The Yacht Club de Monaco will host the 13th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge from 8 to 11 July, bringing together 54 teams from 21 countries to showcase technologies that could shape the future of yachting.
Supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation, the competition combines engineering, innovation, sustainability, and on-water performance as students test prototypes powered by electric, hydrogen, or methanol propulsion systems, alongside hydrofoils, onboard artificial intelligence, energy management systems, and bio-sourced materials.
The event, held under the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting initiative, challenges young engineers to “imagine and design innovative solutions, then test them at sea alongside industry professionals,” according to Yacht Club de Monaco Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri. “This hands-on experience is what makes it so effective as an open-air innovation laboratory dedicated to the yachting sector’s energy transition.”
Open to the public from 9 to 11 July, the event offers free admission from 10am to 6pm daily, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Village. Alongside live racing, guests can participate in a Winch Challenge, try a boating simulator, and see these new technologies up close. Visitors will also be able to move freely through the paddock, watch prototypes being prepared to race, and speak directly with young designers.
Throughout the competition, teams will face a series of real-world tests in Monaco’s waters. Speed, endurance, and manoeuvrability will all be put to the test as the teams compete for the championship.
This year, teams from EPFL, Politecnico di Torino, the University of Genoa, Exocet Polytechnique Montreal, Hainan University, École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers, and Cambridge University will be present, along with a US delegation made up of Columbia University (New York), George Washington University, Howard University (Washington DC), and Florida International University.
Through its Corporate Mentoring Programme, this challenge pairs 20 professionals with 22 teams to support their project development. “The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to build alliances between the new generation of engineers and our industry. We are convinced that combining our efforts to evolve performance, responsibility, and design, we can build a better future for yachting,” said Paris Baloumis, Director of Strategic Alliances at Oceanco.
This event also provides a platform for discussions about the future of the yachting industry. The Advanced Yachting Technology Conference on 9 July will focus on innovation and emerging technologies, while the Alternative Fuels & Sustainable Yachting Conference on 10 July will explore decarbonization pathways, including nuclear propulsion, wind power, methanol, next-generation batteries, and electric power.
This challenge has also become an important tool for accelerating innovation. Italian startup CompetR is one example. Born from a collaboration with the UniBoat team, the company presented its electric outboard motor in 2024 before being spotted by MonacoTech. It now supplies several teams with its counter-rotating propeller propulsion system, designed to improve energy efficiency while reducing weight and consumption.
Since its launch in 2014, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has involved over 6,500 students and roughly 50 universities, with several technologies showcased at the event now being used across the industry.
As the future of yachting moves towards cleaner propulsion and sustainability, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge offers visitors the opportunity to see tomorrow’s boating technologies being tested today.
Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Photo provided