The Monaco Optimist Team Race has steadily built a reputation as one of the most demanding and revealing youth sailing events on the international calendar, a status reflected in its roll of honour and the calibre of sailors it continues to attract. Since its launch in 2010, the competition has welcomed teams from across Europe and beyond, with victories spread among some of the world’s most respected sailing nations.
Early editions were frequently dominated by Swiss teams, particularly those representing the Société Nautique de Genève and Gstaad Yacht Club. Over time, Germany, Finland, Turkey and Monaco also claimed victories, before American teams asserted themselves with wins in 2020 and 2022. In 2023, Croatia delivered one of the event’s most memorable moments, upsetting the established order with a standout performance by JKU Deep Blue. Each edition has brought new contenders to the fore, reinforcing Monaco’s role as a proving ground for the sport’s rising talent.
What sets the Monaco Optimist Team Race apart is its format. Inspired by the America’s Cup, the event is contested as a head-to-head team race, where strategy, communication and collective decision-making outweigh individual brilliance. Reading the water, managing pressure and coordinating manoeuvres as a unit are essential, making the competition as much a test of character as of technical skill.
For many participants, the experience marks a turning point. The absence of individual heroes forces young sailors to think beyond personal performance, encouraging maturity, adaptability and leadership. Over the years, the event has earned a reputation as a launching pad for sailors who later progress beyond the Optimist class and into higher levels of international competition.
Preparation is a key part of the Monaco experience. Ahead of racing, teams are invited to take part in the annual International Clinic, held from January 12 to 14, which offers intensive coaching focused on the specific demands of team racing. The clinic is led by Chris Atkins, a highly respected figure in the discipline, whose career spans more than four decades and includes multiple British national titles, a world championship gold medal with Team Great Britain, and senior roles within Olympic sailing structures.
The three-day clinic allows competitors to refine tactics, sharpen coordination and fully grasp the subtleties of the format before competition begins. Racing is scheduled to get underway at 11:00 on Thursday, January 15, following these final preparations.
As the latest edition approaches, the Monaco Optimist Team Race once again promises to combine elite-level competition with education and development — a rare blend that continues to attract the world’s most promising young sailors to the Principality each year.
