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Reichel/Pugh Designs Sweep 2015 Giraglia Podium

June 20, 2015 · Posted by kate

Photo courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi / ROLEX

axis-drone-Giraglia-Rolex-Cup copy

SAINT-TROPEZ, FRANCE – GENOVA, ITALY (June 20th 2015) – A record fleet of 240 international yachts contested the 2015 Giraglia Rolex Cup, an edition ultimately defined by victories for the fleet’s two largest yachts. Igor Simčič’s 100-ft Maxi Esimit Europa 2 (SLO) sealed line honours while the Giraglia Rolex Cup trophy awarded to the overall race winner was claimed by Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’s Wally Cento Magic Carpet 3 (GBR).

Following line honours victory in 2013, Owen-Jones can add handicap success in the Mediterranean’s oldest offshore race to a proud list of sailing achievements. Magic Carpet 3 was the second yacht to cross the finish line located outside the Yacht Club Italiano’s base in Genoa, completing the race just over an hour after Esimit.

Igor Simčič’s Esimit Europa 2 (SLO) win secured her 38th consecutive line honors victory and confirmed her dominance of line honours at the Giraglia Rolex Cup securing the R/P-designed and McConaghy-built 100’ Super Maxis’ eighth Line Honors victory in the offshore race of the Giraglia Rolex Cup (3 victories as Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo and 5 victories as Esimit Europa).

The 100-ft Esimit Europa 2 led from the outset of the 243-nm offshore race from Saint-Tropez to Genoa finishing on Thursday at 17:27 CEST in an elapsed time of 29 hours, 11 minutes and 58 seconds. The light winds which characterized the 63rd edition of the race ensured that Esimit was never able to mount a serious challenge on the impressive race record she set back in 2012 (14 hours, 56 minutes, 16 seconds). Nevertheless, both owner and skipper were delighted with another victory. “It means we still have a very fast boat and that everything went well,” said owner Igor Simčič. “We have confirmation that in the Mediterranean this boat is unbeatable even with the arrival of newer boats. We won in strong wind in 2012, and in light wind this time. We have a very good boat and a crew which gives everything and this is the result.”

Second Overall in IRC was Follin’s Give Me Five (FRA) of the Reichel/Pugh-designed Melges 32 class – in production since 2005 with over 150 boats launched.

Giraglia Rolex Cup Offshore Race (243-nm) IRC Overall:
1. Magic Carpet 3 (GBR), Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones
2. Melges 32 Give Me Five (FRA), Adrien Follin
3. Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), Igor Simčič

Line honours winner: Esimit Europa 2 (29 hours, 11 minutes and 58 seconds)

Also part of the fleet were five of the fastest Maxi 72’s in the world. George Sakellaris’s Reichel/Pugh designed Maxi 72 Shockwave was the first to finish of this Class and was also the elapsed time winner. Shockwave won the 2010 Giraglia Race overall under the original ownership of Neville Crichton.

Video highlights from the 2015 Giraglia Rolex Cup are available to view here.

Builders
Esimit Europa 2 by McConaghy / Magic Carpet 3 by Wally / Give Me Five by Melges Performance Sailboats

About the Giraglia Rolex Cup
Running from Saint-Tropez to Genoa, the offshore race is the Mediterranean’s oldest and welcomed a record fleet of near 250 yachts, ranging from 30-100 ft, from 17 countries and territories – Austria, Belgium, the British Virgin Islands, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland the United Kingdom and the United States: a demonstration of the race’s burgeoning international reputation. In addition to the strong international contingent, a large proportion of the fleet is, as per tradition, made up of Corinthian French and Italian crews, with the competition noted for its spirit of friendship and camaraderie. The Giraglia Rolex Cup has been partnered by Rolex since 1998. The event opens Rolex’s European yachting season and will be followed by August’s Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the world’s most famous offshore races.

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Source Regatta News
Map courtesy of Giraglia Rolex Cup Media

Esimit Europa 2 Takes Seventh Line Honors Victory in Giraglia Offshore Race

June 19, 2014 · Posted by kate

Photo courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi / ROLEX

axis-drone-Giraglia-Rolex-Cup copy

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