21st Palermo-Montecarlo Regatta - The grand finale and the awards ceremony
by Palermo-Montecarlo 24 Aug 02:01 PDT
18-23 August 2026
21st Palermo-Montecarlo Regatta - The grand finale © Circolo della Vela Sicilia / Studio Borlenghi
The 21st edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo, the offshore sailing regatta of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, concluded in style, with the participation of 39 boats from 11 nations.
The Palermo-Montecarlo has awarded its two winners: the Giuseppe Tasca d'Almerita Challenge Trophy for Line Honors in real time to the supermaxi Black Jack 100, owned by the American Remon Vos and skippered by Frenchman Tristan Le Brun, flying the Yacht Club de Monaco burgee; and the Angelo Randazzo Challenge Trophy for the corrected time victory in the ORC group to the Turkish TP52 Arkas Blue Moon, owned by Bernard Arkas and skippered by Serhat Altay.
But this edition will also be remembered for the unusual weather conditions that led to a unique decision in the history of the race. The unanimous forecast of a violent but fast-moving low-pressure front, with very strong winds along the planned route, prompted Race Director Giancarlo Crevatin to temporarily suspend the race for eight hours (from 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday, August 21st), with the boats safely in ports or sheltered areas, and to restart in better weather conditions. Race times were calculated by subtracting the respective stoppage periods. This innovative solution, compared by some to the Formula 1 Safety Car, was widely appreciated, both by the racing crews, who felt supported and protected, and by leading figures in the sailing world. It ensured safety and care for sailors, both professional and amateur, and safeguarded the event by ensuring everyone completed the finish in Monte Carlo. In the end, no boat finished beyond the scheduled time limit.
The last night with many arrivals
The last night between Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, August 23rd was packed with arrivals: by midnight, the Farr 52 Chocolate 3 with a Hungarian crew led by Peter Czegai, the Cookson 50 Viva Malta, skippered by Ramon Sant Hill, the innovative Zephyr FC44 owned by Frenchman Simon Toms, then Firecrest, the 40-foot Joubert-designed Nivelt owned by Frenchman Benoit Tuduri, Andrea Casini's Comet 45S Quattrogatti, Stephan Hummeke's German Neo 400 Upscale, and Alessandro Fiori's Class 40 Liberté passed by, all in close proximity.
The Monegasque dawn greeted the arrival of several other crews, starting around 5:00 a.m.: Ester Puzzangaro and Salvatore Stabile's Vismara 40 Querida, Mathias Warns' German Sydney 46 Blue Bohemia, the French Dehler 39 Yenael 3, Melagodo, Luca De Luca and Federico Serafini's First 34.7, which strengthens its lead in the FIV Italian Offshore Championship standings; the First 36.7 Sur skippered by Enrico Dho, and Antonio Gambardella's Figaro 3 Gold Digger skippered by Mario Marino.
With the sun already higher, the following arrived: Bora Fast, the Sun Fast 3600 with Francesco Farci, Mario Pellegrini's Grand Soleil 40 Renoir, Massimo Sabatini's Nab 12.50 Superkalimera, Massimo Licata D'Andrea's First 35 South Kensington, Frenchman Luc Baradat's Dehler 36 Overdose Charlie, and the English Grand Soleil 43 Chione, skippered by Bill Farrant. Nine official retirements.
The awards ceremony
The closing ceremony and awards ceremony drew most of the crews to the halls of the Yacht Club de Monaco. After the customary greetings and welcome from the General Manager of the Yacht Club de Monaco, Bernard D'Alessandri, the President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, and the Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, those present previewed the eagerly awaited official video of the regatta, curated by filmmaker Mauro Cozza of Studio Borlenghi: a summary of the emotions experienced by the sailors from the start in Palermo to the crossing and up to the finish line in the Principality of Monaco.
Race Director Giancarlo Crevatin then began the award ceremony.
The top Maxi boats in corrected time at the Porto Cervo mark were the 79-foot Fiamme Gialle Nice, owned by Marco Malgara and skippered by Francesco Nerone; Arkas Blue Moon in IRC and ORC Group 1; and Enrico Dho's Sur, First 36.7, in ORC Group 2; and Luca De Luca's Melagodo in the double-handed (X2) category.
The ORC Group 2 podium at the end of the race saw Sur first, South Kensington Lauria second, and Bora Fast third. In ORC Group 1, Arkas Blue Moon was first, followed by the Cookson 50 Viva Malta second, and the Neo 430 Alemaro, owned by German Roman Puchtev, third.
The IRC podium again saw Arkas Blue Moon first, South Kensington Lauria second, and Overdo Charlie third.
The Maxi podium in corrected time awarded victory to Fiamme Gialle Nice, ahead of the Swan 60 Sea Quill skippered by Andrea Fornaro and third place to Black Jack 100.
Among the double-handed racers, the only one to finish the race was Luca De Luca's Melagodo.
All winners also received a bottle of wine courtesy of sponsor Firriato.
The Emanuele Bruno Trophy for the first Sicilian boat in real time was awarded to Andrea Casini's Quattrogatti, of Società Conottieri Palermo.
Then came the Super Challenge Trophies. The Giuseppe Tasca d'Almerita Trophy, one of the founders of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, went to the first yacht to cross the finish line in real time: the extraordinary supermaxi Black Jack 100, its third consecutive victory.
Then, Rosellina and Agostino Randazzo presented the Angelo Randazzo Challenge Trophy, past president of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia and founder of the Palermo-Montecarlo, to the winner in corrected time in the largest fleet (ORC): Arkas Blue Moon.
The Virtual version of the Palermo-Montecarlo also received awards: 7,083 competitors participated, including seven of the top 10 in the world rankings. The overall winner is Coyote53, 52nd in the e-sailing world rankings. In the challenge between two organizing clubs, the YCM took the top three places, in order: Leandro Casali, Alain Marchand, and Marco Superina.
See you at the Palermo-Montecarlo 2027.
The tracking link: pro.yb.tl/pm2026
www.palermo-montecarlo.it