Monaco J/70 Winter Sportsboat Series Opens with Top European Teams
(Monte Carlo, Monaco)- Since 2013, the best J/70 crews have enthusiastically migrated to Monaco every winter to line up at the start of the Monaco J/70 Winter Sportsboat Series, a series of monthly regattas organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco. Now a winter calendar tradition, these meetings aim to let sailors from across Europe keep racing at the highest level in preparation for upcoming events.
The history of J/Boats one-design sailing at YC Monaco dates back to the early 1980s when the J/24 class was first established as one of the largest fleets in Europe for decades. HRH Prince Albert II was an enthusiastic supporter and sailor in the fleet, having raced J/24s for years. Prince Albert’s passion and enthusiasm for sailing continue unabated today; he was the patron of the 2022 J/70 World Championship at YC Monaco. Furthermore, Prince Albert has supported his favorite regatta every year for 43 years- the Primo Cup- Trophee UBS is coming up this spring in March 2027.
J/70s make up the largest, continuous one-design fleet in Primo Cup history. Notably, the Primo Cup launched in 1984 with J/24s and was a shared passion for the ocean and sailing between Prince Albert and his father, Prince Rainier III.
J/70 crews have no winter break. This weekend, the first event kicks off; around twenty boats are expected for this opening regatta with several teams determined to shake up last season’s rankings.
G-SPOT defends its title
All eyes will be on G-SPOT, helmed by Yacht Club de Monaco member Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio. The team won the 2025-2026 championship after 25 races, ahead of fellow members Pierrik Devic’s FRASER YACHTS and Nico Poons’ CHARISMA V H992 Sailing Team to secure an all-YCM podium. This season the slate is wiped clean. FRASER YACHTS is back on the starting line, as is Stefano Roberti’s PICCININA, winner of the 2024-2025 season.
Another crew to watch is MOONLIGHT II helmed by the 2016 Olympic 470 class champion Saskia Clark. It all points to some exciting action from the start. International competition is also strong, notably from the well-represented Swiss contingent, including Lorenz Kausche’s TARTE-3NUITS.COM, Thaïs de Tribolet’s JACQUELINE, and two Ville de Genève teams. The Swedish EL OTRO crew, who regularly attend the Monaco event, will also be on the start. Then, of course, the French team EUROVOILES, led by Denis Infante, topped the Corinthian category last season.
Four Acts to make the difference
The format remains unchanged, with short courses, back-to-back starts, and up to nine races scheduled for each weekend event. Beyond the rankings, the Monaco J/70 Winter Sportsboat Series provides a valued training ground for many. Some crews use it to prepare for upcoming international competitions, while others take advantage of the winter season to develop their teams or test out new boat settings. The 15+ boats in the local J/70 Monaco fleet also contribute significantly to this race-training approach and to one-design racing in the Principality.
After Act I, the fleet will be back out on the water for these subsequent events:
Act 2: December 10–13, 2026
Act 3: February 11–14, 2027
Act 4: March 10–14, 2027- 43rd Primo Cup Trophy UBS
For more Monaco J/70 Winter Sportsboat Series sailing information
https://yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/event/sport-event/monaco-sportsboat-winter-series/