Crichton's day

Alfa Romeo ahead on IRC as inshore races conclude at Giraglia Rolex Cup

The third day of inshore races drew to a close here today in St. Tropez with very light winds and a race that reaffirmed the positions of yesterday's leaders. In the IRC class, Alfa Romeo's lead never faltered as she finished the race in 1st position, 12 minutes ahead of Wild Oats XI who ended up finishing third in the race after Magic Carpet Squared took second place on corrected time. The overall standings see Alfa Romeo in the top position, followed by Magic Carpet Squared in second and Wild Oats XI in third. In the IMS Class Group A, Edimetra VI came first overall, followed by Atalanta II and Nikimar who took second and third overall respectively. Group B saw Calima take first overall, followed by Citta' Di Genova in second and Lima Golf 3 in third.

It was the last day of the 2007 Giraglia Rolex Cup inshore races here in Saint Tropez and tensions were high as the leaders of each class set out on the water. The start for the IRC class and the IMS Class Group A was at 11:15 due to favourable weather conditions early in the day. As the Maxis rapidly left the bay, Alfa Romeo was at the head of the group, leading the fleet into the 30-mile course along the coast which was later shortened due to a complete lack of wind. This lead never faltered, as Alfa Romeo was also the first of the IRC class to return to St. Tropez.

"The best moment of the day was getting the gun at the end of the race," said Alfa Romeo's owner Neville Crichton. "We had a good race today with a good start. That made the difference as we made our way around the course and we had about a 4.5 stand at every mark." Wild Oats and Magic Carpet trailed behind at a long distance. "Well I think they were about 12 minutes behind," commented Crichton. "We broke free on the finish line. We are now going to race the Giraglia. We're going straight to Genoa and then we'll turn around and sail to Palma."

Aboard Magic Carpet Squared, Maud Fontenoy was able to experience the difference between a long regatta and a short course, working perfectly with the crew on board to finish with an overall 2nd. With a position in 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd in the three respective inshore races, Lindsay Owen Jones should be satisfied with the week's results and his Magic Carpet Squared is a favourite candidate for the offshore Giraglia Race set to start tomorrow.

Today's races saw the first part of this weeklong regatta come to a close as the focus now shifts towards the second part of the Giraglia Rolex Cup. Tomorrow will see the start of the offshore race, now into its 55th year and one of the most popular regattas in southern Europe. The Giraglia Race is a famous 243-mile course that takes the boats from the Gulf of St Tropez, southwest along the French coast, around the island of Levant, before crossing the Ligurian Sea to the Giraglia Rock just north of Corsica before finishing in front off Genoa. The Giraglia Rock is one of yacht racing's most famous landmarks, lending her name and serving as the turn mark for this now classic regatta.

At the end of the offshore race trophies and prizes are will be awarded to the top three yachts in each class based on corrected time. The first boat to round the Giraglia Rock will be awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy, the Rolex Trophy and the Rene Levainville Trophy are awarded to the yacht that wins line honours, and the Giraglia Rolex Cup will be awarded to the boat with the best corrected time overall for the long race.

The weather forecasts remain as varied and as unpredictable as ever, with very light breezes of 4-6 knots forecasted for tomorrow from east south-easterly directions in the morning that shift to south-westerly winds in the afternoon. One never knows what the weather will do for the Giraglia Race but the start is tentatively scheduled for 12 noon tomorrow.

Whatever the weather conditions may bring tomorrow, participants will gather tonight at La Citadelle on the hill overlooking St.Tropez for the prize giving and gala dinner. Prizes are to be awarded to the best-placed yachts from the past three days of inshore racing.

Aside from most of the yachts that have competed in the inshore racing this week, a number of new arrivals have joined the fleet for the Giraglia Race, bring total entries to 182 at the time of going to press, although inscriptions are open until 6pm so the total number of participants is sure to continue rising.

Overall Results for the inshore races

IMS Class Groupe A (Top 3)
1. Edimetra VI - Ernesto Gismondi c/o Cemate - Wally 65
2. Atalanta II - Carlo Puri Negri - Ferr 70 Racer Mod
3. Nikimar - Christophe Picard - Farr 52OD

IMS Class Groupe B (Top 3)
1. Calima - Javier Pujol - Proto
2. Citta' Di Genova - Maurizo Postani / Orzapoggia Sailing - VROLJK 37
3. Lima Golf 3 - Giorgio Gobbo - Mescal 31 Mod

IRC Class (Top 3)
1. Alfa Romeo - Neville Crichton - Super Maxi
2. Magic Carpet - Lindsay Owen Jones - Wally 94.2
3. Wild Oats XI - Robert Oatley - Super Maxi

Overall Results on Corrected Time (IMS System) - Giraglia Rolex Cup Race 3

IMS Class Group A (Top 3)
1. Magic Simca - Laurent Lavaysse - IMX40 - 04:08:49
2. Aria TX Active - Alberto Franchella - Comet 41S - 04:14:00
3. Fast Wave 3 - Laurent Charmy - 04:17:22

IMS Class Group B (Top 3)
1. Citta' Di Genova - Maurizo Postani / Orzapoggia Sailing - Vroljk 37 - 04:08:33
2. Calima - Javier Pujol - Proto - 04:09:32
3. Almogaver Ikks - Antoine Illies - X-332 - 04:12:18

IRC Class (Top 3)
1. Alfa Romeo - Neville Crichton - Super Maxi - 4h35min et 31s
2. Magic Carpet - Lindsay Owen Jones - Wally 94.2 - 4h42min et 16s
3. Wild Oats XI - Robert Oatley - Super Maxi - 4h30min et 15s