Support for the most prestigious nautical clubs and events has always been the cornerstone of Rolex's long relationship with sailing. The Rolex Giraglia and its co-founder, the Yacht Club Italiano (YCI), are excellent examples with an association dating back to 1998

The Rolex Giraglia this year celebrates its 70th anniversary and its 70th edition. Founded in 1953 to fraternize the French and Italian nautical communities after the Second World War, over the decades it has become a reference for sailing in the Mediterranean.

The YCI, founded in 1879 and based in the port of Genoa, is a renowned institution in the sailing world. The club's high reputation is based on the organization of national and international renowned races and its participation in the foundation of the Federazione Italiana Vela.

The Rolex Giraglia has grown in importance and complexity, and today includes the support of the Société Nautique de Saint- Tropez, with the picturesque port of Saint- Tropez as its headquarters. He shares essential elements with Les Voiles de Saint- Tropez, an annual event that brings together the best modern and classic sailing boats, and the French SailGP Sailing Grand Prix, in which the fast catamarans F50 participate.

The Rolex Giraglia 2023 begins on Saturday, June 10. The program will open an arrival race from Sanremo (Italy), especially popular among the Italian crews that make the journey to France in competition mode. They will follow three days of race in the Bay of Saint- Tropez. This competitive coastal series offers the crews the perfect opportunity to optimize their teamwork and tactics before the main test of the week, scheduled for Wednesday June 14: the 241-mile ocean race (446 km) to Genoa (Italy), passing through La Giraglia, the emblematic rocky island located north of Corsica that has reached legend status

ROLEX AND ITS RELATION TO THE WORLD OF VELA

Rolex has always been associated with activities motivated by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. In a natural way, Rolex has gravitated towards the elite of sailing, forming an alliance dating back to the 1950s with the most prestigious clubs, events, races and prominent sports figures such as the ocean pioneer Sir Francis Chichester or the most laureate Olympic regatist in history, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is the main sponsor of 15 of the most important international sailing events: From emblematic ocean races such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart (Australia) or the Rolex Fastnet Race (United Kingdom and France), going through high-level grand prix competition such as the Rolex TP52 World Championship or magnificent meetings such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (Italy) or the Rolex Swan Cup (Italy and Caribbean). It also supports the spectacular SailGP circuit, in which national teams compete on board F50 flying catamarans in some of the most impressive ports in the world. The close relationship of Swiss watchmaking with clubs such as the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the New York Yacht Club or the Royal Yacht Squadron is the basis of Rolex's enduring relationship with this exciting sport.