Prestigious regatta sets new participation record
At high-noon on Friday, August 21, 2015, the 42 teams departed from the Gulf of Mondello, setting a new record for the number of participants, for the start of the 11th edition of the Palermo-MonteCarlo offshore racing regatta, organised by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia and the Yacht Club of Monaco.
They will sail 500 nautical miles going South-North to cross the Mediterranean and ending up in Monaco, with a mandatory passage gate off Porto Cervo in Sardinia, then on to the island of Corsica before reaching the jagged shores of the Cote d’Azur.
The Maxi Esimit Europa 2, three-time winner of this event that flies the flag of the Yacht Club of Monaco, and steered by Jochen Schümann, two-time America’s Cup winner and three-time Olympic medalist, had the best start resolved on beating the record for this crossing that they set in 2010 of 48 hours, 52 minutes and 21 seconds.
Other serious competitors include the VOR 70 SFS II, skippered by Lionel Péan and the TP 52 B2, which gave Pierre Casiraghi victory in real time in 2013 and 2014, and this year is helmed by Francesco de Angelis supported by a very experienced crew.
Seven young sailors, 11 to 17 years old, from the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Sports Section, are on board Uunet (ex Fleury Michon X) designed by Philippe Briand in 1989 for the first edition of the Vendée Globe. Antoine Arnoult, Adam Calvi, Luna Monnet, Florian Paludetto, Martina Petrella, Alexis Rodelato and Maxime Sauzeau-Vesvrotte are under the supervision of their coach Guillaume Dubos, Thierry Leret, head of the Sports Section and the sailor Philippe Monnet, holder of the sailing solo non-stop round the world “the wrong way” record in 2000 who is accompanying his 11-year old daughter Luna. It is truly a family affair!
To follow their progress: http://www.palermo-montecarlo.it or http://www.ycm.org
Today’s quote
“If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Monaco Reporter 