The 2012 Giraglia Rolex Cup is in full swing. Today, under enticing blue skies in Saint-Tropez, the first of three days of inshore competing took place with the event’s international fleet, including more than hundred yachts, divided into two groups. The larger yachts, comprising the Maxi yachts measuring over 60-feet, attacked a 31.9-nautical mile course, whilst the smaller classes had to face a 26.4-nm challenge.
Start of the first inshore race Credit: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Conditions were testing: 15-18 knots of breeze were present for the 11:20 CEST start, reaching 30 knots during parts of the race. Impressing on the water were today’s winners: Jethou (GBR) in Group 0 IRC, Near Miss (SUI) in Group A IRC, Swift (FRA) in Group B IRC, Mandolino (ITA) in Group A ORC and Baciottinho (ITA) in Group B ORC. The inshore racing followed Friday’s prologue race, which ran from Sanremo to Saint-Tropez. Sixty-two boats participated with the 52-foot Maltese yacht Dralion prevailing on handicap.
Meanwhile, thoughts are firmly focused on the week’s main event – the circa 242-nm race from Saint Tropez to Sanremo via the Giraglia rock, located off the northern tip of Corsica, which commences on Wednesday 13 June. Yachts representing almost twenty countries are expected to participate in this historic 60th edition of the race.
Fleet with St. Tropez in the background Credit: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
Carlo Croce, President of event organizers Yacht Club Italiano, is looking forward to the contest ahead: “Almost two hundred boats should be participating, demonstrating that the Giraglia Rolex Cup has a place in everyone’s heart. Many nations, from almost everywhere, are represented and above all lots of larger boats which hasn’t always been the case. A very high level of competition is in prospect.”
Croce, whose father Beppe was one of the race’s co-founders, is delighted that the ethos and traditions of the event have been maintained despite the enormous changes that have taken place during sixty years of competition. “The spirit of the Giraglia comes from having a mixed fleet: from small, family-run boats to professional crews who have taken part in events like the America’s Cup. This is the essence of the Giraglia Rolex Cup and it is important that it has not been lost.” Fittingly, this year’s race finishes in Sanremo – just like the inaugural event in 1953 (when the start was from Cannes) and the subsequent editions from 1954-1958 which departed from Saint-Tropez.
The fleet in tight competition during the first inshore race Credit: Rolex/Kurt Arrigo
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.
