41st Trophée Grimaldi

As weather forecasts shape up for the weekend, crews competing in the 41st Trophée Grimaldi are busy with final preparations for this coastal event. Jointly organised by Yacht Club de Monaco and the Sanremo Yacht Club, this race takes place over three days with three stages, starting from Sanremo with the first stage to Cala del Forte in Ventimiglia then a stopover in Monaco. This year sees some 50 boats from the most prestigious yacht clubs on the Riviera gather in Sanremo.

YCM out in force

Among them is YCM’s flagship Tuiga crewed by enthusiastic members who did not hesitate to join the fleet. The 23m long 1909 15M IR gaff cutter is not only the largest but also the oldest boat competing.

The Club’s colours will also be represented by an array of fast modern boats, including Gorilla Gang (13.5m) led by Andrea Statari and Alain Mazzoleni’s Alcyon 3.

Loïc Pompée’s Le Joy (15m) has Thierry Leret and six budding young sailors from YCM’s Sports Section on board, as per Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, for a race where experience passes on skills to the new generation.

An emblematic event on the Mediterranean sailing calendar, every year it attracts many boats to line up on the start of this coastal race. The loyalty of owners and their crews to this event gets stronger every year. It is also a great way for Yacht Club de Monaco to keep up the pace a few weeks before Act 1 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series which takes place 7-10 November 2024.

Provisional programme

· Friday: Welcome and skippers briefing in Sanremo harbour. Departure of first stage to Ventimiglia scheduled for 1.00pm.

· Saturday: Departure of second stage from Ventimiglia at 11.00am, with arrival expected in the afternoon in Monaco, followed by the Crew Party at Yacht Club de Monaco.

· Sunday: Departure of third stage from Monaco at 11.00am for the return to Sanremo. Prize-giving at Yacht Club de Sanremo at 5.00pm.