The spectacular regatta is now a classic of the Mediterranean hill: over 500 miles from Mondello to the Principality of Monaco. Black Jack, length flagship, aims to improve the 44 hours record
When a regatta debuts with the success of a noble boat it means that he got on the right route. The first edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo, left on August 18, 2005, saw ten boats at the start: Steinlager II imposed himself (the legendary ketch with which the New Zealand Peter Blake won the tour of the world of 1989-90) at the helm was theenfant du pays Agostino Randazzo, flanked by the expert Mauro Pelaschier. But the victory in compensated time went to a “normal” First 40.7, a Turkey fairy of a Sicilian arma, grace alia. Edition after edition, Palermo-Montecarlo has become a true classic of the Mediterranean hill: over 500 miles from Mondello, home to the Sicily Sailing Club to the Principality of Monaco where there is the second organizing club, the Yacht Club de Monaco, a recent and surprising winner of the Admiral’s Cup. The third club involved is the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. And from the ten members of the Prémiere we moved to 45 boats that on Tuesday 19 August, at 12 noon, will find themselves on the starting line.
The new edition
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The jewel of our Navy will be a suggestive background at the start of the 20th edition. The confirmation of the internarationality acquired over the years comes from the fact that 40% of the foreign fleet is represented by boats from ten nations. To guide it is the Monegasque Black Jack, the Maxi 100 of Remon Vos – which makes the flagship for length, just over 30 meters – committed to beating the record set in 2024: it arrived in the principality in just over 44 hours, three less than the previous primacy. For the record, Black Jack was the best single -time, in real time, in the last Rolex Fastnet Race. The longest boat after Black Jack is the French Mini-Maxi 69 Intuition which also has a chance in the ranking in correct time, as prestigious as the Honours line. Among the possible winners we also put the Austrian Vor 65 Sisi, the Turkish TP52 Blue Moon Arkas Turco, the French Swan 56 Azahar.
Tricolor fleets
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A glance also at the tricolor fleet where there is no lack of boats capable of doing well: the 14 -meter Failing catamaran of Matteo Uliassi, with Skipper Francesco Cerina, in favorable conditions for the “flight” can contend for real -time victory at Black Jack. Then there is a group of boats that look only at the ranking in compensated time, such as the brand new Grand Soleil 52 Race Black Pekoe III by Ernesto Folli; The Swan 45 Tengher by Alberto Magnani of the Italian Yacht Club, which runs the double regatta; the MYLIUS 60 MANICORS OF FRANZ BARuffaldi Preis; NAB 12.50 Superkalimera by Massimo Sabatini; Elo II, prototype entrusted to the experience of Pietro d’Alì. Without forgetting Duffy, the little Dufour 34 by Enrico Calvi, one of the Italian boats with more miles traveled in the last decade. The Sicilian Vela Circle as tradition will be at the start with one of his official boat: the skipper Edoardo Bonanno has chosen Ice 52 No Regret, winner of the 151 miles 2025 in IRC and competitive in offshore regattas. On board among others the tactician Gaetano daughter of Granara, together with the children Federico and Riccardo. A wooden jewel is also underway, launched just 40 years ago: it is Angelica II, the 15 meters of Antonio Centrone, “signed” by Carlo Sciarrelli.
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