Rolex Giraglia 2019 – One to remember

An enthralling edition of the Rolex Giraglia concluded on Saturday 15 June with the final prizegiving hosted by the Yacht Club de Monaco. Contested by 243 international yachts the 2019 Rolex Giraglia offshore race proved to be one of the fastest in recent memory with all finishers arriving in under 40 hours. Recipients of Rolex timepieces were Alex Schaerer’s Maxi 72 Caol Ila R as the overall winner on corrected time and George David’s 88-ft maxi Rambler having secured line honours. As crews arrived at the resplendent Yacht Club de Monaco, it provided an opportunity to reflect on the race’s enduring and unique appeal. Rolex, a supporter of yachting since the 1950s, has been a close and committed partner of the event since 1998.

A total of 297 international yachts, and nearly 3,000 sailors, took part across the weeklong competition. Sporting highlights included the three days of inshore racing off Saint-Tropez and the 241 nautical mile offshore race to Monaco. Very few sailing events command such large participation nor comprise such a diverse programme, uniting intense competition, majestic locations and convivial social events. 

The Rolex Giraglia, which celebrated its 67th edition in 2019, includes one of the most renowned offshore races in the Mediterranean. Following an overnight race from Sanremo the fleet gathers in the harbour of Saint-Tropez for three days of inshore competition before embarking on a 241-nautical mile offshore race via the Giraglia, a rocky outcrop off the northern tip of Corsica, to this year’s finish Port of Monaco.