This is an exciting time with the latest Palermo Monte Carlo regatta boat race, the 13th edition to date.
The XIIIth edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo takes place from the 21 to 26 August 2017, with 44 boats including the IMOCA 60 Malizia II. Following the 3rd place of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the IMOCA 60’ flying the flag of the Yacht Club of Monaco started the 13th edition of the Palermo-Monte Carlo.
Skippered by Boris Herrmann, the crew consists of Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club of Monaco, accompanied by two club members: Valentin Zavadnikov and Matteo Marenghi Vaselli, assisted by Milena Schoenahl.
“I am delighted to be racing Malizia II for the first time with a crew of Club members. The course presents magnificent landscapes and if the wind is with us, I look forward to discovering the performance potential of this IMOCA 60’,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary General, the day before departure.
Organized by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, in collaboration with the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this 500 nautical mile race is the fourth and final stage of the IMA’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2017, alongside the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the 151 Miglia Regatta and the Giraglia Rolex Cup.
Its route consists of going up the Mediterranean through the obligatory passage of a gate off Porto Cervo in Sardinia before going along two coasts of Corsica (chosen by the navigator) and then reaching the Principality.
The kick-off was be given at noon in the Gulf of Mondello, in Palermo, Sicily. Faced with 44 sailboats (9 nations), including six Maxi, Malizia is facing strong competition. In particular, they have to face the American TP52 Lucky, the Belgian Grand Soleil 58 Leaps & Bounds by Jean-Philippe Blanpain and the Buena Vista by Circolo della Vela Sicilia.
Remember that the record of the crossing to beat is 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds. It was established in 2015 by the 100 foot max Esimit Europa 2 of Igor Simcic and skippered by Jochen Schümann, quadruple winner of the event in real time.
To watch the race live: www.palermo-montecarlo.it or www.ycm.org
The Palermo Monte Carlo regatta boat race is surely an exciting event to watch!
Source: Yacht Club de Monaco
