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More than fifty Pink Wave sailors share the water, their expertise and their ambition, from beginners to the most experienced.
Taking the lead, making decisions, committing oneself – the spirit that Virginie Hériot embodied a century ago.
A one-design regatta on identical J/70s, where only the crew’s performance and tactics make the difference.
The crews are arriving, drawing lots to choose their J/70s, fine-tuning their set-ups and practising ahead of the first starting gun.
The regatta gets underway in Monaco Bay on banana-shaped courses tailored to the day’s wind conditions.
Race after race, starts, manoeuvres and tactical decisions make the difference in a fleet that is otherwise identical.
At the conclusion of the races, the most consistent crews are rewarded in each class.
It is an international J/70 regatta exclusively for women, organised by Yacht Club de Monaco under the aegis of the Monegasque and French Sailing Federations. This annual event owes its success to the commitment of Pink Wave, a collective of YCM women sailors, and attracts top-level female crews from around the world. The regatta pays tribute to Virginie Hériot, the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in sailing at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, and a pioneering figure who was nicknamed “Madame de la Mer” (Lady of the Sea).
The regatta is held in the bay of Monaco, usually in March, with three days of competition.
The Virginie Hériot Trophy is open to women’s J/70 crews from national and international clubs. The event welcomes experienced sailors and developing teams alike in an environment that promotes performance and progress on every level.
Registration is limited to the first 20 teams of a maximum of five female sailors. 2025 saw teams from Great Britain, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, France and Monaco competing, confirming the event’s international status.
The competition takes place in several phases:
A qualifying phase in which teams are divided into groups,
– the Gold and Silver fleets depending on the results,
– and a Bronze fleet.
Every morning lots are drawn to determine how boats are allocated to ensure a fair contest, with the emphasis being on crew skills and teamwork.
Monaco Bay offers:
– a variety of technical sailing conditions,
– excellent views of the action from the shore,
– an internationally recognised organisation.
These criteria make Monaco an ideal venue for a top-class women’s regatta, promoting performance and fairness, and a high profile for women’s sailing.
Pink Wave is a group of female sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco who play a key role in developing women’s sailing. They compete on numerous international circuits and are behind the Virginie Hériot Trophy project, playing a leading role in its organisation and promotion.
Monaco Bay offers:
– a variety of technical sailing conditions,
– excellent views of the action from the shore,
– an internationally recognised organisation.
These criteria make Monaco an ideal venue for a top-class women’s regatta, promoting performance and fairness, and a high profile for women’s sailing.
The races can be watched from the quays and seawall. The Yacht Club de Monaco publishes results, photos and videos on its official media channels and website at the end of each day.
Registration is via the Yacht Club de Monaco, either by invitation or through the selection process described in the official Notice of Race.
