The Navicap Challenge – Elena Sivoldaeva Trophy closed its 2025 edition with a home victory for Monaco, as young Yacht Club de Monaco sailors Victor Holst and Paul Papillon dominated a record fleet of 65 crews from eight nations between Friday, November 28 and Sunday, November 30. The regatta, organised by the YCM in collaboration with FxPro and North Sails, once again proved why it has become a distinctive date on the sailing calendar, bringing together athletes of all abilities in a format where teamwork, precision and adaptability rule the day. Bernard d’Alessandri, the YCM’s CEO and Secretary General, noted that the crews showed exactly the kind of high-level, collaborative sailing the club aims to foster.
Holst and Papillon’s win came through consistency and cool-headed racing, including two victories in four sets that kept them constantly in front of the pack. Their success was followed by another Monegasque performance, with Arthur Piekarec and Cédric Calabuig Evan taking second place after a hard-fought contest with the impressive all-female French duo of Martine Guyon and Anne Marteau, who finished third.
From the outset, the Hansa 303 fleet signalled a competitive weekend. The opening Round Robin saw tight duels and standout performances, including that of world champion Gauthier Bril, paired with Camille Massonnaud. Bril noted that the event serves as ideal preparation for major upcoming competitions such as the Inclusive Sailing World Championship in Oman, adding that sailing challenges athletes to push past apprehension and uncover their potential. Their showing reflected the increasingly high standard of the Navicap Challenge, now seen as a key moment for inclusive sailing.
A defining feature of the event remains the fleet of Hansa 303 boats provided by the YCM and funded through the support of member Elena Sivoldaeva. The boats’ adaptable design allows crews to compete in any configuration—able-bodied teams, sailors with disabilities, or mixed pairs—placing shared coordination and precision at the heart of performance. The strong involvement of the YCM’s Sports Section, represented by sailors such as Nicolas Rostagni, Gabriel Lanteri Gaglio, Gory Floyd and Armand Chevalier, highlighted the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent and ensuring skills are passed on from one generation to the next.
The prize-giving ceremony honoured sailors, volunteers and technical staff whose work helped deliver what many described as the strongest edition yet. The Navicap Challenge – Elena Sivoldaeva Trophy now firmly holds its place as a unifying event for the Monegasque sailing community.
Attention at the YCM now turns to the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, with the J/70 fleet regrouping from Thursday, December 4 to Sunday, December 7 for Act II. Early results suggest a fiercely contested season ahead, with Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio’s G-Spot currently leading the provisional standings and little separating the challengers.
