Jens Kattermann : Giraglia Rolex Cup St.Tropez, France / Genoa, Italy

Giraglia Rolex Cup St.Tropez, France / Genoa, Italy

Giraglia Rock | Photo credit: Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

The 2011 edition of the Giraglia Rolex Cup: 194 entrants for the offshore race; 20 countries and territories in attendance; around 2,200 competitors; numerous, challenging hours at sea; 18 hours 3 minutes 15 seconds the line honours record to beat; Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), the largest yacht on the roster at 30.5-metres/100-feet and the Vismara 34Manida (ITA), one of the smallest.

The 59^th Giraglia Rolex Cup, organised by the Yacht Club Italiano in conjunction with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, promises to maintain the finest traditions of this historic race as an eclectic fleet battle for one of the Mediterranean’s top sailing prizes. Three days of inshore racing will take place from 19 to 21 June before the offshore marathon commences on 22 June.

On the entry list there’s a healthy mix of consistent Giraglia campaigners such as Andres Soriano’s Alegre(GBR), Sir Peter Ogden’sJethou (GBR), and Leonardo Ferragamo’s Cuordileone (ITA); plus there is a bigger, faster Near Miss (SUI) for Franck Noël, an awe-inspiring new arrival in Brian Benjamin’s Maxi Racer/Cruiser Aegir II (GBR), a star-studded defending line honours champion in the aforementioned Esimit Europa 2, and, heavy-weight challengers in the 27.46m/90ft Med Spirit(FRA) and the 25.7m/85ft Roma (ITA), along with a host of smaller yachts harbouring ambitions of claiming the overall handicap prize.

Giraglia Rock | Photo credit: Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

Sea God’s Med Debut

For the crew of Aegir II, a brand new, 25.1m/82ft, state-of-the-art yacht constructed using cutting-edge aerospace technology and entirely in carbon, the event provides a significant challenge in preparing a relatively untried yacht for such fierce competition. Aegir II follows in the path of her sister project Aegir (GBR), last year’s Mini Maxi Cruising winner at the event. Team Leader Guy Barron and the Aegir II crew are in the midst of intense preparations:

“We plan to have three days practice before the first race - Aegir is still new to us, consequently, we have many jobs to do and things to learn about the boat.”

The yacht has been constructed for both leisure and competitive racing. The transition between modes will prove one of the more challenging aspects for the crew.

“We hope to make the change within three days,” explains Barron, “but as she is so new it may take about five days – we do not want to scratch the interior, so we have to be very careful removing tables and doors.”

Whilst the yacht will be making its event debut, most of the crew have experience in competing at the Giraglia Rolex Cup, which should make life a little easier.

“We won the cruising class last year in our old boat, so we have a lot to live up to within our own team,” continues Barron, “we are hoping to see the boat’s real performance potential and are all looking forward to the regatta, knowing that competition is normally close during both the inshore and offshore races.”

Ambitious Afterguard

The 100ft Esimit Europa 2 is the favourite to defend her line honours title. The yacht’s technology has been adjusted and improved and the personnel significantly refreshed, in particular the afterguard. The multi-titled Jochen Schümann is the team’s new skipper and will work in tandem with Juan Vila as navigator and Sidney Gavignet as tactician. Esimit Europa 2 will boast one of the most prestigious crew rosters ever to appear at the event.

Gavignet is enthusiastic about this new chapter in his proud sailing career:

“There are two things I am looking forward to in my future on board Esimit Europa 2 - the technical challenge and the people. On one side, I am obviously excited to sail on such a special boat; on the other, I am looking forward to working with people whom I have known for years, but have never sailed with yet. I feel that the mutual respect we have for each other can be a very good basis for successful collaboration”.

Endurance And Endeavour

Photo credit: Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

Immediately following the inaugural Rolex Volcano Race, an offshore adventure between Capri and the Aeolian Islands, the Giraglia Rolex Cup is another significant battle of endurance in the Mediterranean waters, a test of stamina which fittingly commences a week after another top draw Rolex-sponsored event culminated. The 24 Hours of Le Mans took place between 11-12 June and the parallels with the Giraglia Rolex Cup are perhaps more poignant than they may first appear.

For the 243-nautical miles covered at the Giraglia Rolex Cup, read the potential 3,350 miles covered by each team finishing the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two events are true tests of endeavour and require participants to organise themselves with military-esque precision for their respective examinations. Both events involve pushing hard through the night, and adapting to the perils of the weather. Teams must conquer these elements before worrying about their competitors.

Andres Soriano, owner and skipper of Alegre, line honours and overall winner at the Rolex Volcano Race, and former line honours winner of the Giraglia Rolex Cup, explains his approach to the trial: