Rolex Giraglia 2019 - Preview
by Yacht Club Italiano 3 Jun 17:17 BST
9-11 June 2019
Rolex Giraglia © Yacht Club Italiano
There's less than a week to go to the start of the Queen of the Mediterranean with 297 yachts entered. The 2019 edition of this offshore classic, now in its 67thedition, continues with alternating courses as in the past.
The Yacht Club Italiano and the Yacht Club de Monaco, twinned since 1996 to reinforce their relationship based on sharing the ideals of the sport of sailing, solidarity at sea and the competitive spirit, are bringing the finish of the Rolex Giraglia back to Monte Carlo after five years.
The regatta
Started in 1953 to connect two nations just a few years after the world war, the 'Italo-Italienne' regatta grew as the years went by, bearing witness to the evolution of yachting and custodian of the Corinthian spirit that has always distinguished it. The Rolex Giraglia, thanks to the collaboration with Rolex, evolved into an event that glorifies the sport of sailing thanks to a tried and tested format that enshrines the typical values of the sport.
Classes and courses
The regatta is open to all IRC or ORC/ORC Club rated yachts with the length overall of more than 9.14 m dividing into the following groups: Group 0 (ORC 0 and IRC 0), more than 18.05 m overall; Group A (ORC A and IRC A): Classes: 0 1 2; Group B (ORC Band IRC B): Classes: 3 4 - Swan One Design.
For all classes will be upwind/downwind races in the Bay of St Tropez and coastal races of no more than 35 miles.
For Group 0 (coastal St Tropez) there will be a mix of coastal races (one per day) and upwind/downwind races (maximum two per day). For Groups A and B there will be a maximum of three coastal races.
For the Swan One-Design there will be a maximum of two upwind/downwind races per day on courses of the beaches of Pampelonne.
The fleet of maxis and superyachts is large and growing, with a record length in 2019 to the big ketch Marie. With her 54 m overall, this yacht is the largest ever to take part in the Giraglia.
There is continuing support from the IMA, the Internazionale Maxi Yachts Association, which has included the Rolex Giraglia in its Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge.
The participation is not just a formality: "This year will be my 9th Rolex Giraglia," says IMA President Benoît de Froidmont: "And there is no need to tell you it is my favourite regatta; a perfect combination of hard-fought coastal races and the legendary offshore race. In my role, I must appreciate the synergy between theYacht Club Italiano and the Societè Nautique de Saint Tropez which have become, over the years, among the leading players in Maxi yacht regattas in the Mediterranean. As a yachtsman he is owner and skipper of the very fast Wally 60 Walliño I will be waiting for everybody on the water for this magnificent week of sport".
There are remarkable numbers also for the Swan One Design Class (50'-45'-42'); here too the coastal races of the Rolex Giraglia are part of The Nations Trophy Med League. Says Enrico Chieffi, Vice President of Nautor Swan, underlining the importance of the event with almost 40 caps Swan's on the start line: "We are enthusiastic about taking part in the Rolex Giraglia again this year together with our partner Rolex and our friends of the Yacht Club Italiano, with whom we have shared a passion for years. With about 40 Swans, One Design and Bluewater yachts, from 14 nations we will certainly see memorable moments of competition and enjoyment. The choice of Monte Carlo is the last leg of the event where we will be presenting the ClubSwan Award for the Best Placed Swan, underlines the exceptional nature of the event which visits some of the most glamorous ports of the world".
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