics chairman Lindsay Owen Jones in Magic Carpet and Pirelli chief executive Marco Tronchetti Provera in Kauris II.

The IMS-ORC Club class racing yachts is equally distinguished including the Swan 82RS Solleone owned by Leonardo Ferragamo and the head of Nautor Swan and SAP software chairman Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory.

The race begins on Friday and has five races scheduled over three days, with the prize giving on Sunday.