Rolex Giraglia 2021 - New programme for the 68th edition of the offshore race
by Yacht Club Italiano 13 Apr 2021 18:18 BST
13-19 June 2021
Located just 1 nm off the northern tip of Corsica, the Giraglia Rock is one of offshore sailing's iconic landmarks © Rolex / Kurt Arrig
The Yacht Club Italiano, organiser of the 68th edition of the classic offshore race, makes it known that, because of the continuing extreme uncertainty internationally, and in particular on the southern French coast, because of regulations to limit the spread of Covid 19 - which would prevent adequate organisation of the event in St Tropez - it has decided, with the support of its partners, to modify the programme.
The Rolex Giraglia will thus start on Wednesday, June 16 from Sanremo over a route of 243 miles with a mark in French waters off Cannes before heading for the Giraglia islet and returning to the Yacht Club Italiano in Genoa, where the prize-giving will be held on Saturday, June 19.
The new programme thus excludes, exceptionally for this year, the coastal races which were held in the three days before the offshore classic. For 2021 there will be two-night approach races towards Sanremo. Two legs of about 60 miles, one starting from Genoa and one from St Tropez, to allow Italian and foreign crews to race to the port where the long race will start.
Here is the programme in brief:
Sunday, June 13:
- 7 PM: Start of the Genoa-Sanremo;
- 7 PM: Start of the Saint Tropez - Sanremo;
Monday 14: Arrival in Sanremo and start of registrations;
Tuesday 15: Registration of Rolex Giraglia participants and prize-giving for the previous day's races;
Wednesday 16: Start of the Rolex Giraglia offshore;
Saturday 19: Prizegiving at the Yacht Club Italiano;
The races are for IRC-ORC rated yachts of more than 9.14 m overall.
The official date for the publication of the Notice of Race and the opening of online registrations is set for April 24, 2021 on the website: rolexgiraglia.com
The Yacht Club Italiano and its partners feel that this new programme, with start and finish in Italy, planned because of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, will honour the tradition of the Rolex Giraglia, reinforcing friendly relations between Italy and France and facilitating the participation of crews from Italy and abroad. And, especially in a complex moment such as the present, will reinforce the sharing of the ideals of the sport of yachting, of solidarity at sea and the competitive spirit.