The inaugural edition of the Virginie Hériot Trophy has drawn to an exhilarating close at the Yacht Club de Monaco. Over the course of three intense days, 21 teams from nine nations battled it out on J/70s, reaffirming the rapid rise of women’s sailing on the international stage.
Held under the auspices of the French and Monegasque sailing federations and supported by FxPro, the Virginie Hériot Trophy regatta, held in Monaco between 14th and 16th March, welcomed competitors from across the globe, with one significant difference from other sailing events: all the participants were women.
The event owes much of its growth and organisation to Pink Wave, a collective of female sailors from the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) who have championed international women’s sailing for the past six years. Originally named Women Leading & Sailing, this new regatta was later renamed to honour Virginie Hériot, a pioneering figure in the sport and the first woman to claim an Olympic gold medal in 1928. Affectionately dubbed Madame de la Mer, Hériot’s enduring legacy continues to inspire new generations of female sailors and competitors.
WINNERS OF THE WEEKEND
Weather conditions played a definitive role throughout the competition. As a light easterly breeze blew on the opening day, the UK’s Royal Thames Yacht Club made a commanding start, securing victory in all three races. The American Sound Sisters also delivered a strong performance, holding onto second place.
The British team continued their dominance on Day Two, notching up two more wins. By the final day, a strengthening mistral of 15 to 20 knots brought fresh challenges, but the Royal Thames Yacht Club remained unshaken, successfully defending their top position in the Gold group. Lausanne Sailing Club clinched second place, while Germany’s Boddensprotten team from Regatta Verein Greifswald outmanoeuvred the Sound Sisters to take third place.
Meanwhile, in the Silver group, Cannelles 2 claimed the top spot, while in the Bronze group, the YCM team, comprised of Pink Wave sailors, rose to victory under the leadership of Anne Rodelato and supported by Olympic champion Saskia Clark, alongside Maycka Delgado, Kathrin Hoyos and Anne Schouten.
COMING UP
The YCM is preparing for another type of event altogether in the coming week: the sixth edition of the Superyacht Chef Competition, scheduled for 3rd April.
Organised by the La Belle Classe Academy training centre in collaboration with Bluewater, the competition will challenge nine chefs working on superyachts ranging from 36 to 97 metres to put forward their finest dishes. The chefs will be judged by a prestigious panel chaired by Chef Jean-François Girardin, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 1993, former chef at the Ritz Paris and President of the Société Nationale des MOF.
For more on this and other upcoming events, click here.
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Photo source: YCM