Preliminary Regatta kicks off
37th America’s Cup – Barcelona | 22 August 2024
Thursday 22 August 2024. Battle has commenced for the AC75 boats with the first duels on Catalan waters taking place from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 August in the Preliminary Regatta. Aboard these revolutionary foiling monohulls, that can top out at 100km an hour, a succession of races saw teams achieve 35-40 knots off Barcelona today, giving those watching a glimpse of what the 37th America’s Cup has in store. On the programme: the Preliminary Regatta, the Louis Vuitton Cup and of course the America’s Cup finale itself starting 12 October. One Defender and five Challengers will be going all out in a contest to lift the oldest sports trophy in the world. This is the first time since 2010, when Alinghi lost to Oracle, that the Cup has returned to the Old Continent.
Spectacular start for 19th Palermo-Montecarlo
The 19th Palermo-Montecarlo, a 500 nautical mile race organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, had a spectacular start in challenging weather conditions.
Dark clouds and clear skies chased each other across the Caribbean-like backdrop of hills around the Gulf of Mondello. At sea, conditions were also ideal with a brisk westerly topping 18 knots and waves.
Three Yacht Club de Monaco members on start of 19th Palermo-Montecarlo
The 19th Palermo-Montecarlo, an offshore race organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, had a spectacular start in challenging weather conditions. Dark clouds and clear skies chased each other across the hills of the Caribbean-like backdrop of the Gulf of Mondello. At sea, conditions were also ideal with a brisk westerly topping 18 knots and waves.
Yacht Club de Monaco shine at Trofeo Mario Formenton
The prestigious Trofeo Mario Formenton attracted a diverse fleet of cruising and race boats to compete around the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. Dedicated to the memory of Mario Formenton, a man “with the sea in his eyes”, this regatta has established itself as a race not to be missed for anyone passionate about sailing. Among participants at the 33rd edition two Yacht Club de Monaco members made their mark, Adalberto Miani on Botta Dritta clinched 11th place in the Voiles Blanches category while Roberto Tamburelli aboard Forrest Gump III came 7th in ORC.
A salty interlude
The Navicap philosophy as interpreted by Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section is based on the concept of making sailing accessible to everyone whatever their disability. As a result the Club’s coaches are running more and more events and today welcomed a group of residents from the Foyer de Vie Princesse Stéphanie for a sailing outing followed by lunch in the sun on the Club’s decks.
Solid achievements
For the second event in the Italian summer season, the young Optimist sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section faced tougher conditions than the first event, with stronger winds making the task more difficult for boys in the younger Benjamin group totalling 73 entrants. Pietro Carlevaris managed a very good 13th place ahead of Jules Huon 19th and Louis Faivre 27th. In the older Minime category of 434 participants YCM’s sailors like Alexandra Santelli 179th, Océane Schroeder 205th and Joséphine Dobbelaere 310th showed great determination as they continue to build on their achievements with a view to next season.
YCM expertise deployed at the Olympics
At the sailing events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yacht Club de Monaco, known for its expertise organising high-level events, again demonstrated its proficiency with the presence of YCM Race Director on the Race Committee for the IQFOils, ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 races.
Youth in the spotlight
A regatta without borders has just concluded with the Trofeo Simone Lombardi at Malcesine on Lake Garda where 450 young sailors from 25 nations were competing. All competitors completed five races with some nations out in force like the Monegasques from Yacht Club de Monaco. The first Italian event of the summer was successful for Jules Huon who clinched a well-earned 5th place in the younger Benjamin category, with other budding young sailors from the Sports Section putting in good performances like Louis Faivre and Sacha Mousny in 18th and 31st place out of an 80-strong fleet.
Moonlight on the podium
Over 120 teams representing 23 nationalities from all walks of life met in Palma bay for the 42nd Copa del Rey. Whether aficionados, America’s Cup winners, The Ocean Race stars or Olympic medallists all contestants in the eight classes enjoyed good conditions for back to back races. As is tradition, the ranking in the ClubSwan 50 was tight. The seven-strong fleet included seasoned sailors like Yacht Club de Monaco members, Graeme and Raquel Peterson, who clinched 3rd place on the podium on Moonlight.
Yachting Masterclass at La Belle Classe Academy: an intensive course to learn all about superyacht professions
With the aim being to promote the range of trades associated with the yachting sector, Yacht Club de Monaco’s La Belle Classe Academy training centre set, up in 2015, continues to expand its programme. Having recently achieved official recognition as an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) training centre it can now offer the RYA Level 1 and 2 Powerboat Handling courses all-year, further expanding its range of certificated, internationally recognized courses.