Giraglia, boom in entries for the Queen of the Mediterranean

Record numbers of participants in the Rolex Middle Sea Race (99 boats starting), the 151 Miglia (135 boats) and the Giraglia Rolex Cup starting tomorrow, with 242 boats lining up on the starting line. Owners’ desire to grind out miles seems to be unstoppable.

ARRIVAL IN MONTECARLO
The 62nd edition of the Giraglia, the queen of regattas in the Mediterranean, brings with it a big news: the destination of the “long” is set in Monte Carlo, to pay homage to the new headquarters of the Yacht Club de Monaco (twinned with the Yacht Club Italiano, organizer of the regatta since 1953). It will start tomorrow at midnight with the San Remo-Saint Tropez transfer race (59 miles). Coastal will be staged in the waters of the French city from Sunday 15 to Tuesday 17. Finally, the “highlight” event, the 240-mile offshore race, on the Saint Tropez-Giraglia-Munich route, starting on Wednesday 18.

SUPERBOATS ON THE CATWALK
Many superboats at the start: beginning with Olly Cameron’s Mills 72 Alegre, via Artemide patron Ernesto Gismondi’s Wally 65 Edimetra and the Reichel Pugh Esimit Europa II of Igor Simcic, who will try to break the record set by herself in 2012, 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds (less than half the time it took the real winners of the first edition in 1953, Ea and Amity, who crossed the finish line at the photo-finish after 30 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds of sailing). And then again Giorgio Marsiaj’s Swan 70 Flyiing Dragon. Enrico Gorziglia’s Wally 60 Good Job Guys, Baltic 78 Lupa of London, Lucio Crispo’s Felci 61 Maya, Austin Van t Wout’s Contest 72 PH3, Lionel Pean’s Volvo 70 SFS and Roberto Tomasini Grinover’s JV72 Robertissima III.

FOR “NORMAL” SAILORS
But above all, the Giraglia is a great sailing festival where anyone aboard their “normal” boat can try to win. In fact, in that regard, there is still time for you to grab the fine book by Davide Besana, renowned sailor-cartoonist, “How to Win the Giraglia.” You can find it here.

(photo regattanews.com – Rolex/Kurt Arrigo)

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