Palermo-Montecarlo

 

Friday 24th February 2023. After an exciting edition last year, the Palermo-Montecarlo 2023 offshore race in August is all set to go with publication of the Notice of Race and arrival of the first registrations.

Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the race has been a must on the calendar since it launched in 2005. It quickly established itself as a major offshore classic in the Mediterranean thanks to finely tuned organisation and attendance by some of the world’s fastest and most beautiful boats.

As tradition dictates, the start is scheduled for 12 noon, Tuesday 22nd August, from the Gulf of Mondello in Sicily to the Principality of Monaco. On the programme, a circa 500 nautical mile course with a tactically crucial gate before the Strait of Bonifacio. The 18th Palermo-Montecarlo is again one of the stages in the Italian Offshore Championship organised by the Italian Sailing Federation, as well as of the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge and the Class40 Mediterranean Trophy.

“We can now speak of the Palermo-Montecarlo as a “classic”, as we approach the 20th anniversary and given the ever higher standard of boats and crews who participate each year. For this edition, we hope to see lots of owners taking part and anyone who loves sailing,” says Agostino Randazzo, President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia, the club supporting Team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 37th America’s Cup.

Last year’s Palermo-Montecarlo proved triumphant for French sailing, with two boats from the Société Nautique de Marseille winning both major trophies: Jean-Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First III which won the Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita Trophy, while Dominique Tian’s Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen clinched the Angelo Randazzo Perpetual Challenge Trophy.