The day before the start of Palermo-Montecarlo 2026 Regatta
by Palermo-Montecarlo 17 Aug 11:21 PDT
18-23 August 2026
Everything is ready for the Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, and everything suggests it will be a grand edition of the classic offshore sailing race in the heart of summer: the traditional presentation press conference at the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in Mondello, followed by the skipper briefing by Race Director Giancarlo Crevatin, was the appetizer for the spectacular start, scheduled for Tuesday, August 18th at 12:00 PM from the Gulf of Mondello.
A westerly wind of around ten knots is forecast, with the disengagement mark on the first upwind leg located right in front of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, a spectacle that can be followed from across the Gulf of Mondello.
The final sprint for the regatta reached 44 boats, of which 39 completed the race. Everyone was delighted with the news of the return to the Palermo-Monte Carlo of the super maxi Black Jack 100 (30 meters), owned by the American Remon Vos and skippered by Tristan Le Brun. This boat is a multiple winner and holds the race record, set in 2025 by completing the 500 miles in 38 hours, 53 minutes, and 13 seconds.
The Maxis
Precisely because of the presence of the Black Jack 100 and its impressive record, its competition against the other larger Maxis will be highly anticipated. There will be the prestigious 86-foot (26.80 metres) Marta07, from the Fast and Furio Sailing Team, skippered by the multi-victorious Furio Benussi with a crew largely made up of young people from the Trieste team (the boat is also known by the nickname ARCA Young), and significant additions: from Guido Miani of the Yacht Club de Monaco, to the sailors who give the boat the pennant of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia Edoardo Bonanno (17 Palermo-Montecarlo races under his belt) and Antonio Saporito, also on board is the Austrian Olympic medallist Thomas Zajac. The third maxi, all Reichel-Pugh designs, is the 78-foot (24-meter) Fiamme Gialle Nice, skippered by Francesco Nerone and carrying many sailors from the Guardia di Finanza Sports Group: former America's Cup sailor Paolo Cian will be helmsman, Pierluigi Fornelli will be tactician, and the crew will include former Olympic medalist Filippo Baldassari, Marco Gallo, and Santino Brizzi.
The large-boat fleet also includes the 69-foot (21-meter) French yacht Intuition, already present last year; the 19-meter Austrian VOR 65 Sisi, a boat with several world championships under her keel; and the 18-meter Swan 60 Seaquill, skippered by ocean racer Andrea Fornaro.
While the maxis will race with a focus on the real-time victory, the Line Honors, which also awards the Giuseppe Tasca D'Almerita Challenge Trophy, the rest of the fleet is divided between potential winners of the overall corrected-time standings, outsiders, and interesting boats, crews competing in the FIV Italian Offshore Sailing Championship, and finally the four boats entered in the X2 version, with only two people aboard.
The race for the overall ranking
Several boats are potentially capable of winning the Angelo Randazzo Trophy, awarded to the winner of the corrected-time standings in the largest fleet of ORC and IRC categories. It begins with the two TP52s: the Turkish Arkas Blue Moon, owned by Bernard Arkas, and the Hungarian Chocolate 3, owned by Peter Czegai. But also keep an eye out for Zephir (FC44), an interesting "scow" making its debut, skippered by England's Simon Toms, flying the Maltese flag, a highly anticipated Finot Conq project.
Also worth considering: Viva Malta, a Maltese Cookson 50; the Farr 45 Favorit owned by Montenegrin Maksym Nemchenko; and, among the smaller boats, the First 35 South Kensington Lauria, owned by Massimo Licata D'Andrea. This very competitive boat also boasts young sailors, led by Tommaso Bruni, son of Gabriele "Ganga" Bruni, a former Olympic and America's Cup champion and FIV technician for the Nacra 17; and the First 34.7 Melagodo, owned by Ligurian Luca De Luca, who, teamed with Federico Serafini, is leading the Italian Offshore Championship in the X2 standings.
Returning to the race is also Marco Pellegrini's Renoir, a Grand Soleil 40, coming from as far away as the Gulf of Trieste. New to the starting line is the Class40 Liberté, an Akilaria RC2 designed by Marc Lombard, skippered by Alessandro Fiori and sporting a French sail number.
The Pentena Sailing Academy's Sun Fast Bora Fast will be skippered by Francesco Farci, an ocean sailor who has participated in the Mini Transat. Other mini-transat sailors are the aforementioned Andrea Fornaro and Alessandro Torresani. The list of sailors who have won titles in the race is long and includes, among others, Germany's Roma Puchtev (on the Neo 430 Alemaro).
Also well-watched is the regatta for Our Dream, the 15-meter Sun Odyssey of the Italian Naval League of Palermo. Skippered by Beppe Tisci, president of the VII FIV Zone and national councilor of the LNI, will be a mixed crew of sailors with disabilities, including Carmelo Forastieri, a leading figure in the Para Sailing circuit with the Hansa 303 class.
The Palermo-Montecarlo thus confirms its status as the opportunity chosen by many owners and crews to take on a true, interesting, and varied offshore challenge and compete against top teams.
Presentation conference
On the crowded veranda of the Circolo della Vela on the Mondello seafront, welcomed by President Agostino Randazzo, the following speakers were present: Alessandro Anello, Councilor for Sport and Tourism of the Municipality of Palermo, Francesco Ettorre, FIV President, Fabrizio Escheri, Consul of the Principality of Monaco in Palermo, and Olivier Campana, Deputy General Director of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Some of the regatta's protagonists were also involved in a brief discussion: Tristan Le Brun, skipper of Black Jack 100, the latest winner of the Line Honors and record holder; Guido Miani, Edoardo Bonanno, Antonio Saporito of the Marta07 crew, along with Captain Enrico Nali and young sailor Noè Magnani; representing Fiamme Gialle Nice, Captain Francesco Nerone and helmsman Paolo Cian.
For Our Dream, skipper Beppe Tisci and Para Sailing sailor Carmelo Forstieri renewed their call to shipyards to provide a kit to transform production boats to make them inclusive and suitable for sailors with disabilities. For South Kensington, Lauria received a standing ovation from owner Massimo Licata D'Andrea and young sailor Tommaso Bruni.
Jean-Pierre Dick received a standing ovation, recounting the history of the boat he will race with and commenting that after so many world tours, it was interesting to compete in a race like the Palermo-Monte Carlo.
Finally, a tribute was paid to 9-year-old Luca Ferrer, a member of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, who won this year's Italian Optimist Cadet title at the Primavela in Gaeta, an ideal window into the future.
Quotes from the conference
Agostino Randazzo, President of Circolo della Vela Sicilia: "This edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo promises to be particularly interesting: we will have highly experienced sailors and extraordinary boats starting from the Gulf of Mondello, confirming the technical level and prestige of the regatta. After twenty-one years, Circolo della Vela Sicilia is increasingly a protagonist on the international sailing scene, and seeing growing participation and attention around our event is a source of great satisfaction.
This year, for the first time, the Yacht Club de Monaco and Circolo della Vela Sicilia have decided to compete together, with a mixed crew: a collaboration that best represents the spirit of friendship that animates the two clubs."
Alessandro Anello, Councilor for Tourism and Sport for the City of Palermo: "It's a great pleasure to be here again this year for the 21st edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo, a regatta that's particularly close to my heart. With the quality of the boats and crews competing, the Palermo-Montecarlo has become a key event for the city, both in terms of sport and tourism. Every year we promote Palermo through a calendar of important tourism and sporting events, and this regatta is certainly one of the highlights."
Francesco Ettorre, President of the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV): "Twenty-one years of an event is a significant milestone. It means overcoming difficulties, consolidating a project, and establishing this event firmly in the Mediterranean offshore sailing scene. International participation is the result of hard work, hospitality, and the ability to make crews feel part of something special.
As a Federation, we are very happy to be present. Personally, I always return with pleasure because I find friends here and a wonderful welcome; institutionally, we recognize the value of an event that contributes to the growth of Italian sailing.
I am convinced that this 21st edition will be of a high standard. And, since there is already talk of the next one, I announce now that I would like to participate as a competitor in the 22nd edition."
Fabrizio Escheri, Consul of the Principality of Monaco for Sicily: "I thank the president and board of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia for once again involving the Consulate of the Principality of Monaco for Sicily in this event. Two seemingly distant realities are actually very close: Prince Albert of Monaco is an honorary citizen of Palermo, and his family has historical and cultural ties to Sicily. What unites us, above all, is the Mediterranean: a fragile sea, requiring attention and protection, but also a space for encounters, sport, culture, and peace."
Olivier Campana, Deputy General Manager, YCM: "I share the passion for the sea that unites our two cities, and it is deeply felt in Monte Carlo. We are delighted to be here in Palermo and to welcome the participants with our utmost hospitality. For the Yacht Club de Monaco, the Palermo-Monte Carlo is a great opportunity to renew the friendship and collaboration between the clubs. We look forward to seeing you all in Monte Carlo."
Tristan Le Brun, Black Jack 100: "We're coming off a very intense period, after the season in the Caribbean and the United States and the Newport Bermuda Race. We recently returned to Europe and resumed training just a few days ago, but the group is ready. This year, we also have Giulio, a young sailor, with us: boarding a 100-footer is a significant experience, because these boats are complex and powerful, but also extraordinary.
We really feel the enthusiasm of the people who follow Black Jack 100. We'd like to share our work even more with enthusiasts and young sailors: we're always available to show the boat and talk about what we do. A project like this exists thanks to the support of the owner, Remon Vos, a member of the Yacht Club de Monaco. These boats are extraordinary, almost magical machines, and being able to share them with the public is a fundamental part of our spirit.
As for the record, we prefer not to make predictions: the first part of the race could be characterized by light and unstable winds, so It will require attention and concentration. The competition is strong and it will be an interesting challenge."
Link to the registration page
Palermo-Montecarlo Virtual
Following the success of 2025, the virtual version of the regatta is confirmed again this year, thanks to the partnership with the Virtual Regatta platform. You can race the Palermo-Montecarlo with the same weather conditions, the same tactical and strategic choices as the sailors, remaining in front of a computer or smartphone screen, on Virtual Regatta, the same platform that offers the digital versions of The Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe, and the most important offshore and ocean sailing regattas. Last year, there were 8,454 participants. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers, to the top three in the Interclub Challenge between the two organizing clubs, and to the top under-18 finisher.
Sponsors and partners
The Palermo-Montecarlo 2026 is supported by a group of sponsors and partners, starting with the institutional ones: the Presidency of the Sicilian Region, with the participation of the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the Municipality of Palermo, and with the support of the Fondazione Sicilia. The regatta is also supported by UniCredit and the Palermo Porsche Center. A significant new sponsor for this edition is the Firriato winery, a well-established company with a project promoting biodiversity, represented by historic grape varieties and mountain and coastal viticulture.
www.palermo-montecarlo.it