Danes hold on to the lead with Italians hot on their heel
On the eve of the final day the Monaco Optimist Team Race is living up to expectations. This evening the Danes maintain their lead in the provisional rankings but the competition is dangerously close. On the Monegasque race area, Day 3 of the Round Robin phase has seen gaps narrowing and suspense ratcheting up. With seven match races held on Saturday in conditions that remained challenging, the contest looks more open than ever.
Danes lead the way
The Round Robin phase continues on the Monegasque race area and, race after race, a hierarchy is beginning to emerge. After two days of competition, the Danes are leading the way in a Monaco Optimist Team Race that this year brings together 15 teams from 12 nations across the globe. Under overcast sky, with a steady easterly breeze and a demanding chop at the foot of the Rock, 10 races were sailed on Friday in technical conditions that left no room for improvisation.
A collective experience for the next generation of sailors
The true meaning of the collective experience of the Monaco Optimist Team Race is set to come into its own after three days of an International Training Clinic, 12-14 January, when young sailors from all over the world get down to business. On the Monegasque race area the atmosphere is charged with emotion and intense as these 12-13-14-year olds discover what it really means to sail as part of a team under pressure in this unique format. Since its launch in 2010, this Yacht Club de Monaco regatta has established itself as a pivotal event in the development of young sailors, as it’s not just about performance, but learning and passing on knowledge.
An international event for young sailors
Fourteen editions, hundreds of match races and always with the same intensity. Launched in 2010, the Monaco Optimist Team Race is established as one of the most high-profile meetings in the Optimist world, a class that has trained thousands of young sailors.
SCORE training at the Yacht Club de Monaco
At the start of 2026, La Belle Classe Academy opened its doors to racing by hosting a training session dedicated to the new scoring software developed by the French Sailing Federation. On Sunday 11 January, race officials, volunteers from the Flotte des Commissaires and event organisers gathered at the Yacht Club de Monaco for a SCORE training session. The initiative reaffirms YCM’s commitment to knowledge transmission and supporting everyone involved in racing, by putting education and rigour at the heart of its sports project.
2026: a year of transmission and innovation for Yacht Club de Monaco
True to its ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach, Yacht Club de Monaco kicks off a new season focused on knowledge-sharing, innovation and collective commitment. In 2026, as part of its public service remit to enhance the Principality’s appeal the Club confirms its role as a focal point of activity in Port Hercule and an international platform, while reinforcing its environmental and societal responsibility commitments. Top-level sport, youth training, the sustainable transition and maritime heritage define a year of events providing an arena for exchanges to build the future of yachting.