20th Palermo-Montecarlo – Top prize for Manticore as Black Jack sets another new record

In a thrilling conclusion to the 20th Palermo-Montecarlo race, Black Jack 100 claimed line honours for the seventh time, while Manticore emerged as the overall winner under IRC corrected time. The race, which took place from Mondello, just north of Palermo, saw 41 boats compete over 437 miles, with favourable breezes this year enhancing the experience for sailors.

Traditionally, competitors in the Palermo-Montecarlo face light winds that test their patience, but this year’s edition was blessed with consistent breezes, allowing for a more dynamic race. The event also marked the conclusion of the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge for the 2024-25 season, with the winner set to be revealed at the IMA Owner’s Dinner during the upcoming Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

Black Jack 100, known for her remarkable history in the race, first secured line honours in 2010 as Esimit Europa 2, setting a record of 48 hours 52 minutes 21 seconds. The current owner, Ramon Vos, continued this legacy, leading the boat to victory this year with a record-breaking time of 38 hours 53 minutes 16 seconds.

Skipper Tristan le Brun reflected on their strategy, explaining that they opted for a downwind route along the east coast of Corsica, which proved advantageous despite the more traditional path being shorter. “There was more wind and it was downwind – so fast downwind all the way,” he said.

Despite facing a severe thunderstorm mid-race, which brought difficult conditions and a sudden change in wind direction, the crew managed to handle the situation expertly, maintaining their lead throughout. This victory marks Black Jack 100’s third consecutive line honours win this season, following successes in the Gotland Runt and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The next boat to finish was the Austrian VO65 Sisi, followed by Manticore, which won the overall title by a significant margin of 6 hours 16 minutes over Black Jack 100. Manticore’s tactician, Gabriele Bruni, praised the consistent winds throughout the race, which led to a strong performance.

Looking ahead, the 2025-26 IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge will commence on 18 October 2025 with the Rolex Middle Sea Race, promising another exciting season for offshore racing enthusiasts.

For more information on the Palermo-Montecarlo, click here.

For further details on the International Maxi Association, visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com or check out the 2025 IMA Yearbook.

#imamaxi #PalermoMontecarlo #BlackJack #Manticore #SailingNews #AustralianSailing

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