The Italian team emerged triumphant at the 2024 Optimist European Team Racing Championship held at the Yacht Club de Monaco…

This prestigious event, organized under the guidance of the International Optimist Dinghy Association and World Sailing and sponsored by FxPro, Monaco Marine, and Slam, saw Italy’s team navigate four intense days of high-level competition against 16 teams from across Europe.

The championship showcased 64 young sailors competing in teams of four, racing strategically to secure the best collective finish in each round. “This event reflects values central to our club: team spirit and solidarity,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco. “The Italian team embodied this, making unified decisions that propelled them to the European title.”

Ideal sailing conditions set the stage for fierce competition. From the semi-finals onward, Turkey appeared well-positioned for victory, displaying skill and consistency. However, Italy’s team pulled off a spectacular comeback in the finals, blending strategic finesse with effective communication to outmanoeuvre the Turkish team, previously unbeaten. Marcello Meringolo, coach of the Italian national team, praised his team’s resilience: “Winning against such a strong Turkish team for our sixth championship title, and third consecutive victory, was a hard-earned accomplishment.”

The podium was rounded off by Spain, securing third place with strong performances throughout the competition. Monaco’s own team finished a respectable fourth in the Silver Round, showcasing promising talent led by sailors Océane Schroeder, Ludovica Bonelli, Facundo Rubinelli, and Pietro Carlevaris. “These young athletes are the future of sailing,” added Oliver Campana, YCM’s deputy director.

With the championship complete, the Yacht Club de Monaco now looks forward to hosting the Grimaldi Trophy and Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, promising more high calibre sailing events in the months ahead.