One of the most historic and celebrated events in Mediterranean sailing and partnered by Rolex since 1998, the Rolex Giraglia returns after an enforced absence in 2020 due to the global pandemic.
The intrepid spirit that inspired the inaugural competition in 1953, and which has underpinned it ever since, has proven invaluable in preparing the 68th edition. The Yacht Club Italiano (YCI), the event organizer, has worked intensively to provide a safe environment for this year’s race. In light of continuing restrictions, the club has shown great flexibility, combined with care for competitors, to devise the programme. A 241-nautical mile (446-km) offshore race remains the principal contest. This year, exceptionally, the race will start and finish in Italy rather than run from a port in France to one in Italy. Starting from Sanremo on Wednesday 16 June, it will be preceded by short overnight races from Saint-Tropez and Genoa.
Rolex shares the event’s respect for tradition and continuity, along with its commitment to excellence, and is proud to support the sporting contest as part of its enduring association with yachting dating back more than 60 years. By offshore racing standards, the Rolex Giraglia is compact and intense. Most competitors will prepare for two full days at sea, while the fastest yachts competing for line honours require 24 hours or less. The race record of 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds was set in 2012 by the 30-metre (100-foot) Maxi Esimit Europa 2.
According to Rolex Testimonee and five-time Olympian Robert Scheidt, a former competitor, the Rolex Giraglia presents a rigorous challenge in both preparation and execution. As he explains: “Enormous effort goes into being ready and for many crews just getting the boat to the start line can be as demanding as the race itself. On the water, the race presents numerous tactical and navigational conundrums, accentuated by the visible presence of your nearest rivals.” The organizers have endeavoured to retain some of the race’s intrinsic Franco-Italian spirit, with a first turning mark off Cannes ahead of long legs to and from the Giraglia rock. Located just under 2km (roughly 1nm) off the northern tip of Corsica, the Giraglia and its lighthouse have attained mythic status and sit alongside the Fastnet rock (Rolex Fastnet Race), the Organ Pipes (Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race) and Stromboli (Rolex Middle Sea Race) as famous yachting landmarks. The fleet will finish off the YCI clubhouse.
Regularly attracting impressive fleets representing 20 or more countries, this year is no exception despite the prevailing challenges, with over 100 yachts registered. The spread of competitors ranges from cutting-edge, professionally crewed Maxi monohulls, down to smaller Corinthian yachts for whom the race is the pinnacle of their season. The most coveted prize is overall victory on handicap. The race’s democratic nature is indicated by the list of outright winners over the past decade. Victors include Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’s state-of-the-art Wallycento Magic Carpet Cubed through to the Swan 42 Tixwave, owned by Bernard Vananty, and the 11-metre (36-ft) Tip of Gilles Pages.
The heroic performances of all competing crews are a significant part of the race’s enduring appeal. It has always been a celebration of sailing, camaraderie and shared passion, where participation and a sense of belonging are the overarching values, as YCI President Gerolamo Bianchi explains: “The heritage and spirit of this race have been passed through the generations. This has always lent the race its feeling of family and friendship.” Rolex enjoys an enduring association with offshore racing and the principal clubs, including the YCI, that provide professional and competitive platforms for sailors to test themselves. Thanks to the commitment of all involved, the Rolex Giraglia continues that tradition.
ROLEX AND YACHTING
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.
ABOUT ROLEX
AN UNRIVALLED REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND EXPERTISE
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization. The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
