The 2022 Rolex Giraglia offshore race is a wrap – and what an epic contest it was. A 140-strong fleet returned to Saint-Tropez for this year’s regatta; the 69th edition of the event. 
With an elapsed time of 34 hours, seven minutes and 17 seconds, With an elapsed time of 34 hours, seven minutes and 17 seconds, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones’s Wallycento won line honours with Magic Carpet Cubed. 
The historic competition, partnered by Rolex since 1998, is a week-long event which kicked off in the picturesque French town. And the offshore race follows on from a competitive three-day inshore series. The event was heralded with light winds, and due to these conditions the Race Committee shortened the 241 nautical mile event, and the fleet headed directly to the Giraglia rock, bypassing the short leg west of Saint-Tropez to La Fourmigue.
Those competing tacked and jibed up and around the Giraglia rock, situated just one nautical mile from the northern tip of Corsica, and then navigated the last leg to the finish line, off the Yacht Club Italiano’s base in Genoa. 
ARCA SGR, the Italian maxi skippered by Furio Benussi, headed the fleet for most of the race, and seemed favourite to take line honours for the second year running. However, during the final stretch, Magic Carpet Cubed found sufficient breeze to claim top spot. 
As Magic Carpet Cubed the bulk of the fleet were still on the approach to the Giraglia rock, some 83-nautical miles from Genoa.