The 68th edition of the Rolex Giraglia has started today from the Italian town of Sanremo. An international fleet of 138 ships competes on a 241 nautical mile tour that exceptionally begins and ends in Italy, taking as a point of forced passage the legendary rock Giraglia

I start in Sanremo from the legendary Rolex Giraglia with 15 knots, little sea and 241 miles ahead... heading for Genoa, an unpublished route in the seven decades of the event's history.

After a beacon in French waters, opposite La Rade d'Agay, they face a long stage in the direction of the steep rock of Giraglia, located opposite the northern end of Corsica. After encircling the lighthouse that gives name to the race since its birth in 1953, the fleet begins the second half of the race towards the finish line located in front of the club house of the Yacht Club Italiano (YCI), organizer of the event, which has been supported by Rolex since 1998.

For the maximum seekers for the coveted victory in real time, among which is the Wallycento Magic Carpet Cubed (the fastest boat in 2013 and 2016, and absolute winner in 2015) and the other two 100-foot maxis (30 meters), Leopard 3 and Arca SGR, a fascinating competition is coming to complete the tour as soon as possible. The current race record of just under 15 hours was established in 2012, when the race passed from Saint- Tropez to Sanremo.

2021 / 06 / 15: Tomorrow leaves Sanremo the Rolex Giraglia to Genoa

THE 243-STRONG ROLEX GIRAGLIA OFSHORE RACE FLEET DEPARTING FROM SAINT-TROPEZ

The Mediterranean is one of its most historic and traditional nautical events: the Rolex Giraglia. The test was absent from the calendar in 2020 by the global pandemic but comes back in the same spirit with which it was founded in 1953 and which in 1998 promoted a partnership with Rolex that is strengthened each year. In its 68th edition, the long race that gives name to the event will leave Sanremo on June 16 to Genoa after taking as beacon the mythical lighthouse of the Giraglia rock.

The Italian Yacht Club has worked hard to establish a safe environment in which to celebrate the 2021 edition of the Rolex Giraglia, one of the references of the annual calendar of Mediterranean races. In an effort to adapt to the restrictions caused by the world situation, the organizing club has designed a responsible programme to ensure the safety of all participants.

The long, 241-mile (446 km) race around the iconic Giraglia rock remains the main event of the Rolex Giraglia. As it did in the 1953 inaugural edition, it will start at noon next June 16 from Sanremo (Italy), but this time it will end in Genoa, modifying one of the objectives of the original route, which would link a French port with another Italian to promote brotherhood between the two countries following the belligerents of World War II. The program of this 68th edition began with night races of about 60 nautical miles to Sanremo from Saint- Tropez and Genoa, an appetizer of what the fleet faces from Wednesday.

For ocean sailing standards, the Rolex Giraglia is compact and intense. Among its heterogeneous fleet, most face two full days at sea, while the fastest ships competing for victory in real time will need 24 hours or less, forcing the crews to work literally without rest. The current record of the race, 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds, was established in 2012 by the 100-foot supermaxi (30.5 meters) Esimit Europa 2.