Day: 19 January 2026

Young sailors from Yacht Club Italiano clinched victory in the 14th Monaco Optimist Team Race after an intense final-day battle with Danish rivals.

The team racing event, which concluded on Sunday after five days of competition, saw 15 teams from 12 nations compete in challenging conditions off Monaco’s coast.

The Italians, sailing together for the first time, overturned Denmark’s lead in the final races to claim the title by the narrowest of margins.

Down-to-the-wire finish

Danish Dynamite had dominated the provisional rankings throughout the competition, demonstrating superior tactical understanding of team racing dynamics where individual performance takes a back seat to collective success.

However, the Italian quartet remained in contention throughout, applying relentless pressure as the Round Robin qualifier progressed.

Their consistency and precision at crucial moments proved decisive in the final races, allowing them to overtake the Danes at the last minute.

“We really wanted to win and fought to the end to achieve this victory,” said Italian team member Gabriele Burlando. “The competition was tough but we did our best to prevail. I must say it was a fantastic regatta,” added teammate Vittorio Cavalleroni.

Both finalists won all their match races, showcasing collective mastery, tactical intelligence and total commitment at the highest level of youth team racing.

Switzerland’s Gstaad Yacht Club secured third place after a hard-fought campaign, while the home team from Yacht Club de Monaco, featuring Océane Schroeder, Joséphine Dobbelaere, Pietro Carlevaris and Louis Faivre, finished eighth.

Learning before winning

The regatta opened with a three-day International Clinic designed to go beyond conventional training.

British team racing expert Chris Atkins, who led the preparation with over 45 years of experience, explained the philosophy: “The goal is for them to try things, make mistakes and learn from them, so they don’t repeat them during the competition.”

The team race format places unique responsibility on young sailors, who must apply racing rules themselves under the watch of international umpires.

“The sailors must apply the rules themselves, which requires honesty and true sportsmanship,” Atkins said.

Lilia from Corsica described the experience as transformative. “Sailing is a way to understand the sea, the wind and the environment. It’s not just about being on a boat,” she said.

“The hardest part is listening to each other and managing situations together. But it creates bonds.”

Training for life

Bernard d’Alessandri, Yacht Club de Monaco’s Director and General Secretary, emphasised that the event’s value extends beyond the rankings.

“Young people learn that they must look beyond individual results to get results for the team. They learn to coordinate and interact with young people of their own age. It’s a wonderful training ground for life,” he said.

The competition received a special visit from Monegasque Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, adding to the occasion’s prestige.

Since 2010, the Monaco Optimist Team Race has supported generations of young sailors, with participants developing valuable life skills including teamwork, respect for competition rules, and group decision-making abilities.

The 15th edition is scheduled for 13-17 January 2027.

The event was organised by Yacht Club de Monaco with support from Monaco Marine, FxPro, North Sails, Erplast and Peace and Sport.

YCM continues its events programme with the 18th Business Symposium – La Belle Classe Superyachts on 5 February 2026, bringing together international yachting stakeholders.

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Photo credit: Gianmattia Dalberto, YCM