18th August 2024 to 25th August 2024
Volvo 65 Sisi: Palermo – Montecarlo Race
From £3849 per person
Deposit 25%. Full balance due 12 weeks before departure.
Join the prestigious 500-mile Palermo to Monte Carlo race! For a truly pro/am racing team, join the winning Austrian Ocean Racing Team on their Volvo 65 "Sisi" and show the other teams how it’s done!
Training - 18 & 21 August 2024
Race Start - 22 August 2024
Price: £3,849 / €4400 per person*
The Palermo to Monte Carlo yacht race, also known as the Palermo-Monte Carlo Mediterranean Yacht Race, is an offshore sailing race held annually. It typically covers a distance of around 500NM, starting from Palermo, Sicily, Italy, and ending in Monte Carlo, Monaco, giving you seven exhilarating nights on board.
This race is famous for its challenging course, which often involves strategic decisions due to varying wind patterns and navigational obstacles such as the island of Corsica and the “gate” off Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Participants navigate through the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Sea, encountering a mix of coastal and open water sailing conditions.
What a thrilling adventure this will be!! Book your berth and race pro/am with the Austrian Ocean Racing Team on their Volvo 65 "Sisi". As part of a truly pro/am crew, you get to experience all aspects of racing this amazing yacht. During the race, watches on the helm, pit, trim, bow, navigation/tactics will be rotated, with everyone working together with the ultimate aim of topping the leaderboard.
Why You’ll Love This Trip
- How could you NOT be excited about joining this prestigious race! What a conversation opener, saying that you took part in this spectacular event!
- You’ll experience the thrill of being part of a true pro/am team in this iconic and famous race. Something not everyone can say.
- Learn firsthand how the masters would approach an obstacle such as Corsica and the “gate” at Porto Cervo
- You would be testing your physical abilities and sailing skills along with the pro-am team, what a sense of accomplishment you will have on completion of the race!
Who The Trip Is For
- As the crew is small, seven berths are available only, and some offshore racing experience and a good level of fitness is required.
- If you are open to new experiences and working as part of a team, you will have the best experience.
- Meals on board are self-service and hot bunking is the order of the day, so do not expect a luxury cruise, but the excitement and adrenaline of the race will more than makeup for it!
- Please note that insurance is required for this trip.
- Ready to take your sailing skills to the next level and store up memories for life? This experience is one click away!
Race Program
As part of a truly pro/am crew, you get to experience all aspects of racing this amazing yacht. During the regatta & offshore races, rotate the watches on the helm, pit, trim, bow, and navigation/tactics, working together with the ultimate aim of topping the leaderboard.
18 & 21 August 2024 – Introduction, briefing, and short on the water training
22 August 2024 – Race Start for the Palermo – Montecarlo Race. It will take approximately 3 days to complete depending on weather conditions.
25 August 2024 – Official award ceremony of the race
The Team
The Austrian Ocean Race Project is a young and ambitious team of international professional sailors. Their goal is to race around the world in The Ocean Race 2022-23. The self-titled ‘new kids on the block’ are led by Dutch skipper Gerwin Jansen – an accomplished offshore racer with a highly competitive reputation. The team has proven their pedigree by topping the podium in the opening stage of the Ocean Race Europe, beating many sailing legends and veterans. Their initial success has been followed by a run of top results in offshore regattas across Europe. Now it’s time for them to race across the pond and take on some of the mighty Caribbean regattas.
The Race
The Palermo-Montecarlo Race, organized by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, will take place in the Gulf of Mondello on the 20th of August.
One of the most prestigious races in the Mediterranean is the Palermo-Montecarlo Race. This yacht race, which was started in 2005 to unite Palermo and Monaco, offers both technical racing and scenic views. Using tactics, tacks, and jibes, boats must pass through a “gate” off Porto Cervo – Sardinia, before heading to Monaco.
The Yacht – Volvo 65 Sisi
Drawn at Farr Yacht Design in the USA, especially for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15 (now the Ocean Race), the strict one-design Vo65 replaced its predecessor, the Vo70. Every Vo65 is structurally identical down to the smallest detail. Same hull, same rig, same sails, same opportunities. This produced some of the closest racing the Ocean Race has ever seen.
As with its predecessor, the basic concept is a planing hull with a wide stern, double rudders, sharp edges, and a swivel keel. The reverse bow is new. It extends the waterline and reduces the pounding in short waves, but provides plenty of spray on deck. The lateral plan has also been revised. The Vo65 dispenses with an angle of attack of the swords and instead relies on a lift profile to counteract the drift.
The rig is made by the New Zealand manufacturer Southern Spars. Southern Spars has a closely related history with The Ocean Race as they have been equipping the most successful teams for 25 years and were pioneers with the carbon mast in the 90s.
The entire set of sails is produced by North Sails. The 3Di technology patented by North Sails is also used in the Vo65. The sails are made from RAW760 Ultra PE / Aramid.
- Professional Skipper plus professional crew
- All training
- Food & drink onboard, fuel, race entry and mooring fees
- Lifejacket with AIS
- Travel to or from the boats
- Accommodation whilst ashore
- Food ashore
Experience Requirements
As we are racing as a small crew some offshore racing experience is required as well as a good level of fitness.
Fly to one of the closest airports to Palermo Airport
Fly back from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
Race Program
As part of a truly pro/am crew, you get to experience all aspects of racing this amazing yacht. During the regatta & offshore races, rotate the watches on the helm, pit, trim, bow, and navigation/tactics, working together with the ultimate aim of topping the leaderboard.
18 & 21 August 2024 – Introduction, briefing, and short on the water training
22 August 2024 – Race Start for the Palermo – Montecarlo Race. It will take approximately 3 days to complete depending on weather conditions.
25 August 2024 – Official award ceremony of the race
The Team
The Austrian Ocean Race Project is a young and ambitious team of international professional sailors. Their goal is to race around the world in The Ocean Race 2022-23. The self-titled ‘new kids on the block’ are led by Dutch skipper Gerwin Jansen – an accomplished offshore racer with a highly competitive reputation. The team has proven their pedigree by topping the podium in the opening stage of the Ocean Race Europe, beating many sailing legends and veterans. Their initial success has been followed by a run of top results in offshore regattas across Europe. Now it’s time for them to race across the pond and take on some of the mighty Caribbean regattas.
The Race
The Palermo-Montecarlo Race, organized by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, will take place in the Gulf of Mondello on the 20th of August.
One of the most prestigious races in the Mediterranean is the Palermo-Montecarlo Race. This yacht race, which was started in 2005 to unite Palermo and Monaco, offers both technical racing and scenic views. Using tactics, tacks, and jibes, boats must pass through a “gate” off Porto Cervo – Sardinia, before heading to Monaco.
The Yacht – Volvo 65 Sisi
Drawn at Farr Yacht Design in the USA, especially for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15 (now the Ocean Race), the strict one-design Vo65 replaced its predecessor, the Vo70. Every Vo65 is structurally identical down to the smallest detail. Same hull, same rig, same sails, same opportunities. This produced some of the closest racing the Ocean Race has ever seen.
As with its predecessor, the basic concept is a planing hull with a wide stern, double rudders, sharp edges, and a swivel keel. The reverse bow is new. It extends the waterline and reduces the pounding in short waves, but provides plenty of spray on deck. The lateral plan has also been revised. The Vo65 dispenses with an angle of attack of the swords and instead relies on a lift profile to counteract the drift.
The rig is made by the New Zealand manufacturer Southern Spars. Southern Spars has a closely related history with The Ocean Race as they have been equipping the most successful teams for 25 years and were pioneers with the carbon mast in the 90s.
The entire set of sails is produced by North Sails. The 3Di technology patented by North Sails is also used in the Vo65. The sails are made from RAW760 Ultra PE / Aramid.
Sailing boots
Trainers/ deck shoes (no black-soled shoes please – they mark the deck)
Waterproof sailing kit
Hat
Sailing gloves – 2 sets
Clothes for onboard and onshore
A small backpack for trips on-shore (30-40 litres)
A water bottle
Thermals, one
Sunglasses (polarized)
Sun cream – SPF50+
Small quick dry towel
Swimming kit
USB cord to charge your phone
Cash
Sleeping bag
Head torch
Sailing Knife
Passport
Printed out Insurance details
Any medication you require
