! Saint-Tropez June 14, 2017 THE GIRAGLIA ROLEX CUP OFFSHORE RACE BEGINS TODAY WITH 209 YACHTS ON THE STARTING LINE The brilliant colours of a fleet of 209 yachts harking from a total of 25 different nations filled the Bay of Saint-Tropez as a crowd gathered by the waterside to watch the start of the offshore race that culminates a week of sailing at the Giraglia Rolex Cup. Conditions are predicted to be light and the record of 14 hours and 56 minutes set by Esimit Europa 2 in 2012 is in little danger of being challenged this year. The Giraglia Rolex Cup, partnered by Rolex and organised by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, includes one of the top offshore competitions in the Med. Sir Peter Ogden, a passionate racer and frequent Giraglia Rolex Cup competitor, comments: “At 241nm, the Giraglia is the perfect offshore race as far as I’m concerned. It’s long enough to be challenging, but not exhausting. Rounding the Giraglia Rock is an exceptional moment no matter what time of day you do it. After that it’s all eyes on Genoa and arrival at the Yacht Club Italiano. Hopefully in first place!” he concludes with a laugh. The GRC offshore race is part of the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge, a four-event series that rewards yachts that compete in top offshore races that are selected by Maxi owners. Boats racing in the offshore portion of this world famous event will be divided into IRC and ORC Classes O, A and B. There will also be a Giraglia per Due Class for two member crews, a Giraglia Solo Class and a Giraglia Mini 650 Class. The Yacht Club Italiano’s Race Committee sounded the start for the first of four Classes at 12:45 and the boats were off for an adventure that will take them from Saint-Tropez to Genoa, via the Giraglia rock off Corsica. Skill, weather conditions, rating and a bit of luck will all play their part in the final results. The final prize awarding ceremony for winners of line honours and top placers in other Classes, will be held at the Yacht Club Italiano’s club house in Porticciolo Duca degli Abruzzi in Genoa on June 17th at noon. ROLEX PRESS ROOM Media, click here to view, select and download copyright-free high resolution images. ABOUT YACHT CLUB ITALIANO Founded in Genoa in 1879, the Yacht Club Italiano is the oldest yacht club in the Med. With its main clubhouse in Porticciolo Duca degli Abruzzi in Genoa, YCI has always had the primary objectives of spreading yachting culture and organising regattas. The Rolex Capri Sailing Week, the Giraglia Rolex Cup and the Rolex MBA’s Conference and Regatta are just a few of the international regattas that the YCI organises. The Coppa Carlo Negri, the Trofeo SIAD Bombola d’oro and the Millevele are all events that characterise the YCI’s present and show the way towards its future, a future of fun and friendly sportsmanship on the water. ABOUT THE GIRAGLIA ROLEX CUP The Giraglia Rolex Cup was created in 1953 as a 241nm offshore challenge. 2017 marks the 65th edition of this Mediterranean classic that has grown to include feeder races from Sanremo and Marseille, inshore races in the Bay of Saint-Tropez and the famous offshore race from St Tropez to Genoa. The GRC is organised by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, with support from the Yacht Club Sanremo, the Yacht Club de France, and the Cercle Nautique et Touristique du Lacydon. The Giraglia Rolex Cup has been partnered by Rolex since 1998. MEDIA CONTACTS YACHT CLUB ITALIANO ROLEX Clare Mahon Giles Pearman [email protected] [email protected] +39 348 4943675 +41 79 763 37 34 .