4th title for Yacht Club de Monaco’s Guido Miani
Palermo-Montecarlo
Tuesday 24th August 2021. The goal announced at the start has been achieved! It was at 23:03 Monday 23rd August after 59 hours 3 minutes 8 seconds that Guido Miani from the Yacht Club de Monaco associated with Furio Benussi crossed the finish first in elapsed time to take line honours of the 16e Palermo-Montecarlo on Arca SGR. Sailing with his son Daniel and nephew Francesco Vauban it is his fourth title on this Mediterranean classic, having won it twice in corrected time (2007 and 2008) and elapsed time (2013).
Behind them, it was a nail-biting battle for 2nd place between Pendragon VI and Aragon, won by Laurie Davidson 69 Pendragon VI over the last few metres. Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, it’s become a major event on the calendar since its launch in 2005.
Breakaway from lead group
16th Palermo-Montecarlo – 21-26 August 2021
Monday 23rd August 2021. Most of the 47 boats that started the 16th Palermo-Montecarlo from the Gulf of Mondello on Saturday finally caught some eagerly sought after breeze. Of these 18 have already made it through the Strait of Bonifacio.
No surprise to hear that race favourite, the 100-ft Arca SGR of the Fast and Furio Sailing Team, led by Guido Miani associated with Furio Benussi, has taken the lead. In their wake Pendragon, Aragon and Leaps & Bounds complete the leading pack. Arca SGR has started the ascent of Corsica via the west coast and is steadily eating up the miles at a speed of 8.5 knots. They expect to reach Monaco during the night around 2.00am.
In the thick of it now
16th Palermo-Montecarlo – 21-26 August 2021
Sunday 22nd August 2021. The first hours of this race will not have been easy on the nerves of the 47 teams in competition, a light 5/6 knot breeze blowing away any hopes of breaking the course record held since 2015 by the 100-ft Maxi Esimit Europa 2. YCM’s Guido Miani and his son Daniel who are sailing on Arca SGR took command from the start. Also taking part is Neil Cheston on Eupraxia with members from the YCM’s adult sailing division on board.
Hunting air
The fleet’s been in tacking mode since the start on Saturday, the goal being to get north as quickly as possible to grab a westerly air flow between Corsica and Sardinia. End of Sunday will see conditions strengthening, unblocking speedometers and shaking up the fleet which should result in a nail-biting end to the race! The first to arrive are not likely to be the leaders in corrected time as the wind is expected to whisk laggards to Monegasque shores between Corsica and the mainland. Some will opt to go up Corsica on the east side, if they haven’t crossed the Strait of Bonifacio before Monday evening. With three circumnavigations on the clock, Neil Cheston is also taking part on Eupraxia and offered many members in the Sports Section’s adult sailing division an opportunity to enjoy this offshore experience for the first time.
480 nautical miles non-stop!
16th Palermo-Montecarlo – 21-26 August 2021
Saturday 21st August 2021. A good start for the 16th Palermo-Montecarlo organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, a firm fixture on the offshore race calendar since its launch in 2005. No fewer than 480 nautical miles non-stop awaits competitors, the big favourite being Arca SGR, a 30m race machine led by Guido Miani associated with Furio Benussi.
“Light airs await them for the first 48 hours,” notes Thierry Leret from the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Race Committee. “It’s a light north/west (5/6 knots) that they have to negotiate throughout their ascent of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Weather conditions from the start will require a first tactical decision, whether to go in search of breezes off the Italian peninsular, so further away from Sardinian shores, even though it means covering more ground.”
From Monday, conditions change as the Venturi effect kicks in, generated by the Strait of Bonifacio where wind is forced to accelerate as it squeezes through this giant bottleneck between France and Italy. An easterly then takes over from Wednesday as they approach the Monegasque coast.
“Little downwind speed and difficult conditions will prevail for those trying to beat the course record held since 2015 by the 100-ft Maxi Esimit Europa 2 of 47 hours 46 minutes 48 seconds. But there is everything to play for on this course where complex conditions meteorology-wise will give many an opportunity to regain lost ground in the second half of the race,” concludes Thierry Leret.
Boats striving to succeed the 82-foot Maxi Vera which took line honours in the 15th edition and Primavista Laura, a 52-ft Felci Ice winner in corrected time, will have to find a compromise between speed and distance.
48 boats on start of 16th edition
Palermo-Montecarlo – 21-26 August 2021
Saturday 21st August 2021. A 54-strong fleet had a good start at 12 noon today 21st August for the 16th Palermo-Montecarlo, a 480 nautical mile offshore race from Gulf of Mondello in Sicily to Monaco. Faced with an international fleet, two teams are representing Yacht Club de Monaco: Eupraxia, skippered by Neil Cheston and Arca SGR, a 30m racing machine led by Guido Miani associated with Furio Benussi. Sailing alongside his son Daniel, Guido’s sights are set on a fourth title having won this challenging race in 2007 and 2008 in corrected time and taking line honours in elapsed time in 2013. It follows his line honours victory in the 68th Rolex Giraglia in June. Also participating are the Kito de Pavant / Gwen Gbick pair on the Class40 HBF – Reforest’Action, in this their last official competition before the season’s big meeting, the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Victory for Botta Dritta
Smeralda 888 – Coppa Europa – Porto Cervo 23-25 July 2021
Sunday 25th July 2021. Francesco Vauban Miani (Botta Dritta) was on the top step of the podium at the end of the 18th Coppa Europa Smeralda 888. Six races were completed at an event that ended with brisk 25-knot winds at Porto Cervo. In 2nd place was Timofey Sukhotin (Beda), followed by Paolo Rotelli and Max Stimamiglio on Black Star.
A month and a bit till start gun fires for 16th edition
Palermo-Montecarlo – 21-26 August 2021
Wednesday 21st July 2021. Just over a month to go before the Palermo-Montecarlo. Organised by Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this has become one of the major classic offshore events on the Mediterranean circuit since it launched in 2005.
Many contenders for the title will be making their way for the start in the Gulf of Mondello to race across the 500 nautical miles that separate it from the Principality of Monaco. Among the favourites is Guido Miani from the Yacht Club de Monaco who alongside his son will be on the 100-ft (30m) Arca SGR, attempting to clinch a fourth title.
An intergenerational passion
For him, the Palermo-Montecarlo is a family affair, as his father Adalberto Miani, long-time head of the Sailing Commission at YCM, supported this event from the start alongside Angelo Randazzo, who initiated the project, working hard to help make it into the popular race it is today. As if passing on the baton, the meeting is now a must-do for his son Guido who has won it three times. In 2007, it was a victory in corrected time, a performance he repeated the following year propelling him into the title role of a race he was beginning to master. In 2013, he took line honours in crossing the finish first in Monaco to add another win to his record.
This year Guido Miani will be with his son as they leave the two cliffs that overlook the Gulf of Mondello behind them. It follows his superb line honours victory in the recent 68th Rolex Giraglia. No need to say more, Guido Miani aboard Arca SGR, a 30m racing machine, has all the cards in hand to make his summer a success.
Monaco celebrates the sea
Fête de la Mer – Saturday 26th June 2021
Saturday 26th June 2021. Fête de la Mer was celebrated again this year with a grand parade in Monaco’s bay. It was organised by Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with Monegasque institutions namely: the Pontons de Monaco association, Société Nautique de Monaco (rowing club), City Hall, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Government, SEPM, Oceanographic Institute, the Roca Jet Club of Monaco, sports fishing federation (Fédération Monégasque de Pêches Sportives), CSAM (Centre de Sauvetage Aquatique et de Plongée de Monaco – scuba diving for children) and local scuba diving club, Club d’Exploration Sous-Marine de Monaco.
The 60-strong fleet of participants gathered around the new police launch, the Princesse Gabriella launched last December, for the parade which began with the traditional blessing by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David in homage to all those lost at sea. It was a solemn moment during which a heart-warming tribute was paid to Jean-Marc Giraldi, President of the rowing club (Société Nautique de Monaco) and Vice-President of Union Internationale Motonautique. A colourful and central figure in the Principality, Mr Giraldi dedicated his energy and passion to the sea.
Sailing boats, rowing boats and motorboats were among the many who responded to the invitation, including Tuiga, the 1909 gaff cutter and Yacht Club de Monaco flagship. After setting off from in front of the Oceanographic Museum, the fleet headed towards Larvotto before turning into Port Hercule to be greeted by a cacophony of sound as all the yachts in the harbour blew their horns.
Mega win in third stage
Monaco Cup Smeralda 888 – Monaco
Sunday 6th June 2021. There was no time to breath for the eight teams competing in the third stage of the Smeralda 888 championship held in Monaco bay, which participants know well. Having won four of the seven races, Class President and owner of Vamos mi Amor, Charles de Bourbon des Deux-Siciles, dominated the competition to take 1st place, six points ahead of Botta Dritta helmed by Francesco Vauban. In 3rd was Loïc Pompée on Kazimo d’Eau, a regular in the J/70 class making a seamless transfer of skills. As it stands, six teams are now in the running to take the 2021 title and will be in Porto Cervo 23-25 July for the fourth stage.
Convincing win for G-Spot
37th Primo Cup – Trophée Credit Suisse
Sunday 7th March 2021. Competitors enjoyed six races for the 37th Primo Cup-Trophée Credit Suisse. Only members present in the Principality could take part due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the latest government guidelines. As every year, thanks to the loyal support of long-time partner SLAM, the first three teams in each class won garments from the technical clothing range of this Italian supplier. Varying conditions spiced up the contests with a 6-7 knot easterly on the Friday blowing up to 25 knots on the Saturday before fading away on Sunday.