The Maxi Black Jack 100, owned and helmed by Yacht Club de Monaco member Remon Vos, claimed line honours at the 20th Palermo-Montecarlo. Skippered by Tristan Le Brun, also a YCM member, the boat was first to cross the finish in front of Port Hercule at 02:52 this morning after 38 hours 53 minutes 16 seconds of racing, smashing the boat’s own record set last year (44h 34min 24s). It means that on Sunday evening at prize-giving the team will lift the Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita Trophy for the second year in a row. “This win is incredibly special. After our record-breaking performance in 2024, returning to defend our title in the anniversary edition makes this achievement even more memorable,”, said Remon Vos.
Destiny also played a role as both the Palermo-Montecarlo and Black Jack 100 are celebrating 20th anniversaries. “The race and the boat have evolved over the years. Black Jack is not the same as it was 20 years ago. We’ve made significant changes. It was shortened aft, lengthened forward, widened,” explained Tristan Le Brun. He has nothing but praise for the strength of the crew and the owner’s commitment: “We have a great crew that don’t make mistakes and a fantastic error-free machine. We had favourable weather at least for a Line Honours victory and to beat our own record. We also took a key decision in opting to sail east of Corsica”.
Over the past 20 years, the Palermo-Montecarlo has established itself as a major event in the Mediterranean and today is on the programme for the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge; the Italian Offshore Championship organised by the Italian Sailing Federation; the Mediterranean Altura Trophy; the Owner of the Year Trophy; the Mediterranean Crewed Inshore and Offshore Trophy in IRC; and the Mediterranean Trophy Class40. A multiple registration that confirms an international reputation that attracts a high-level fleet.
