Chasing the Breeze: RORC Griffin Teams Shine in Leg 2 of Il Giro
Leg 2 of Il Giro delivered high drama as 10 Figaro teams raced 135nm from Catanzaro to Siracusa. Early offshore leaders lost their advantage when an unexpected land breeze brought the inshore pack back into contention. A split in tactics saw half the fleet gamble on the Strait of Messina, while others stuck to the rhumb line. Light airs, glassy seas, and marine life made for surreal sailing. In a final surge of pressure, RORC’s VSAW held off OCC and Baltimore in a thrilling finish. The RORC Griffin programme secured a clean sweep of the podium after 37 hours of racing.
RORC Griffin Sailor Florence Singer reports from the race track:
A Tactical Tug-of-War
Leg 2 of Il Giro kicked off with a tight upwind start, with all ten Figaro 3s beating along the Italian coastline in a tightly bunched fleet. As the breeze faded throughout the afternoon, half the teams broke offshore, chasing better wind angles and hoping for an early advantage. Initially, this strategy worked, with the offshore boats establishing a slim lead.
Night Moves and Catch-Ups
As evening fell, the inshore teams found their luck. A surprise land breeze allowed them to claw back the lead overnight, condensing the fleet around Cape Spartivento. What followed was a tense light-air battle, as all ten boats searched for a whisper of breeze in glassy conditions, separated by just two miles.
To Strait or Not to Strait?
With a forecasted northerly breeze promised from the Strait of Messina, the fleet split. Some hugged the Calabrian coast hoping to intercept the new pressure. Meanwhile, five teams opted to gybe down the rhumb line toward Siracusa. The forecast was unreliable, and routing tools offered conflicting paths.
Pressure Pays Off
The rhumb line group began to find payoff with a steady 6-8 knots of breeze. A2s filled, crews stacked weight, and speeds improved. The RORC Griffin teams—VSAW, Baltimore, Ocean Cruising Club, and Royal Madras—led the charge with Marina Militare hot on their heels.
Wildlife and Shutdowns
Halfway to Sicily, the leaders hit a second shutdown. Boats ghosted side-by-side through the still water, entertained by dolphins, turtles, rays, and even a whale. Meanwhile, the teams who gambled on Messina finally found their breeze and surged forward at 7 knots.
A Five-Way Sprint
With 35 miles to go, the leading five were neck and neck. As new pressure filled, they raised their A2s for the final push. One team gambled early on the shift, and the rest followed. The sprint to Siracusa was on.
RORC Dominates the Podium
VSAW held on for the win, just minutes ahead of OCC and Baltimore. The three RORC Griffin teams secured a clean sweep of the podium after 37 hours and 135 miles of thrilling, tactical racing. Royal Madras and Göztope Yalken placed 5th and 6th, cementing a dominant showing.
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Leg 2 Final Results
1. Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee (RORC) - Elstrodt & Lourens - 37:22:36
2. Ocean Cruising Club (RORC) - Cresswell & Newsom - +03:25
3. Baltimore Sailing (RORC) - Singer & Henderson - +08:13
4. Marina Militare - Scontrino & Linares - +12:19
5. Royal Madras YC (RORC) - Boxall & Haslam - +14:48
6. Göztope Yalken (RORC) - Warhurst & Corbett - +49:25
7. Cirolo Nautico - Sciarra & Eusebi - +1:10:16
8. Yacht Club Sanremo - Comelli & Gigliardoni - +1:29:15
9. Aeronautica Militare - Bannetta & Simeoli - +1:30:57
10. Fiamme Gialle - Fornelli & Brizzi - +1:58:01
