After nine years, the Palermo-Montecarlo record has finally been broken. The new record was set by the maxi yacht Black Jack 100, helmed by Yacht Club de Monaco member Tristan Le Brun, who completed the 500-nautical-mile journey from Palermo, Sicily, to Monaco in 1 day, 20 hours, 34 minutes, and 22 seconds. This achievement shatters the previous record set in 2015 by Esimit Europa 2, which is in fact the former name of Black Jack 100.
The Palermo-Montecarlo race, organised by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, saw participation from around 50 international teams this year, including notable entries like Andrea Statari’s Comet 45s Gorilla Gang XL and Paul Basson’s Swan46 Foreign Affair, both representing the Yacht Club de Monaco.
The race began on Tuesday, August 20, under windy conditions that saw competitors racing up the coasts of Sardinia and Corsica at full speed. The battle between Black Jack 100 and the American yacht Lucky, helmed by Bryon Ehrhart, kept spectators on edge as the two crews sailed neck and neck for much of the race. Ultimately, Black Jack 100 pulled ahead midway through the course, securing a 44-minute lead by the finish.
This victory not only makes Black Jack 100 the real-time winner but also crowns it the new record holder of the Palermo-Montecarlo race. The crew will receive the Giuseppe Tasca D’Almerita Trophy for their achievement.
Featured image courtesy of Studio Borlenghi – Circolo della Vela Sicilia
