The 69th edition of the Rolex Giraglia offshore race commenced from Saint-Tropez on France’s Côte d’Azur on Wednesday 15 June. Partnered by Rolex since 1998, the event is revered as one of the highlights of the annual Mediterranean sailing calendar. The 141-strong fleet had to contend with light winds at the start, conditions which are forecast to prevail for most of the race. As a consequence, the Race Committee shortened the 241-nautical mile (446km) course to exclude the short leg west from Saint-Tropez to the turning mark at La Fourmigue. The quest for the fastest Maxi yachts is to arrive first over the finish line off the Yacht Club Italiano’s clubhouse in Genoa, Italy. This includes three recent line honours winners – Arca SGR, Magic Carpet Cubed and Tango. However, the coveted title is overall victory on handicap. Over the past decade, this prize has been claimed by a wide variety of yacht sizes and designs and by crews both professional and Corinthian. The undeniable symbol of the race is the rugged Giraglia rock and lighthouse, located off the northern tip of Corsica. The Rolex Giraglia is organized by the Yacht Club Italiano, supported by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Discover more https://on.rolex.com/3b1ugJc
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Italiano, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.
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