Organised annually by the Yacht Club de Monaco since 2010, the Monaco Optimist Team Race has become a benchmark event for the world’s top young sailors. Sixteen teams of four sailors compete on identical Optimist dinghies in Monaco Bay, directly in front of the Yacht Club.
Far more than a regatta, the event is a true school of tactics, composure and teamwork. Every match is decided in a matter of seconds, where collective anticipation is just as important as individual speed.
The competition fully reflects the Yacht Club de Monaco’s sporting philosophy: promoting teamwork, discipline, self-control and respect for the rules.
Stay up to date with the latest news from the event and the Yacht Club de Monaco.
The official document is available.
Invitation request
View the results from the previous edition.
Relive the event through photos and videos.
Team racing pits two teams of four boats against each other: victory does not go to the fastest boat, but to the team with the lowest combined score. Anticipation, communication and collective strategy make all the difference.
Transmettre le collectif, la rigueur et la maîtrise de soi, au-delà du seul résultat.
Fair play and quick decision-making lie at the heart of this demanding competition.
Learning, continuous improvement and a love of the sea at a pivotal stage of development.
A round-robin stage in which every team faces every other team, ensuring each has the maximum number of head-to-head matchups.
The top teams from the round-robin stage advance to the knockout rounds, where they compete in head-to-head elimination matches.
The stakes rise with every duel: each manoeuvre can bring a team one step closer to the final—or end its campaign.
The two best teams compete for the Monaco Optimist Team Race title.
By invitation, the top junior clubs and national teams from the international sailing circuit gather in Monaco. Edition after edition, the starting line brings together the biggest names in world sailing.
2023
2022
2015
2013
2012
The Monaco Optimist Team Race is an annual international regatta for sailors under 14 organised by Yacht Club de Monaco since 2010. It is a team racing event on Optimists, where national teams of four young sailors compete in a tactical and spectacular format.
There are several stages:
The format rewards speed as well as team tactics, communication and situation management.
The event is open to national teams of young sailors competing on Optimists. Each team comprises four sailors supervised by a coach.
The event is invitation only. Up to 16 may be selected and invitations can be requested via online registration.
The Monaco Optimist Team Race is an opportunity for young sailors to get international experience at a key stage in their development. Team racing develops anticipation, collaborative strategies, fair-play and quick decisions. It is often their first contact with high-level competition.
Races are held in Monaco Bay, near the Yacht Club de Monaco. The venue is close to the shore and offers a variety of tactical conditions and can be watched from the shore.
The races can be seen from the main harbour wall. There is a reception area ashore where people can see the rankings as they happen. Photos, videos and results are published daily on the YCM’s official channels.
The event is part of Yacht Club de Monaco’s sports policy to foster team spirit, discipline, self-control and respect for the rules. The emphasis is very much on learning, making progress and the joy of sailing.
YCM oversees the event, hosts the invited nations and provides its sports facilities. It also supports young sailors in the YCM Sports Section with their development by enabling them to interact with foreign teams and international coaches, and experience racing in professionally organised conditions.
