Rolex Giraglia historic edition underway
by Quinag 15 Jun 2023 05:11 NZST
14 June 2023
2023 Rolex Giraglia © Carlo Borlenghi
One of the Mediterranean's most famous offshore races is under way for the 70th time.
An international fleet of 155 yachts are contesting the 2023 edition of the Rolex Giraglia, a renowned and historic contest first held in 1953.
Following today's start from Saint-Tropez, France, ahead of the fleet is a shortened version of the traditional course, measuring approximately 215-nautical miles (398 kilometres) to Genoa, Italy, via La Giraglia, a rocky islet off northern Corsica.
Magic Carpet Cubed, multiple Rolex Giraglia line honours winner, is among the Maxi yachts aiming to be first over the finish line. Among her rivals is Black Jack 100 who under her previous guise as Esimit Europa 2 set the current race record in 2012. In the last nine editions of the race, only twice has the line honours winner finished in an elapsed time of under 24 hours.
The variable weather forecast will place significant emphasis on navigation and strategy. Overall victory on handicap is the race's most coveted prize with last year's winner, Lisa R from Italy, among the competing yachts.
Rolex has partnered the event since 1998. The Rolex Giraglia is organized by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, both Rolex partner yacht clubs. They are supported in their efforts by Yacht Club de France and Yacht Club Sanremo.
A line honours media alert will be published shortly after the arrival of the first boats in Genoa. A wrap-up press release covering the overall winner on handicap will be available on Saturday, 17 June.