One of the windiest and most competitive Palermo-Montecarlo races concluded with Remon Vos’ Reichel/Pugh 100' Canting Keel Supermaxi Black Jack (formerly Esimit Europa 2) claiming line honours and setting a new race record in an elapsed time of 44 hours 34 minutes 14 seconds, taking more than three hours off the record. Finishing 43 minutes and 11 seconds later, after a tight race, Bryon Ehrhart’s Reichel/Pugh 88' Lucky (the former Rambler 88) won the Maxi class under IRC corrected time. The 2015 record of 47h 46m 48s was set by the same hull formerly Igor Simčič’s Esimit Europa II.
The 19th edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo was the concluding event of the International Maxi Association’s Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge 2023-2024 (MMOC), which began last autumn with the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The event fielded 52 boats this year.
One of the windiest and most competitive Palermo-Montecarlo races concluded with new owner Remon Vos’ Reichel/Pugh 100' canting keel supermaxi Black Jack (formerly Esimit Europa 2) claiming line honours and setting a new race record with an elapsed time of 44 hours 34 minutes 14 seconds, taking more than three hours off the record. Finishing 43 minutes and 11 seconds later, and also breaking the course record, Bryon Ehrhart’s Reichel/Pugh 88' Lucky (the former Rambler 88) won the Maxi class under IRC corrected time. Lucky this year has competed in the Aegean 600 but this was only her second outing for her brand new rig, following her unfortunate dismasting in last year’s Rolex Middle Sea Race.
The 2015 record of 47h 46m 48s was set by the same hull formerly Igor Simčič’s Esimit Europa II and first launched as Alfa Romeo.
"Both Black Jack and Lucky have canting keels but otherwise their designs are chalk and cheese: the shorter newer Lucky (launched in 2015 as Rambler 88), having a lineage based on VO70s with a beamy, powerful hull, while Black Jack is longer, slender and older (launched in 2005 as Alfa Romeo II) and, sporting a tiny dense tungsten bulb, is the better light wind machine. This played out in the Palermo-Montecarlo with Lucky prevailing upwind and reaching when the breeze was up and stability required with Black Jack coming into her own when the wind dropped and finally swung aft in the latter stages."
“What more could we ask for?!” commented a delighted Tristan le Brun, skipper of Black Jack. “This was the first race with the new owner and we put on an amazing show. He is over the moon.” Owner Remon Vos remarked: "My first race, splendid conditions, a victory with a record: what more could I wish for! It was a beautiful and exciting race, for the duel with Lucky and for the moments along the route, the start, the gate in Porto Cervo, the Costa Smeralda, the Straits.
On board Lucky, American owner Bryon Ehrhart and their all-star cast of America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race legends enjoyed the close competition. US owner Brion Erharth enthusiastically explained, "We will not forget this race and the duel with Black Jack, our sailors did an extraordinary job and only the lighter wind this morning prevented us from staying in the wake of the 100-footer, we are still very satisfied."
“It is always great when you have these big boats in long battles,” continued tactician Joca Signorini. “We are very happy. The crew did a fantastic job. “Congratulations to Bryon [Ehrhart] who put a lot of effort into getting the boat together for this season. We are all pleased with the effort we put in, setting up the boat to be competitive against Black Jack. It was very good race.” Compared to their Aegean 600 set-up Lucky was fitted with her longer canting keel and lighter bulb configuration for this race.
For more information on the International Maxi Association visit internationalmaxiassociation.com
For more information and to following the yb tracking visit palermo-montecarlo.it
History
The race was originally designed by the Monaco Consul and the City of Palermo Sports Council, to ‘unite two historically friendly cities through a yacht race’.
Photography courtesy of Carlo Borlenghi/Studio Borlenghi
Sources: Sail-World and International Maxi Association
REICHEL/PUGH – THE ART OF YACHT DESIGN
Dominance, performance, longevity—they define Reichel/Pugh, and they’re why our team consistently produces some of the world’s most distinctive, rewarding, and enduring sailing yachts. At the forefront of yacht design for 40 years, Reichel/Pugh designs have dominated many of the world’s historic races, continually setting new standards for innovation across classes.
These designs have names known throughout the sailing world – 100’ Wallycentos Magic Carpet³ and Galateia, Sydney-Hobart Race champions Wild Oats XI, Alfa Romeo, Alive and Black Jack, and the iconic Superyachts Visione, Nilaya, Hetairos, and My Song. These winners weren’t just designed with the latest technologies and built to withstand the rigors of blue water cruising and high-performance sailing. They’re considered cutting-edge decades after launching and continue to be both perennial podium finishers and magnificent cruising yachts. These achievements stand as a testament to our designs, whether a 220’ superyacht or the Melges 15, it is the performance that drives and inspires us on each new generation of yacht we develop.
- Reichel/Pugh-Nauta 154 Nilaya honored by Robb Report with "Best of the Best - Sailing Yacht" award.
- My Song 130’ Superyacht named “Most Innovative Yacht of the Year” and “Sailing Yacht of the Year” by World Superyacht Awards, Transatlantic Race record-setter, Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta winner.
- Hetairos 220’ Superyacht is considered the world’s most spectacular ketch, earned World Superyacht Award’s “Notable Contribution to the Technical Advancement of Sailing Superyachts,” St Barths Bucket 2019 & 2022, and Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta winner.
- Melges 15 “Boat of the Year” (2022). Melges 14 “Best Dinghy of the Year” (2016). Melges 24 “Boat of the Year” (1994).
- St Barths Bucket overall winners Visione 147’ (2015), Nilaya 112' (2018), Hetairos 220' (2019).
- Sydney-Hobart R/P Maxis have taken line honors 12 times, won overall five times and reset the course record three times.
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PRESIDENT
Jim Pugh
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PRESS INQUIRIES & MEDIA CONTENT
Kate Herron
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+1 (619) 991 0776
Reichel/Pugh designs have produced unparalleled results for their owners and made a distinctive mark on the sailing industry. The portfolio encompasses nearly four decades of work and contains designs which have long defined many of the world’s historic races and set new standards of innovation. Reichel/Pugh designs have not only stood the test of high performance racing, but continue to be perennial podium finishers around the world.