ROLEX GIRAGLIA 2019 – Fickle wind in the Gulf of Saint Tropez
ROLEX GIRAGLIA 2019 – Fickle wind in the Gulf of Saint Tropez
Races were canceled for all the Classes on the second day of offshore racing. An unusually great day with unstable conditions did not let the Rolex Giraglia fleets complete their races
The Rolex Giraglia continues tomorrow with the third and last day of inshore races and concentration high – above all on the weather models – in the run-up to the start of the long race on Wednesday 12th.
The Race Committees tried hard, starting races in the various Classes in the Rolex Giraglia 2019. But several storm cells spoil the party – and the expectations – of judges and crews. The weather, despite the fresh breeze at the start, didn’t allow a single race to finish. There was a particularly crowded return to port, thanks also to the arrival of boats ready for the long race after the inshore races. It was a very suggestive sight today with the yachts lined up on the quayside: among the most admired were the two 15 m S.I.s Tuiga and Mariska. Tuiga, built in 1909 and flying colours of the Yacht Club de Monaco, will celebrate her first 110 years this year! It will be fascinating to follow the race of these two queens of the sea battling it out along the 241 miles of the long race. Alongside them, true racing machines such as Vera, Rambler 88, the ClubSwan50, the Maxi Racer Cannonball, Jethou, Caol Ila R or the IMOCA 60 Malizia II, which will race in the Rolex Giraglia X2 with Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Hermann on board.
So all eyes are on the weather models which at the moment are forecasting the arrival of strong winds for Thursday, which should accompany the fleet as they sail back from the Giraglia to Monaco.
Tomorrow is the last day of the inshore races, with the prizegiving of the first act of the Rolex Giraglia and the much awaited Rolex Crew Party on the La Ponche beach.
THE ROLEX GIRAGLIA
The Giraglia was conceived in 1953 as a 241 mile offshore race. Since then it has grown and today includes races towards Sanremo and three days of inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez. In 2019 this classic regatta celebrates its 67thanniversary. The Rolex Giraglia is organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in collaboration with the Yacht Club Sanremo and, for the 2019 edition, with the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France. Rolex has been a partner of the Rolex Giraglia dal 1998 and this year celebrates 22 years of collaboration with the Yacht Club Italiano.
THE YACHT CLUB ITALIANO
Founded in Genoa in 1879, the Yacht Club Italiano is the oldest sailing club in the Mediterranean. Based in the Porticciolo Duca degli Abruzzi, the YCI has always aimed to popularise yachting and organise regattas. The Rolex Capri Sailing Week, the Rolex Giraglia, the World Cup Series and the 2.4 Worlds, the last to arrive in chronological order, are just some of the international regattas organised by the YCI. The Coppa Carlo Negri, the Trofeo SIAD Bombola d’oro, the Millevele and many other events distinguish the present and future of the Club, which is always ready to accept new challenges. As is traditional, BMW will be alongside the YCI as a partner also for this regatta with the much appreciated shuttle service for guests, press and yacht owners.
