Yacht Style – July 2019

RACING MED-STYLE

“IN RUDE HEALTH”

N

autor’s Swan joined the fleet last

year by including it in their Swan

One Design circuit – The Nations

Trophy – and encouraged non one-

design Swans to participate. The yard had 22

yachts taking part this summer, and is looking

for suitable venues in Asia and America.

A spokesman said simply: “This is one

of the Med’s oldest and most loved events. It

has evolved continuously since 1953. With

so many yachts competing across all the

component parts of this varied and spirited

contest, it is an event in rude health”.

Rolex, a supporter of yachting since the

1950s, and a closely committed partner of

the event from 1998, called it “a resounding

demonstration of why the Giraglia has

endured”.

The premier Swiss watch brand also

sponsors the biennial Rolex China Sea Race,

which next year reaches its 30th edition,

and the annual Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race,

starting its 75th event on 26 December.

Neither are quite like the Giraglia, which

has seen many well-known Asia-Pacific-based

yachtsmen compete in the past, including

some from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and

particularly from Australia.

Laid-back Saint-Tropez offers an initial

three days of inshore racing, but of course this

Two hundred and ninety seven yachts, nearly 3,000 sailors, a lovely

week in Saint-Tropez, followed by a short 241 nautical miler around

Giraglia Rock off Corsica's north coast, to the finale at Monaco

Yacht Club. This is offshore racing that only the Med can provide.

WORDS BRUCE MAXWELL PHOTOS STUDIO BORLENGHI

Magic Carpet Cubed, a Wally Centro, passes the J122 Noisy Oyster soon after the staggered start

RACING Rolex Giraglia