Monday 11 June in Saint-Tropez saw the second day of inshore racing for the fleet competing in the 2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup. A 30.3-nautical mile course was set for most of the fleet, while a 25.4-nm course reserved for the smaller classes. Conditions were again turbulent, with winds achieving speeds of 30 knots.
Fleet in action at the mark Credit: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Today’s winners were: sailing yacht Jethou (GBR) in Group 0 IRC, Near Miss (SUI) in Group A IRC, Ondine (ITA) in Group B IRC, Paul & Shark Competition (ITA) in Group A ORC and Symfony (RUS) in Group B ORC.
A final day of inshore racing is scheduled for tomorrow before Wednesday’s start to the week’s main event – the circa 242-nm offshore race from Saint-Tropez to Sanremo. In the region of two hundred yachts from 20 countries are expected to participate.
Fleet in action - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Jochen Schümann, one of the world’s most respected sailors, is skipper onboard the event’s largest and fastest boat – the 100-foot Maxi superyacht Esimit Europa 2 (SLO). Owner Igor Simčič and his pan-European crew are widely expected to claim a third straight line honours title and Schümann is in confident mood: “We hope the weather stays similar to what it is now with this strong Mistral. It could be quite an exciting, rough and fast offshore race. I think we’ve not had these type of conditions for a while.”
Esimit Europa 2 yacht is hoping to break the race record set in 2008 by the same boat under its guise as Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo 2 (NZL). Schümann believes a shot at the record – standing at 18 hours, 3 minutes and 15 seconds – is a realistic prospect. “It will be much faster than last year when there was almost no wind. If the weather forecast stays as it is with a strong breeze around the Giraglia Rock then we have a great chance of beating the race record.”
Sailing yacht JETHOU during the second inshore race Credit: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Schümann brings a wealth of knowledge to Esimit Europa 2 but is taking nothing for granted having competed in the Giraglia Rolex Cup for the first time last year. “Sailing is about experience,” he closes, “having done this race last year is an important thing as are the days of practice we are currently undertaking. It has been a while since this boat and crew sailed in breezes above 20 knots.”
America’s Cup legend Brad Butterworth – calling tactics on the in-form 62-ft Mini Maxi yacht Jethou (GBR) – also believes an interesting offshore race is ahead. “It looks very windy and we would prefer slightly lighter conditions than forecast. However, the recent Rolex Volcano Race (which Jethou won) was a good experience as the middle section of the race was very testing. We’re looking forward to the Giraglia, and it will be great to finish in Sanremo.”
Race record through the ages Credit: Rolex/KPMS
2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup Programme
Friday 8 June:
Prologue race from Sanremo to Saint-Tropez
Saturday 9 June:
Registration and inspection
Sunday 10 June:
Inshore Race(s)
Monday 11 June:
Inshore Race(s)
Rolex Crew Party at La Citadelle
Tuesday 12 June:
Inshore Race(s)
Inshore Races prizegiving, Saint-Tropez
Wednesday 13 June:
Offshore race start – Circa 242-nm Saint-Tropez – La Fourmigue – La Giraglia – Sanremo
Thursday 14 to Friday 15 June:
Arrival of participants, Sanremo
Friday 15 June:
Final prizegiving, Yacht Club Sanremo
The Giraglia Rolex Cup is organized by the Yacht Club Italiano, in conjunction with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de France, prestigious organisations with well-established ties to Rolex.
