41e Primo Cup – UBS & Act IV of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series
6-9 March 2025

With 400 sailors, 90 teams, 10 nations, the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy organised by Yacht Club de Monaco once again lived up to its promises. After three days of racing, Monaco’s legendary one design regatta put on a high-level spectacle in technically challenging conditions. In a demanding stiff easterly breeze every team took their chances and went all out for victory. The favourites responded well to the challenge, but there were a few surprises on the podiums.

Since its launch in 1985 by YCM President HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, it has established itself as an indispensable regatta on the international race calendar. Organised in collaboration with UBS, with support of Monaco City Hall, the event also enjoys technical support of North Sails. It also marked the fourth and final stage of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series 2024/2025 season that runs from November to March. “This is the first one design event of the year. With over 40 years’ experience, we really know what we’re doing which contributes to the event’s success. Organising international regattas is a tradition in Monaco: 40 years’ ago no one imagined it would become so international and so competitive,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.

 

 

ClubSwan 28: Hatari rises to the top

For four decades, the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy has provided a benchmark for classes making their début on the international circuit. This year it was the turn of the ClubSwan 28 to be in the spotlight. It took nerves of steel to triumph in this class, with the Japanese Hatari pulling off impressive wins in a fierce battle with the Swiss on Anya Race. Black Swan helmed by Lorenzo Bortolotti from YCM completed the podium. “We are delighted to have made our début here in Monaco. It’s an ideal setting to launch the season and see how we measure up to the best international teams,” says Lorenzo Bortolotti, Managing Director of Nautor Swan Monaco and a YCM racer.

 

 

J/70: G-Spot sweeps the board

A popular fleet at the Primo Cup-UBS Trophy, the J/70s did not disappoint. Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-Spot YCM won after a series of races controlled from start to finish. He also wins the coveted Perpetual Trophy awarded to the winner of the most-represented class. Denis Infante’s Euro Voiles fought hard but did not manage to close the gap with the Monegasques who maintained a solid lead. The Swiss on Ailoa came 3rd. In the Corinthian category Euro Voiles retained their lead ahead of Ailoa and Jalla Jalla.

 

Smeralda 888: Giada the undisputed winner

On top form throughout the weekend, Giada put in a nearly faultless performance in the Smeralda 888, with two wins and a third place to dominate the class. Django, helmed by YCM’s Giovanni Lombardi kept up the attack but was unable to dislodge the leader. YCM’s Marco Favale’s Millennium Falcon completed the podium.

 

Longtze Premier: Swiss on form with Shensu and QI

Favourites from the start, the Swiss crew on Shensu showed why they deserved to win in the Longtze Premier, leading for most of the weekend against stiff competition, widening the gap with each race. Behind them their compatriots on QI and the Germans on Xiaolong Racing never found the key to reversing the trend.

 

Cape 31: Follin brothers reign supreme

With their asymmetrical spinnakers and speed, the Cape 31 class again lit up the Primo Cup-Trophée UBS. This year, the family was in the spotlight, with Adrien Follin (Give Me Five) winning with panache, dominating the fleet and even beating his own brother Robin Follin on Solano into 2nd place. A fraternal duel that lived up to its promise, relegating the Irish on Adrenalin to 3rd.

 

Act IV of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series: Stefano Roberti reaches for the stars

After four thrilling Acts, Monegasque Stefano Roberti (Piccinina) set the pace from start to finish to win the Monaco Championship ahead of Euro Voiles. Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot), last year’s winner completed the podium. In the Corinthian category, Euro Voiles beat Matteo Scandolera’s Irruenza from YCM and the Swiss on Rhubarbe. Launched in 2013, the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series is a benchmark for the J/70 class, attracting international teams to come and train in ideal conditions during winter.

 

 

 

Next up: Virginie Hériot Trophy (14-16 March 2025)

After two years since its launch, the Women Leading & Sailing regatta has evolved into the Virginie Hériot Trophy as a tribute to the legendary French sailor and first woman to win a Gold Medal, at the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928. This all-female regatta on J/70s attracts around 20 teams from all over the world. Driven by Pink Wave, a collective of 50+ sailors from Yacht Club de Monaco it celebrates women’s courage and excellence.

 

YCM on the start of the Admiral’s Cup (17 July-1st August 2025)

A packed programme awaits YCM which recently announced that it will be taking part in the Admiral’s Cup for the first time, an iconic event run by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Often referred to as the “Unofficial World Cup of Offshore Racing”, it returns after a 22-year absence to pit the world’s elite sailors against each other on the iconic course. The project is led by YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi and Club member Peter Harrison. They are supported by renowned sailors, namely Boris Herrmann, Will Harris (Team Malizia) and Cole Brauer, first American woman to race solo nonstop around the world, in 130 days.

 

Under its collective Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting umbrella, Yacht Club de Monaco continues to raise the standards of high-level sailing and invites sailors to the 42nd Primo Cup-UBS Trophy 5-8 March 2026.

 

 

Winners for 2025 (for all the results: www.yacht-club-monaco.mc/evenements/primo-cup-trophee-ubs):

 

J/70:

1st: Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (G-Spot) – MON – 16 points

2nd: Denis Infante (Euro Voiles) – FRA – 17 points

3erd Stefan Seger (Aiola) – SUI – 19 points

 

J/70 – Corinthian:

1st: Denis Infante (Euro Voiles) – FRA – 17 points

2nd: Stefan Seger (Aiola) – SUI – 19 points

3rd: Emanuel Muller (Jalla Jalla) – SUI – 23 points

 

Smeralda 888:

1st: Germano Scarpa (Giada) –ITA – 4 points

2nd: Giovanni Lombardi (Django) – MON – 10 points

3rd: Marco Favale (Millenium Falcon) – MON – 11 points

 

Cape 31:

1st: Adrien Follin (Give me Five) – MON – 5 points

2nd: Robin Follin (Solano) – FRA – 7 points

3rd: Darren Wright (Adrenalin) – IRL – 9 points

 

Longtze Premier:

1st: Jarmo Wieland (Shensu) – SUI – 5 points

2nd: Franck Beat (QI) – SUI – 11 points

3rd: Christoph Zeiser (Xiaolong Racing) – GER – 14 points

 

ClubSwan 28:

1st: Marcus Brennecke (Hatari) – JPN – 6 points

2nd: Giulio Gatti (Anya Race) – SUI – 6 points

3rd: Lorenzo Bortolotti (Black Swan) – MON – 10 points