Rolex Giraglia 2021 comes to an end, all the prizes awarded at the Yacht Club Italiano

Rolex Giraglia 2021 comes to an end, all the prizes awarded at the Yacht Club Italiano © Yacht Club Italiano

The prize-giving at the headquarters of the Yacht Club Italiano brought to an end the 68th edition of the Rolex Giraglia.

Many prizes were awarded and everybody was very satisfied for the success of this offshore classic of the Mediterranean, which this year was in an unprecedented "all Italian" setting.

After the prize-giving, the last boat said goodbye to the waters of Genoa to return to their home ports. The many participants will remember the enthusiasm for a spectacular week, culminating with an offshore race that rewarded the smaller yachts, but provided great thrills for everyone. The wind was not lacking all along the course and the winner in real time - Furio Benussi's Arca SGR - completed the 241 mile course in 26 hours, eight minutes and 10 seconds.

The last to finish, Salvatore Picci's Moody 38 Attenti al Lupo, took 63 hours, 49 minutes and seven seconds. In between these two, the entire fleet of the Rolex Giraglia with its great spirit that made a joyful contribution, through sport and sailing, to a small step back towards normality.

At the prize-giving today were all the representatives of the clubs involved (Yacht Club Sanremo, Société Nautique de Saint Tropez and Yacht Club Italiano), showing the team spirit which, from an organisational and sporting point of view, involved and united 33 different nations represented by the crews there for the 68thedition. At the end of the prize-giving ceremony it was arrivederci until next year when the start will be in the waters of Saint-Tropez.

Here are the winners in the various classes of the Rolex Giraglia 2021:

• The Timone/Ruota Dentata Challenge Trophy and Rolex Submariner watch for the overall winner in the IRC Class of the 68th Rolex Giraglia were won by: IMAGINE - Gilles Argellies
• The Rolex Trophy, Yacht Master watch and the Levainville Trophy for the winner in real time were won by: Arca SGR - Adalberto Miani
• The special prize donated by the YCF and the YCI for the best placed Navy boat: Capriccio II - Marine Nationale Francaise
• The Highest Scoring IMA member trophy: Wallino - Benoit de Froidmont
• ORC Class First placed and "Nucci Novi" Challenge Trophy: Anywave Safilens - Alberto Leghissa
• The "Sergio Guazzotti" Challenge Trophy for the first ranked overall in the Rolex Giraglia IRC and ORC classes owned by a member of the Yacht Club Italiano went to: Itacentodue (Class Irc) - Adriano Calvini
• The "Beppe Croce" Trophy for the first yacht to round the Giraglia islet was won by: Arca SGR - Adalberto Miani

ORC Class
First place: Audace - Beppe Agliardi

IRC Class
First place: Jubilee - Gerald Boess

First place and winner of the "Marco Paleari" Challenge Trophy: Voloira IV - Francesco Zucchi and Roberto Martinez.

The YCI Classic Trophy and the YCI Heritage "Mario Gallini" Challenge for the first ranked classic yacht in real-time and the first ranked overall in the largest grouping went to: Eugenia V - Henry Cochin.

View all the rankings here...

Social distancing and masks didn't stop the crews and enthusiasts enjoying to the fall the final event of the Rolex Giraglia. As is traditional the event included the projection of the official Rolex video which drew applause and a few tears of emotion from participants in the long race.

A combination of images, colours, glimpses and music from a race that by now has its traditions: the speeches on the dais and winners summoned in three languages (Italian, French, English) by Club Manager Emanuele Bassino, the presenting at the end of the event of the red and white cushions recalling the livery of the Yacht Club Italiano. And then the plate of pasta for all those present (this year it was al pesto) accompanied by ice cold beer drawn at the centre of the village and by hot focaccia baked in the main hangar of the headquarters and then, after the presentation of the cups and the sought-after watches, the final photograph of all the staff of the Yacht Club Italiano. Which for more than a week had worked non-stop but with a smile on their faces, a sincere one, because they knew they had left behind them to year is complicated by Covid and to be back in a leading role on the stage of great international sailing.