RS21s deliver One Design excitement in Monaco for the all-female Virginie Héroit Trophy
by RS Sailing 19 Oct 12:22 PDT
16-18 October 2026
RS21 fleet at Virginie Heroit Trophy © Monaco Yacht Club
RS21s were sailed for the first time for the Virginie Hériot Trophy, bringing high-energy one-design racing to this prestigious all-female regatta.
Organised by Monaco Yacht Club, the event saw welcomed 22 teams battling it out on the Bay of Monaco, 16-18 October 2026.
The trophy honours Virginie Hériot, known as "Madame de la Mer", who won Olympic gold for France in 1928 aboard Aile VI in the 8 Metre JI class. A year later, Virgine and her team went on to win the French Cup in the same boat. Renamed the Virginie Hériot Trophy in 2025, after two editions as Leading Women & Sailing, the event continues her legacy by celebrating women in sailing today.
International line-up in the new One-Design fleet
This year's line-up featured 22 teams from across Europe and beyond, including the defending champions from the Royal Thames Yacht Club in the UK, alongside competitors from the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, and France. The host club, Monaco Yacht Club, fielded three teams, including the Pink Wave collective.
The event marked the first time the Virginie Hériot Trophy was sailed in RS21s. Liam Willis, RS21 International Class Manager and RS Sailing fleet manager, delivered the RS21 charter fleet to Monaco, fresh off the back of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Portimão, Portugal.
"We were delighted to be invited to this prestigious regatta and to see the 2026 edition sailed in RS21s for the first time," said Liam. "Having previously featured J/70s, the organisers were ready for a new one-design fleet, and the RS21 proved a great platform for the competition."
Close Racing and a German victory
While all eyes we're on favourites, the Royal Thames Yacht Club, to defend its title, the competition was wide open from the outset. By the end of the first day, Swiss team CVL had taken the provisional lead on three points, closely followed by German teams HSC Frolüüü and NRV, tied on four points. Die Fiven and Swiss Ladies completed the top five.
The second day brought further shifts in the leaderboard. When the results were settled, German team NRV claimed victory, with Switzerland's CVL finishing second and Germany's HSC Frolüü taking third place.
"The teams really enjoyed the challenge of the RS21, and it was great to see everyone enjoying the experience on and off the water," said Liam.
Congratulations to all the teams and organisers who helped make the event a success in Monaco. Special thanks go to host Monaco Yacht Club and event partners FxPro and North Sails.
See the full results here
Next Stop: The RS21 World Championship in Cannes
Following the Monaco regatta, the RS21 charter fleet heads to Cannes Yacht Club for the RS21 World Championship 2026, taking place 28-31 October.
With 40 boats expected on the start line, the World Championship promises another exciting showcase of RS21 one-design racing. Follow all the action via the RS21 Facebook Page and latest updates on RS News.