Yacht Class n°43 (Dec-Jan-Fev 2025)
In its first ever appearance in the Admiral’s Cup, often referred to as the “Davis Cup of offshore racing”, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) achieved a historic victory.
Written by Christophe Varène – Photos : Lloyd Images, Rick & James Tomlinson, Paul Wyeth / RORC, Ricardo Pinto / YCM et Borlenghi.
The Monegasque team, led by Peter Harrison, YCM member and CEO of Richard Mille, and Pierre Casiraghi, YCM Vice-President, won the overall ranking of the 2025 Admiral’s Cup, ahead of prestigious clubs such as the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, a twinned club of the YCM. This performance marks Monaco’s entry into the very exclusive circle of winners of this legendary competition, which was relaunched in 2025 after a 22-year hiatus.
A prestigious event
From 19th July to 1st August, the 2025 Admiral’s Cup brought together fifteen teams of two boats – one measuring 50 to 55 feet (AC1) and the other 40 to 45 feet (AC2) – representing as many nations. After an initial offshore race, the Channel Race (160 miles and a coefficient of 2), the competitors battled it out on six inshore courses (coefficient of 1) in the Solent, before settling the score in the Rolex Fastnet Race (695 miles and a coefficient of 3). With solid results and, above all, the essential consistency in the inshore races, the Monegasque team was in a “chasing” position for the final – and decisive – round.
Pierre Casiraghi at the heart of victory
At the helm of Jolt 6, Pierre Casiraghi played a decisive role, particularly during the Rolex Fastnet Race, a 695-mile event that sealed Monaco’s victory. He described this race as “the most exhausting” of his career, highlighting the collective effort and determination of his crew. “Today, our club has made its mark in the history of this prestigious competition,” he said, thanking his teammates and praising the team spirit that made this success possible. The Fastnet Race, named after the famous lighthouse located at the south-western tip of Ireland, is the flagship event of the Admiral’s Cup, both in terms of its duration and the commitment required of crews to complete this most challenging course, from the start in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, to the finish in Cherbourg, at the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula. Before this final round, after the Channel Race and the six inshore races, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club led the standings with an eight-point lead over the YCM. But everything was decided during this legendary race: the two Monegasque boats, Jolt 3, a TP52 skippered by Peter Harrison and helmed by Ed Baird, a regular in the America’s Cup, and Jolt 6, a Carkeek 40 co-skippered by Pierre Casiraghi and Will Harris, navigator for Team Malizia, put in an exceptional performance, reversing the trend and securing the overall victory for Monaco.
A historic result
Jolt 6 indeed won the Fastnet Race in its AC2 category on corrected time, thanks to the “phenomenal work” of Will Harris and his flawless performance, as highlighted by Pierre Casiraghi. With variable winds, choppy seas, currents, difficult nights sailing close-hauled and periods of calm, the competition remained intense throughout the race in difficult weather conditions and relentless tactical sailing, with the first eight boats separated by just one hour at the finish. Jolt 3 won her AC1 class, with Ed Baird emphasising that this result was decided by marginal differences. This double performance is based on rigorous training and unfailing logistical support, which have built the group dynamic essential to meet the challenges of this team event. The YCM won the 2025 Admiral’s Cup with 68 points, ahead of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (84 points) and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (92 points), after eight demanding races, including the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race.
A winning strategy and a family legacy
The project, led by Peter Harrison and Pierre Casiraghi, is part of a long-term vision for the YCM, with the support of Team Malizia, founded by Pierre Casiraghi and German sailor Boris Herrmann. Several members of the Jolt crews went on to compete in The Ocean Race Europe, confirming the club’s ambition and sporting continuity. The victory takes on a strong symbolic dimension, with Pierre Casiraghi paying tribute to his grandfather, Prince Rainier III, founder of the Yacht Club de Monaco in 1953. The trophy presentation ceremony, presided over by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, was a moving moment, marking the pride of the Principality and the YCM. “With your efforts and results, you have made our dreams come true,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary and General Manager of the YCM. The presence of young Stefano, Pierre Casiraghi’s son, also symbolised the passing on of a family passion for sailing.
