A unique event is about to set sail in Monaco reaffirming the monegasque legacy to sailing and pioneering innovation. The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is being held from the 2nd to the 6h July 2024 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), the same historical place where the passion for powerboat design and performance started, following the Monegasque spirit towards pioneering solutions. In more recent time (since 2014), the Solar One sport challenge was launched by the YCM to foster sustainable engineering maritime devices to power environmentally friendly vessels, involved in a unique solar-energy regatta in Port Hercules.
The Offshore Class introduced in 2017 market a further step in that direction resulting from a more advanced clean technology able to sail the open sea. The Monaco Energy Class kicked off in 2018 to showcase new propulsion systems, offering all participants the chance to publicly share their ideas within the "Tech Talks". In 2019, hydrogen power was introduced for the first time while a dedicated exhibition area welcomed start-ups, boat builders and innovative projects, including two H2 prototypes designed by the Monaco's emerging working group. The following editions have seen the expansion of the online platform where a virtual challenge was held in 2020 due to the pandemic. The 2023 Challenge unveiled the first "eBoat Rally" pushing all teams to test the latest electric and eco-friendly tech.
The 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, at its 11th edition, is expected to create an intriguing ecosystem of sporting values, peer-review exhanges and good challenge involving almost fifty teams from tewnty-five nationalities and forty international universities supporting sustainable maritime tech.
Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO at Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation pointed out : « Today, there are hopeful signs of reconciliation between Man and the oceans. We must make this transition happen to be its first beneficiaries ».
Dr Marco Casiraghi, conceiver of the project, highlighted: « Boat are becoming increasingly competitive and we want to encourage them to improve their performance! (...) It is now possibile to go by sea without fossil fuel on board ».
Bertrand Piccard, founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation and sponsor of the event, concluded : « (...) I have seen how this event evolved. At the beginning, it was a bit anecdotal (...) Yet now, after ten years, it has become marketable! Boats are now on the market ».
Photos >> The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge paddocks animated by engineering students © Yacht Club de Monaco
In the paddock area, skilled young students have already begun to work together in order to be ready for the kicking off of the race in its three categories: Energy Class, Solar Class and Open Sea Class.
Over 45o engineering new-comers are onsite to showcase their prototypes and have the chance to meet key players from the international yachting industry. The forty-six teams had a busy Monday (yesterday) to fix it up in view to submit their creations to the Technical Commitee and finally test them on-water, up to compete within the E-Sport Championship on Friday the 5th July at 7:30 p.m. The Monaco Electric Boat Challenge is open both to the public and professionals as a unique zero-emission stage where to test, learn, interact, get involved and proactively compete. Bernard D'Alessandri, General Secretary at YCM, stressed: «The event offers one-off mentoring opportunities, knowledge-sharing nd networking which are vital to stimulate innovation and research ».
So, get ready to be taken by the overwhelming power of clean energy! ***
To know more about the 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge please visit: MONACO ENERGY BOAT CHALLENGE
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By Maurice Abbati
Journalist; Editor; Communication, Media and Public Relations Specialist
Lecturer and Author in English language of Technical Articles and the Manual: "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by Springer International Publishing.
