12-15 February 2026
5-8 March 2026
As part of the Y.C.M.’s sports policy, and initiated in 2013 in the Melges 20 class under the impetus of Valentin Zavadnikov, then in the J/70 class, the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series offers a winter training and racing program for one-design sailboats, held monthly between December and March.
Seduced by this format, over 350 sailors from all over Europe set up their winter training base in the Principality, to prepare for the major events of the coming season.
The Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series is a series of regattas organised by Yacht Club de Monaco since 2013. Primarily dedicated to the J/70 class, the series provides crews with competitive training in winter on one of the most consistent sailing venues in the Mediterranean. The event has become a reference for preparing for major one design competitions, particularly the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy, the final event in the series.
The regattas take place in Monaco between November and March, with each event comprising three days of competition. They are held in Monaco Bay, renowned for stable conditions which are ideal for crews wanting to optimise time spent on their techniques and preparation for the season ahead.
The series brings together an international fleet of professional and Corinthian (amateur) crews. With 17 boats, the J/70 Monaco Class Association is one of the largest J/70 hubs in the Mediterranean. Every winter, this event attracts teams looking for high-level competition and consistent conditions, which are essential for progressing to a high level.
To replicate the intense pace of competition, every regatta consists of short back-to-back races. Depending on the weather, as many as eight to ten races may be validated. This format puts the emphasis on starts, speed, transition management and strategy in a dense fleet — all of which are key performance factors in J/70 one-design regattas.
The event enables teams to:
- maintain competition-level training during the winter,
- refine their settings and manoeuvres,
- test equipment in race conditions,
- prepare for the Mediterranean one design season,
- approach the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy in the best possible conditions.
The competition is open to all J/70 crews with a valid licence and a boat that complies with class rules. Registration is on a regatta-by-regatta basis so teams can adapt their winter training schedule as required.
The circuit's success is down to:
- consistent winds in winter,
- clear seas,
- experienced race organisers.
These conditions make Monaco an ideal training ground for teams looking to improve in a very popular class with lots of boats on the water of a similar level.
Spectators can watch the races from:
- the seawall,
- the harbour quays,
- several high vantage points offering unobstructed views of the bay.
YCM publishes results, photos and videos on its official channels at the end of each regatta.
The Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series offers:
- rapid progress thanks to the consistency of the fleet,
- regular competition in the middle of winter,
- an ideal format for making adjustments,
- valuable feedback that can be acted on before the major events of the season.
The Primo Cup-UBS Trophy, held in early March, is the final event of the series. For many crews, taking part in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series is the best way to prepare for this famous regatta on the Mediterranean calendar.
