Palermo-Montecarlo Race closes the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge

Today at noon 57 boats lined up on the start of the 12th edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo Race in the prestigious Gulf of Mondello in Palermo, Sicily. “It’s very satisfying to start on time at 12 hrs. for this 12th edition in a seven-eight knot breeze with a clear very tight start, all yachts very close to the starting line. Even after so many years, it’s still amazing to manage the line with so many yachts. It’s pure adrenaline,” commented PRO Alfredo Ricci.

The 2016 Palermo-Montecarlo Race is the fourth event of the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge. The event sees a record attendance including 6 Maxi-yachts, representing 11 nations (Italy, USA, France, Monaco, Germany, Spain, UK, Malta, Turkey, Russia and Hungary), and a big success for Circolo della Vela Sicilia who, in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Cub Costa Smeralda, organises this 500nm course that retraces an ancient route taken by Phoenician ships.

After the Middle Sea Race 2015 and the Volcano Race and the Giraglia Rolex Cup 2016, the Palermo-Montecarlo  is the fourth and final stage of the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2016 created by the International Maxi Association (IMA).

No surprise that Rambler 88 (owner IMA member George David) skippered by Brad Butterworth led the fleet ahead of Marton Jozsa' Wild Joe and Ville de Genève. Their challenge is to cover the distance in under 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds - a record set last year by the 100-foot Esimit Europa 2 belonging to YCM and IMA member Igor Simcic, skippered by Jochen Schümann, four-time winner in real time of this event. ‎

“For sure our goal is to beat the record even though the 88-foot Rambler is smaller by 12 feet than Esimit. It’s do-able if we have the right weather conditions, ideally for us around 15-25 knots. Unfortunately, it looks like 11 to 15 knots are forecast for the first half from Sicily to Sardinia, but we will of course pull out all the stops,” commented the four-time-in-a-row winner of the America’s Cup, Brad Butterworth, helmsman and tactician on the all-carbon 27m American sloop.

Among other favourites in corrected time, along with Trofeo Angelo Randazzo, is the J111 Yacht Club de Monaco, with a team comprising Juan Alberto Casalone‎, ‎Martina Petrella and ‎Rémi Piazza, three sailors trained by the YCM’s Sports Section, supervised by Jacopo Carrain (skipper), assisted by Pietro d'Ali on tactics, Enrico Zennaro and Filippo La Mantia (mainsail trimmer) and Giuseppe Leonardi (bowman).

“It’s a very experienced team, Pietro d'Ali competing for the 5th time, supported by 4 excellent sailors,” observes Alfredo Ricci. “We must also look out for Buena Vista, the team from the Circolo della Vela Sicilia who won last year in corrected time and are out to defend their title.”

In Monaco, the Yacht Club de Monaco will also be following two other teams very closely: Hessel and Haico Halbesma sailing with Robeena Evensen (Challenger), and Gordon Kay, on his futuristic sailing boat, Infinity, the only foiling model produced in this series.

The first boats are expected in Monaco anytime from Tuesday 23rd August (depending on the weather), with the prize-giving scheduled for Friday 26th August at 7.30pm at the Yacht Club de Monaco.

To follow the race live: www.palermo-montecarlo.it or www.ycm.org

RACE REPORT and MEDIA CONTACTS:

Press Office Palermo-Montecarlo Race:

Federica Monticelli

Email: fmonticelli@federicamonticelli.com

Yacht Club Monaco Press Office:

Isabelle Andrieux

Email: i.andrieux@yacht-club-monaco.mc