Record Fleet on Route to Genoa - Giraglia Rolex Cup

A record fleet of 240 yachts commenced the 63rd edition of the Giraglia Rolex Cup offshore race earlier today.

Under a 10 knot breeze and following four separate start sequences, the international fleet began their 243-nm journey from Saint-Tropez to Genoa via the Giraglia rock, located on the northern tip of Corsica.

Start offshore race - Giraglia Rolex Cup

The 2015 fleet comprises yachts from 20 countries, including 25 doublehanded and three singlehanded crews, two 100-ft yachts, five Maxi 72s and a host of Corinthian crews sailing yachts in the 30-50-ft range. The race has run each year since 1953 and has been partnered by Rolex since 1998.

"We are well prepared after a good inshore series," - explained Jochen Schümann, skipper on Esimit Europa 2, the favorite for line honors. "It will be a light air race, quite complicated and challenging. It will be very interesting to race against Magic Carpet - another 100-footer with good speed potential. The Giraglia Rolex Cup is one of the classic races in the Mediterranean."

ESIMIT EUROPA 2, SLO after the start of the offshore race

The race is testing, relentless and intense. The crews on the highly-competitive Maxi 72s chasing the two frontrunners are preparing to give all. "The Giraglia Rolex Cup is one of the shorter offshore races, because of that it’s a sprint," revealed Caol Ila R navigator Ian Moore. "We’re set for 24 hours of intense action, every single manoeuvre counts, you can never be off your guard, or your game. It can be won by inches and meters. With this weather forecast it’s about getting to the next pressure and extending on your rivals. The competition between the five Maxi 72s will add to the intensity. I imagine we will never be out of site of each other."

"The forecast is complicated," - closed Moore. "An upper mid sized boat could do well as the breeze is likely to die tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon."

MOMO, IVB after the start of the offshore race

Moore’s point about the race finish being tight is poignant. The very first Giraglia in 1953 required a photo finish and in recent years, line honors tussles have gone right down to the finish line. The often benign conditions on the approach to the finish line just outside race organizer Yacht Club Italiano’s base in Genoa has claimed some notable victims in the past.

The frontrunners forecasted rounding the Giraglia rock at around sunrise tomorrow morning, with arrival in Genoa forecast for later on Thursday. The race record of 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds set by Esimit Europa 2 in 2012 does not appear under threat.

An hour into the race, Esimit Europa 2 held a narrow lead over Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’s Wally Cento Magic Carpet Cubed (GBR) and Roberto Tomasini Grinover’s Maxi 72 Robertissima III (ITA).

ROBERTISSIMA, ITA sails pass La Moutte after the start of the offshore race

To follow the progress of the 2015 Giraglia Rolex Cup fleet please follow the race tracker here.

Video Highlights
A video preview of the 2015 Giraglia Rolex Cup offshore race is now available. Media can access the embed codes to play the video on their own website by clicking here.

A direct link to the video is available Online.

TOP