YCM members dominated the Giraglia Offshore rankings, having already excelled in the inshore races held in Saint-Tropez. Sailors from the Yacht Club de Monaco demonstrated their high level of skill in the event’s flagship race from Saint-Tropez to Genoa via the legendary Giraglia rock.
With podium finishes in real-time, a victory in the combined rankings and top places in several categories, Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, Paul Cayard and Benoît de Froidmont once again flew the Monaco flag high against an international fleet of 117 boats.
Launched in 1953, the race commonly known as “The Giraglia” ranks among the Mediterranean’s greatest classics. This 73rd edition brought together nearly a thousand sailors from 45 nations for a 241-nautical-mile course from Saint-Tropez via the Giraglia rock to Genoa.
Although predicted to be a highly tactical race due to light winds, it ultimately delivered a faster than expected scenario. A steady breeze bore the leaders away as far as the Corsican rock before giving way to many areas of flat calms in the Gulf of Genoa.
Having already made his mark in recent seasons at major international events—most notably the Admiral’s Cup—Giovanni Lombardi Stronati continues his impressive run of form aboard the Wallyrocket51 Django WR. Finishing 6th in real-time against the fleet’s largest Maxis, he also secured 3rd place in the IRC category and 3rd place in IRC 1 for the offshore race.
It was down to this consistency throughout the week that the boat won the combined IRC 1 ranking of all the results achieved in both the inshore races and the offshore race. A well-deserved victory that confirms the competitiveness of Django WR in all formats.
Aboard the ClubSwan 80 My Song, Paul Cayard delivered one of the standout performances of this year’s Giraglia, with a superb 3rd place in real time. A major figure in the sailing world, winner of the Whitbread Round the World Race, America’s Cup finalist and current Star Class World Champion, the American sailor (who received an honorary YCM Award last December) was competing in the Giraglia for the first time. His crew also finished 2nd in the combined IRC 0 Maxi A standings and 6th in the IRC 0 category, in addition to 16th in the overall IRC rankings.
As for Benoît de Froidmont, he once again demonstrated his remarkable consistency at major Mediterranean events, crossing the finish line in 19th place in real time. Sailing on Wallyño, he finished 4th in the IRC 0 class for the offshore race before securing 3rd place in the combined IRC 0 Maxi B standings—another top-tier performance that builds on the results achieved in recent years.
As well as individual performances, this Giraglia Offshore race highlights the depth of the Monaco collective. Giovanni Lombardi Stronati took top honours in the combined IRC 1 ranking, Paul Cayard secured a podium finish in real time, and Benoît de Froidmont added another podium to his track record, while Adrien Follin finished 17th in the combined IRC 1 ranking on Give me Five.
YCM members dominated the rankings with an ease that confirms their ability to compete against the best international crews.
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