44 footer claims Giraglia Rolex Cup

As Magic Carpet squeaks in ahead of the Mini Maxis to take line honours

Laurent Camprubi’s 44ft Alizée is the overall winner of the 2013 Giraglia Rolex Cup while Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’ Wallycento Magic Carpet 3 secured line honours.

The 61st Giraglia Rolex Cup saw 184 yachts from 14 countries competing.

Completing the 243 nm course from Saint-Tropez, France to Genoa, Italy in 31 hours, 35 minutes and 48 seconds, the recently launched Magic Carpet 3 staved off competition from the seven-strong fleet of Mini Maxis to claim line honours. In the process, Owen-Jones avenged the disappointment of his 2005 Giraglia Rolex Cup, when his previous Magic Carpet lost to North Sails Sportswear having led to within 300m of the finish line.

“We didn’t do anything radical,” explained Owen-Jones on arrival at the Yacht Club Italiano in Genoa. “We knew which side of the course we wanted to be on. As the first boat we had to cover all our bets. We stayed pretty central and that played out well.”

Magic Carpet 3’s approach forced the chasing Mini Maxis to gamble in the search for stronger breeze on the last leg from the Giragia rock. While one group – including Bella Mente (USA) and Stig (ITA) – sailed right of the rhumb line, Rán 2 (GBR) and Alegre (GBR) shifted left, a calculation which almost paid off. Niklas Zennström’s Rán 2 finished just four minutes shy of Magic Carpet 3 with Andres Soriano’s new Alegre arriving a mere two minutes later. Five boats arrived within 30 minutes of the leader, a demonstration of the tight competition at the front of the fleet.

Ultimately the finishing times of the leading boats – a long way shy of the race record set by Esimit Europa 2 (SLO) in 2012 of 14 hours, 56 minutes and 16 seconds – were insufficient to mount a serious challenge for the overall handicap prize. That honour went to the 11-strong French crew on Alizée.

“It’s a great surprise. At the Giraglia rock we knew we were well placed in class as we rounded with Natalia,” explained a delighted owner, Laurent Camprubi. “After that we made the decision to go west and they went east and the conditions proved more favourable for our arrival into Genoa. We never thought about winning overall. We concentrated on the race and our direct competition. It is reward for our great team spirit. We are a really nice mix of ages with the team including my son and his friends.”

Magic Carpet 3 and Alizée were rewarded for their efforts with Rolex timepieces and Alizée the Giraglia Rolex Cup Trophy at the final prizegiving at the Yacht Club Italiano in held on Friday evening.

Line Honours Giraglia Rolex Cup: Magic Carpet 3 (GBR), Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, 31 hours, 35 minutes, 48 seconds

Overall Results Giraglia Rolex Cup
1. Alizée (FRA), Laurent Camprubi
2. Tixwave (GBR), Tixwave
3. Natalia (ROU), KDF Energy SRL

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