Palermo - Montecarlo
- August 15, 2018
Organized by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Palermo - Montecarlo is a prestigious Mediterranean offshore regatta running annually since its 2005 inception.
Setting off from Palermo on the 21st of August, teams tack and gybe northwest through the Gulf of Mondello, pass through the Strait of Bonifacio and sail north along the Corsican coast before reaching the picturesque French port of Menton just northwest of Monaco.
This year’s race features 54 yachts representing 13 different countries. The 500 nautical mile course is the fifth and final race of the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2018 that included the Rolex Middle Sea Race (2017) and this year’s Regata dei Tre Golfi, 151 Miglia, and the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The Palermo - Montecarlo is also part of the Italian offshore FIV Championship.
Over the years, the Palermo - Montecarlo has attracted a number famous boats, skippers and sailors who all sought to win the coveted Giuseppe Tasca d’Almerita Trophy. The Angelo Randazzo Trophy is also awarded to the handicap winner.
The race record is held by Igor Simcic's EU-flagged Maxi 100 Esimit Europa 2 which completed the course in 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds in 2015, undercutting their own 2010 record by whole hour and fifteen minutes.
The Esimit Europa 2 won’t be running this year, but watch out for Bryon Ehrhart’s Reichel/Pugh 63 Lucky, winner of last year’s event. It will face some stiff competition from George David’s Rambler 88, winner of the Newport - Bermuda Race in mid-june.
We wish everyone in the Palermo - Montecarlo Race safe travels - YB Tracking is with them every step of the way!
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All Photos © Palermo-Montecarlo
