Ready for the Vendée
Since 2021, the Défi Azimut has been an essential stage on the 60-foot IMOCA circuit, particularly in a Vendée Globe year like 2024. Just a couple of months away from the non-stop solo round the world without assistance race it was a great opportunity for skippers to see how their racing machines measured up to the competition.
The Tour de l’île de Groix, the final event in the five-day Défi Azimut, was won on Sunday 15 September by Jérémie Beyou (Charal). The Lorient based skipper was followed by Louis Duc (Fives Group – Lantana Environnement) and then Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer) from Yacht Club de Monaco. The day before the German skipper had crossed the finish of the Défi Azimut 48h at 12:52 in tenth position after an intense race in variable weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay. He covered 605.42 nautical miles at an average speed of 13.2 knots making a race time of 1 day 21 hours 52 minutes 13 seconds.
Leopard 3 a winner
The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the International Maxi Association ended in style this weekend. Reserved for 60-foot and over boats the event this year was part of the first edition of the Rolex Maxi World Championship. Those competing were grouped into different classes, according to type and performance, and all took part in coastal races winding their way through the La Maddalena islands. The Maxi 1 and 2 classes also demonstrated their potential on windward courses.
Final rehearsal before Vendée Globe for Malizia-Seaexplorer
IMOCA – 14th Défi Azimut – Lorient
For five days the IMOCA world are in Lorient for the 14th Défi Azimut – Lorient Agglomération. It is the last chance for these racing machines to compete against each other weeks before the start of the next Vendée Globe. Among them is Malizia-Seaexplorer, helmed by Boris Herrmann from Yacht Club de Monaco.
End of Round Robin stage
The Round Robin stage of the Louis Vuitton Cup has just concluded in thrilling style at the end of nine days of races during which the teams met each other twice.
The White Pirate calls into YCM
Opération Les Voiles Blanches
For the 5th Les Voiles Blanches, the legendary White Pirate set sail 24 August 2024 on a three-week adventure with a very special purpose aboard the 9.15m monohull, YKA. For the aim of this trip with 18 ports of call is to collect new gifts, in their original packaging, to distribute to children in hospital under the care of the Lenval Foundation in Nice. After Antibes, Cassis, Porquerolles and Sainte-Maxime, it was Yacht Club de Monaco’s turn to welcome him on Monday 9th September 2024.
A win for Vamos mi Amor
The penultimate meeting of the season saw the Smeralda 888 fleet competing in Barcelona for the second year in a row. It was an opportunity for these gentlemen racers to see how they stand up against the competition before the grand finale in Monaco 11-13 October.
A meeting synonymous with results
Barcelona was transformed into a beautiful floating museum for the 17th Puig Vela Clàssica that gathered 77 iconic boats from the 19th and 20th centuries. More than 800 sailors representing 17 countries were competing in the event which for the first time brought together the most prestigious historic categories. A loyal participant at classic yacht regattas, Yacht Club de Monaco’s gaff cutter Tuiga was there in the Big Boat category. YCM’s flagship crewed by enthusiastic members came 4th after three races in mostly tough conditions. Joining the throng of fabulous classic yachts was YCM’s Kostia Belkin’s Viola. After three exemplary races, the William Fife design came 2nd in the final overall ranking of the Vintage Gaff group, tied on equal points with the winner.
Consistency at all costs
TF 35 – Les Voiles de Choisi – Geneva
Another event, another superb result for Esteban Garcia from Yacht Club de Monaco. His TF35 Realteam Sailing, led by Jérôme Clerc with Sébastien Col on tactics, won Les Voiles de Choisi with a comfortable five-point lead over Sails of Change 8 to put the crew on the podium’s top step. This was an important win for the Realteam Sailing formation to stay in contention for this contest. Next stage is again in Geneva for the Realstone Cup when two teams face off in a finale that promises to be spectacular.
Penultimate stage of the season
With the Louis Vuitton Cup fast approaching in Barcelona, the TP52s were already set for the fourth regatta of their season. For this event there were two new entrants to the fleet bringing the number to 13 teams in competition for the Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week. After winning one of two warm-up races, Alegre led by Yacht Club de Monaco’s Andres Soriano finished 7th overall at the end of nine races, having come in the top five in three races. It was a repeat of the boat’s 5th place at the TP52 World Championship late July. The fleet will be back out on the water for the last event of the season in Valencia in a few weeks’ time.
Louis Vuitton Cup kicks off this Thursday
The Louis Vuitton Cup starts Thursday in Catalan waters off Barcelona and marks the true beginning of the 37th America’s Cup. As it is this phase when five Challengers compete for the right to challenge the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand for the Silver Ewer, led by Matteo de Nora, member of Yacht Club de Monaco’s Management Committee.