Giraglia Rolex Cup inshore series complete
by Quinag 15 Jun 2016 13:11 BST
10-18 June 2016
The second element of the 2016 Giraglia Rolex Cup drew to a close with the completion of the three-day inshore series. All that remains is the main event, 'La Giraglia', the 241 nautical mile offshore component of this inspirational contest.
Those racing in the inshore races have been blessed with warm, dry weather and a mix of largely good wind conditions. By contrast the early part of the offshore race looks a little less enticing as the brisk winds of the past few days are predicted to abate before tomorrow's start, offering a slow passage to the Giraglia. Once at the northern tip of Corsica, the fleet expects to meet stronger winds and a potentially difficult final leg to Genoa.
The inshore races have provided not just exciting racing, but also a great spectacle with the yachts finishing each race just off the breakwater of the port of Saint-Tropez. The northern shore of the bay providing a perfect backdrop as the fleet nears the line. Aside from a delay to racing yesterday when a strong westerly was blowing the tops off the waves in the bay during the morning, the Yacht Club Italiano and its partner club, the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, have benefitted from cooperative conditions. The fleet have enjoyed different courses each day, with the larger yachts competing over 31, 19 and 30 nautical miles; the smaller classes covering two races of 19nm and one of 21nm.
The final races took the bigger yachts north-east to a mark just south of the Ile des Vieilles; the two smaller yacht classes heading into the Golfe de Fréjus, to a mark off Saint-Raphael. In the IRC fleet, after the three races, Benoit de Froidmont's Wallyno prevailed overall in Class 0, and in doing so secured the Ville de Saint-Tropez Trophy.
Giraglia Rolex Cup Inshore Series Class Winners:
IRC 0 - Wallyno, Benoit de Froidmont
IRC A - Team Vision Future, Jean Jacques Chaubard
IRC B - Easy Jean, Marie Vidal
ORC 0 - Southern Star, Luigi Cimolai
ORC A - Samantaga Philippe, Moortgat
ORC B - Aria di Burrasca, Franco Salmoiraghi