The first race of the season launched the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2025/2026 in the Principality. In a moderate northerly breeze, the 27 crews entered the fray in typical autumnal conditions in Monaco’s bay.
Around a hundred crew were gathered in their J/70s at the foot of the Rocher to write the first chapter of what is always a very competitive championship, with two races completed.
At the end of this first day, G-Spot led by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio tops the provisional ranking, closely followed by Graeme Peterson’s Moonlight II with the Italian Federico Leproux on Alice in third. Gaps remain tight, proof that no one intends to let Act 1 slip away from them. For some it will be a case of minimising the damage tomorrow; for others, the challenge is to consolidate their position. The weekend looks set to be an intense one.
Yacht Club de Monaco has been organising the Monaco Sportsboat Winter series of monthly regattas since 2013 to enable J/70 crews to sail all winter in the Mediterranean. They offer the ideal training ground to maintain momentum, fine-tune their boats and prepare for the upcoming season’s major events, starting with the 42nd Primo Cup Trophée UBS (5–8 March 2026), a reference for one design racing in Europe.
The J/70 Monaco Class Association comprising 17 boats is fielding 11 teams for this regatta. They join crews from Italy, Switzerland, France, Great Britain and Hungary who have all made the trip to take advantage of ideal conditions in Monaco’s waters.
Tomorrow, Saturday 8 November, the 27 teams will be champing at the bit with the first race of the day scheduled to start at 11.00am.
Provisional programme
Saturday 8 November: 11.00am: First warning signal
Sunday 9 November: 11:00am: First warning signal
