Loro Piana Giraglia

A classic event with French-Italian origins, the Rolex Giraglia highlights the sporting and maritime attributes of these two cultures, with a dash of prestige and glamour thrown in to which they both aspire.

The idea took root in a Parisian bistro in 1952, when Beppe Croce, President of Yacht Club Italiano (YCI), René Levainville, President of Yacht Club de France (YCF) and Franco Gavagnin imagined how a sports event could rekindle good relations between the two countries in the wake of the Second World War.

In 1953, 22 boats lined up on the start. In 1997, it received a significant boost with the arrival of an important new sponsor and change of name to the Giraglia Rolex Cup. In 2002, the Société Nautique joined the YCI and YCF as organisers and extended registration to new categories of sailboats. Today, 300 take part.

Starting from San Remo (Italy) for a passage race to Saint-Tropez then returning to Genoa (Italy) via the Giraglia Rock off Corsica, the race, now shortened to Rolex Giraglia, attracts prestigious yachts such as the classic Swans, the ultra-modern Wally class and Maxis among others. On the programme when they are in Saint-Tropez are three days of 25nm inshore races in the bay, ending with a big party in the Citadel to bring the crews together before they set off for Genoa.

In 2024 a new partner appears and the race becomes “Loro Piana Giraglia”