Giraglia Rolex Cup – Challenging conditions

by Kate Holmes on 13 Jun 2012 On the Giraglia Rolex Cup 2012 third day of racing competitors faced quite challenging conditions, with northeasterly winds of over 30 knots and heavy seas. A number of boats retired from the race with damage. Even Bronenosec couldn’t escape unscathed as their mainsail broke right after the start doing a quick gybe. The Swan 60 continued using a smaller sail, determined to complete the race and finishing top of Class 0 IRC.

Vladimir Liubomirov, Commodore, Yacht Club of Saint-Petersburg offered up his thoughts on today’s race:

'The team worked really well in the conditions and circumstances. We had a clean start; it was very unfortunate that our mainsail tore. In spite of this, it truly was great sailing out there today. We are looking forward to the offshore race. It is our first time racing in St Tropez and the friendly atmosphere shore side, combined with nice sailing makes this a great event.'

Tomorrow, a fleet of close to 170 yachts will depart on the Giraglia Race, a 242-nautical mile distance race from St Tropez to a turning mark at La Fourmigue, and onward via the Giraglia Rock at the northern tip of Corsica to the finish in the Italian port of Genoa.

Over and above its significance, the Giraglia Rolex Cup is also recognised for exemplifying two important cornerstones in the sport of offshore racing; team spirit and determination. The impressive history of the Giraglia Rolex Cup, uniting two opposing nations after the World War, reinforces its position as a truly international challenge.

As a team sport, yacht-racing crews competing in offshore must work together towards the common goal of completing the race. This shared motivation is a key attribute that must be in place from the very outset to the end of any campaign, from the preparation of the boat and personnel ahead of the start, to the management of equipment and the crew’s well-being during the race. Gazprom sponsored Bronenosec demonstrates too how team spirit even unites people separated by cultural boundaries and national borders, just as the Giraglia Rolex Cup was first dreamt up. Igor Frolov, Executive Director, Saint-Petersburg Yacht Club confirms:

'One of the things that you see in a team sport like sailing is that the sport itself actually transcends any cultural backgrounds the participants might have. We have crew on board from both Italy and Russia… the sailing is so much more important than where they come from. Their nationality is not an issue. Like any great sporting occasion, at the Giraglia Rolex Cup cultural differences are put aside while people play the sport because the sport is more important than anything else.'

As one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in Russia, Saint-Petersburg Yacht Club supported by Gazprom is a prime mover in encouraging team spirit across cultural divides. As the sport of sailing grows in Russia its internationalism penetrates the club and its activities.

The Giraglia Rolex Cup is organised by the Yacht Club Italiano, in conjunction with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez and the Yacht Club de Yacht Club of Saint-Petersburg Giraglia Rolex Cup