ROLEX GIRAGLIA 2019 – THE INSHORE RACES WARM THINGS UP
They’re off! At 1130 this morning came the inexorable inaugural starting gun on the racing courses of the Gulf of Saint Tropez. For the first day of inshore racing there was a north-easterly between 5 and 15 kn with the fleets on coastal courses (Groups A and B) and upwind/downwind races off the beaches (Group 0 and ClubSwan). The Maxi 72 Jethou was the first winner of the day
An unusually cloudy day welcomed the record fleet of 297 yachts in the 67thedition of the Rolex Giraglia. The mixed and spectacular mass of yachts left the quays of Saint Tropez at nine this morning. Despite the forecast of strong winds all through the day, conditions in the gulf were unstable. Regular starts for Groups A and B (yachts from 9 to 18 metres) who raced on a coastal course of 31 miles, while the bigger yachts (of more than 18 metres) raced round the marks off the beach of Pampelonne. Here the big maxis in Class 0 and the ClubSwan faced off in a tight rhythm on upwind/downwind courses of 1.5 miles for the ClubSwan and 3.5 for the others.
In numbers, the 289 boats on the water broke down as follows: 42 Maxis, 118 in Group A, 104 in Group B and 22 ClubSwan (10 ClubSwan 50, 8 Swan 42 and 4 Swan 45).
Today’s results: in Group A (IRC), the French Sydney 43 Imagine dominated, while in the ORC the winner was the Swan 45 From Now On.
In Group B IRC, a fine race by the JPK 10.10 Raging Bee and the Italia 9.98 Sarchiapone Fuoriserie in the ORC division.
In Class 0, a show of strength from the Maxi 72 Jethou, winner of the day’s race in the Racer Class. Walliño won in the Cruiser Class, while Sao Bernardo was first in the zero Class.
Also off Pampelonne, the ClubSwan 50 Cuordileone came first in today’s race ahead of the Suisse boat Mathilde and Fram XVIII of the King Harald V of Norway; the Rolex Giraglia inshore races are part of The Nation Trophy Med League 2019 circuit.
Racing continues tomorrow, with more reliable weather and moderate north-westerly winds.
Up to date rankings here.
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.
