The 20th anniversary of the Palermo-Montecarlo concluded as always at the Yacht Club de Monaco in the heart of the Principality with a packed and festive awards ceremony. Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this offshore race links the Gulf of Mondello (Palermo) to the Principality of Monaco on a 500 nautical mile course. “I never imagined that we would enjoy 20 editions and with numbers always growing. This race continues to surprise sailors every year; it has become an unmissable event,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.
On Tuesday 19 August, of the 45 boats registered representing nine nationalities, 36 started, 27 of which arrived within the time limit, with nine withdrawing. As forecast, after the first few miles off Sicily in an east-northeast wind, the fleet then sailed for much of the first 24 hours in a strong southerly, reaching impressive average speeds. Very quickly, the big Monaco-flagged Maxi Black Jack 100 (30m), owned by Remon Vos and skippered by Tristan Le Brun, both YCM members, left the fleet behind. Fresh from a few major victories, including the recent Rolex Fastnet Race, they again proved their prowess.
Then it was all change on the weather front. While the Maxi benefited from favourable conditions up Corsica’s east coast, the rest had to deal with a Mistral from the west kicking in with gusts up to 40 knots and scattered thunderstorms. The first ten boats crossed the finish in these conditions on Thursday 21 August. The bulk of the fleet filled the quays in Monaco the following days (the finish closed officially on Sunday 24 August at midday). Strong winds, first downwind then reaching, waves up to 3m high, numerous manoeuvres and sail changes, and everyone taking turns at the helm to rest and keep clear heads, delighted the participants. “The Palermo-Montecarlo started as a gamble and today, after 20 editions, it’s become a regular event, that attracts the best sailors in the offshore racing world, as well as many lesser-known crews, boats and clubs, all because of a passion for the sea and adventure,” says Agostino Randazzo, President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia.
The awards ceremony was held at the Yacht Club de Monaco, attended by Race Director Giancarlo Crevatin, Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary and Director of YCM, Olivier Campana, Deputy Director at YCM, Armelle Roudant Lafon, Director of Monaco Maritime Affairs, Lieutenant-Colonel Maxime Yvrard, Monaco’s Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers, and, from Palermo, Agostino Randazzo, President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, and Alessandro Anello, Councillor for Sport from Palermo City Council.
The crew on Remon Vos’s Black Jack 100 skippered by Tristan Lebrun (YCM) won the Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita Trophy (first in real-time) for the second year in a row. No Regret (ICE 52 – CV Sicilia), skippered by Edoardo Bonanno, with a crew of young sailors from Palermo won the Angelo Randazzo Trophy (first in ORC corrected time). Others also received prizes during the ceremony:
ORC:
1) No Regret (ICE52), Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Edoardo Bonanno
2) Blue Moon Arkas (TP52), Turkish Sailing Federation, Bernard Arkas
3) South Kensington (First 35), CC Roggero di Lauria, Massimo Licata D’Andrea
IRC:
1) No Regret (ICE52), Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Edoardo Bonanno
2) Arkas (TP52), Turkish Sailing Federation, Bernard Arkas
3) South Kensington (First 35), CC Roggero di Lauria, Massimo Licata D’Andrea
ORC group podiums:
ORC 1
1) No Regret (ICE52), Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Edoardo Bonanno
2) Blue Moon Arkas (TP52), Turkish Sailing Federation, Bernard Arkas
3) Sagola Lauria (Farr 45), CC Roggero di Lauria, Fornich-Battistoni-Sorrentino
ORC 2
1) South Kensington (First 35), CC Roggero di Lauria, Massimo Licata D’Andrea
2) K’Mena (J99), YC Monaco, Eric Muller
3) Overdose Charlie (Dehler 36), CN Marseille, Luc Baradat
The Emanuele Bruno awarded to the first Sicilian yacht club boat to cross the finish in Monaco, was won by Manticore, a Mylius 60 belonging to Franz Baruffaldi Preis from Circolo Velico Sferracavallo, who also led the Maxi fleet in corrected time. Matteo Uliassi’s Falcon won in the multihull category while Eric Müller’s K’Mena (J99) from Yacht Club de Monaco won the double-hander race.
The first ever Palermo-Montecarlo Virtual Regatta was a huge success with 8,454 taking part, including some of the world’s top sailors. The winner was CED007/Ink Bureau Vallée, ranked 55th in the world. A special challenge between YCM members and members of CV Sicilia (41 players) was won by Ottocinque-Alainmarchand (YCM, 67th in the world) ahead of Giovibriga (CV Sicilia, 85th in the world) and YCM Team Zero (Leandro Casali, 112th in the world).
