2021 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

Yachting Partners International are delighted to be sponsoring the 2021 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, taking place from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 July 2021.

The eighth edition of this unique event is organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

The Yacht Club de Monaco are striving to promote a new vision for yachting through the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge; one that is centred around sustainability, environmental responsibility and the future yachting generations. The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge provides a platform for people to meet, exchange ideas and test out the latest revolutionary green technology; further driving research and development and accelerating sustainability in the yachting sector. The event has established itself as an iconic meeting for alternative greener propulsion systems, ranging from electricity to solar to the less widely known hydrogen.

32 teams, 17 nationalities and 22 international universities will take part in this year’s event; bringing together researchers, academics, future engineers, investors and yachting and energy sector professionals. There will be plenty of opportunities for the teams to put their boats through their paces in contests on the water across three days.

Teams can choose between three classes: the solar class, energy class and open sea class. The solar class is for boats powered only by the sun. Solar class teams will battle their boats in match race duels, a slalom contest and fleet races to test the durability of their designs. The energy class supplies each team with the same hull design and challenges them to create the most powerful and durable propulsion system using a clean energy source of their choice.

The open sea class is designed for vessels already on the market or about to enter the market and includes a 29.6km coastal course from Monaco to Ventimiglia in Italy. The edition of a second, more demanding endurance race within the class this year will also test the boats range. In addition, a movability contest will showcase the boats capabilities, combining technology and driver skills.

Yachting Partners International Director, Abdullah Nahar will sit on the Market & Development jury panel, who alongside the Innovation and Sustainability panel will vote for the prizes to be awarded across each category.

In addition to the boat challenge there is also a full day conference on Thursday 8 July. The theme of the conference is 'Energy transition, alternative solutions, reflections and sustainable initiatives in the yachting sector'. Experts will discuss the progress made in a whole range of aspects from bio-composite development in yachting to new energy sources, alternative propulsion systems, sustainable initiatives in the sector, design and construction efficiencies and the latest advances in research and development.

There will also be an exhibitors village open to the public where companies can unveil their green solutions, including solar catamarans, electric foiling boats, biomimetic electric propulsion, hydrogen generators, electric water bikes and more.

Find out more about the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge here.