Yacht Club de Monaco has won the Admiral’s Cup 2025 after a nail-biting finale. Led by YCM vice-president Pierre Casiraghi at the helm of Jolt 6 and Peter Harrison on Jolt 3, the two Monegasque teams fought a collective strategic battle right down to the wire of the Rolex Fastnet Race. This third and final event (coefficient 3) on the Admiral’s Cup programme was the ultimate stage of a three-part format that mixed offshore and inshore races. For its first ever Admiral’s Cup, YCM won the team ranking ahead of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. An historic feat that marks the Principality’s entry into an exclusive circle of winners of this legendary event.
It all came down to the final leg after a 695 nautical mile sprint. At the end of an ultra-committed and close race, Pierre Casiraghi at the helm of Jolt 6 won the Rolex Fastnet Race in their category on corrected time. Seconds separated Jolt 3 from their direct rivals. On board tension was at an all-time high against a fleet that never let go.
Pierre Casiraghi could not hide his emotions: “Honestly, I still can’t believe what we’ve achieved. To win the Admiral’s Cup in its revival year and with Monaco’s first ever participation is beyond words. I’m not a professional helm and this was the most exhausting race I’ve ever done”. The Club’s vice-president was full of praise for his crew comprising Ben Saxton, Joey Newton, Will Harris and Cole Brauer. “We knew the Fastnet would be decisive and our team executed it flawlessly. Will Harris, our navigator, was just phenomenal, he didn’t miss a beat. From the moment we exited the Solent everything went to plan. We held our lead, fought off relentless pressure from Callisto (RNZYS) and Beau Ideal (RHKYC) and made every move count. The team showed incredible resilience, character and trust in each other. This was a true team effort, from sailors to shore crew. For Monaco, this is historic. We’re a small place, but we’ve just shown we can achieve great things. I hope this inspires the next generation of young sailors at YCM – they followed our every move. Right now, I’m exhausted and can’t imagine doing another offshore race on a 42-footer any time soon, but this has been a magical journey. The Admiral’s Cup is an extraordinary event, brilliantly organized and fiercely competitive. I’m so proud to have been part of it.”
For their part, Jolt 3 skippered by Peter Harrison delivered a solid performance in AC Class 1, finishing 3rd in real time in his class thanks to wise tactical decisions and clean manoeuvres. “This is without a doubt the biggest result I’ve ever had in sailing and I doubt it will ever be topped. To help lead the Yacht Club de Monaco to its first Admiral’s Cup victory on our very first attempt is just extraordinary. From the start, Pierre Casiraghi and I believed in this campaign. The Club was fully behind us, and with Matt Adams coordinating and a world-class team around us we built something truly special. We had a strong core, many of whom I’ve sailed with for years. It was about chemistry, trust and shared commitment. Everyone delivered. From shore crew to helm, from sailmakers to strategists, it was a true team effort. It’s a huge moment for Monaco and I believe it firmly establishes YCM as a force in offshore sailing. Right now, I’m a bit exhausted, but if you’re going to win the Admiral’s Cup, you need to start planning a year out and I know we’ll be thinking seriously about defending it. The event was impeccably run and every race was delivered. Full credit to the RORC team,” said Peter Harrison on his arrival.
Relaunched this year after a two-decade absence, the Admiral’s Cup gathered 15 nations, each represented by two teams competing in a demanding race format: a 160 nautical mile Channel Race (coefficient 2) followed by six inshore races in the Solent, culminating in the Rolex Fastnet Race (coefficient 3). It was this final challenge, with its extra points, that turned the tables for the leaders on the last night. Thanks to a perfectly executed finish, Monaco gained the upper hand to come first. After eight races, Jolt 3 won the prize in AC Class 1, while Jolt 6 came 2nd in AC Class 2. Two simultaneous podium finishes allowed Yacht Club de Monaco to clinch top spot in the team ranking, 16 points ahead of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. It should be noted that Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, a member of the Y.C.M. and competing under the colours of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with Django WR51 (AC 1) and Django JPK (AC 2), also ran a successful campaign, placing his boats third in their respective categories. The Admiral’s Cup awards ceremony will be at 6.00pm on Thursday 31 July in the Rolex Fastnet Race Event Village.
Aside from the Admiral’s Cup teams, several other boats flying the YCM flag did extremely well in this 51st Rolex Fastnet Race. While Remon Vos’s Black Jack 100 helmed by Tristan Le Brun, won the Monohull Line Honours category ahead of Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3, Oren Nataf at the helm of his Rayon Vert finished 19th in real time in the multihull category. The young Didier Schouten from YCM’s Sports Section completed one of his first major cross-Channel races aboard Ocean Breeze and had an unforgettable experience.
There’s no rest for the sailors, particularly those in Team Malizia, founded by Pierre Casiraghi, like Will Harris and Cole Brauer, who will be back at sea on 10 August for The Ocean Race Europe (10 August – 21 September), with stops in Kiel, Portsmouth, Porto, Cartagena, Nice and Genova, to the finish line in Montenegro.
