27/03/2019: An increasingly international Palermo-Montecarlo
The Palermo-Montecarlo's XV edition begins to be talked about with the formalization of the first registered yachts representing a significant and instant success with a strong international participation: today, in effect, there are already six nations and three continents represented in that magnificent offshore regatta organized by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Challenger of Record of the next edition of the America's Cup alongside Team Luna Rossa. An important fleet both in terms of numbers - the start of the regatta is scheduled for more than five months, on August 21st – and in terms of quality, thanks to the presence of boats representing the top of offshore sailing in the world, yet another confirmation that the Palermo-Montecarlo is an event that has a strong appeal also and above all outside of italian borders. This is the case of David Witt's Super Maxi SHK Scallywag, a modern and very fast 100 feet monohull (over 30 meters) from Honk Kong, the crew will aim to conquer the Palermo-Montecarlo line honors and to beat the record Esimit Europa 2 established in 2015, 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds. This also the case of the 82 feet Maxi Vera owned by Miguel Galuccio, from Argentine, ex My Song owned by Pigi Loro Piana, on board the crew will be count on the presence of the Italian Olympian sailor Michele Regolo, or of Aragon the 72 feet designed by Reichel & Pugh, a dutch maxi skippered by the French Nicolas Lecarpentier, winner of the famous 2016 RORC Transatlantic Race, and of the 67 feet Arara owned by the American Tim Gollin, a modern design by Marc Lombard that will have on board an international crew made up of American, French and Italian sailors.
As many as four multihulls are already registered, headed by the ORMA 60 Ad Maiora owned by Bruno Cardile, already protagonist of last year's Palermo-Montecarlo. Two monohulls will face the approximately 500 miles of the racecourse between Sicily and the Principality of Monaco, with the passage for a gate in front of Porto Cervo, with a crew made up of only two people (double handed): the Comet 41s Prospettica owned by Giacomo Gonzi, a long time veteran of the Palermo-Montecarlo, and the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 Skip Intro owned by Marco Romano.
As already anticipated, the start of the Palermo-Montecarlo 2019 is scheduled for 12.00 on next 21st August, from Gulf of Mondello. This year the race will be a stage of both the Italian Offshore Championship organized by the Italian Sailing Federation and of the Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge organized by the International Maxi Association. The Angelo Randazzo Perpetual Challenge Trophy will award the winner in compensated time of the most numerous of the two scheduled classes, last year this trophy was won by the French crew of Tonnerre de Glen, while the Giuseppe Tasca d'Almerita Trophy is up for grabs and will award the yacht that will first cut the finish line of Montecarlo in real time, it's currently held by the very fast American Maxi Rambler88.
The Circolo della Vela Sicilia is organizing the event alongside the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda,with the precious support of the Fondazione Sicilia which continues to show great interest in this regatta and its international spirit and of the long time partner Tasca d'Almerita.
Agostino Randazzo (President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia)
"In the past few years, at the same period, we never had so many registrations and therefore there all the promises to live a truly special edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo. What impresses, in addition to the number of registered boats, is their quality, as well as the fact that we have boats from all over Europe, but also from Asia and South America, therefore a fleet with a strong international dimension: it certainly confirms that we are doing a good job, but it must be a stimulus to continue to improve, certainly not a point of arrival. The fact that in the month of August, Palermo will be the center of the world of sailing, it is a source of pride, also because I am sure that in this period of the year, many participants will take advantage of the regatta to visit our beautiful Sicily".
As many as four multihulls are already registered, headed by the ORMA 60 Ad Maiora owned by Bruno Cardile, already protagonist of last year's Palermo-Montecarlo. Two monohulls will face the approximately 500 miles of the racecourse between Sicily and the Principality of Monaco, with the passage for a gate in front of Porto Cervo, with a crew made up of only two people (double handed): the Comet 41s Prospettica owned by Giacomo Gonzi, a long time veteran of the Palermo-Montecarlo, and the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 Skip Intro owned by Marco Romano.
As already anticipated, the start of the Palermo-Montecarlo 2019 is scheduled for 12.00 on next 21st August, from Gulf of Mondello. This year the race will be a stage of both the Italian Offshore Championship organized by the Italian Sailing Federation and of the Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge organized by the International Maxi Association. The Angelo Randazzo Perpetual Challenge Trophy will award the winner in compensated time of the most numerous of the two scheduled classes, last year this trophy was won by the French crew of Tonnerre de Glen, while the Giuseppe Tasca d'Almerita Trophy is up for grabs and will award the yacht that will first cut the finish line of Montecarlo in real time, it's currently held by the very fast American Maxi Rambler88.
The Circolo della Vela Sicilia is organizing the event alongside the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda,with the precious support of the Fondazione Sicilia which continues to show great interest in this regatta and its international spirit and of the long time partner Tasca d'Almerita.
Agostino Randazzo (President of the Circolo della Vela Sicilia)
"In the past few years, at the same period, we never had so many registrations and therefore there all the promises to live a truly special edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo. What impresses, in addition to the number of registered boats, is their quality, as well as the fact that we have boats from all over Europe, but also from Asia and South America, therefore a fleet with a strong international dimension: it certainly confirms that we are doing a good job, but it must be a stimulus to continue to improve, certainly not a point of arrival. The fact that in the month of August, Palermo will be the center of the world of sailing, it is a source of pride, also because I am sure that in this period of the year, many participants will take advantage of the regatta to visit our beautiful Sicily".
