Monaco wins Admirals Cup revival

Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France (July 30, 2025) – The Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) has been confirmed as the winner of the 2025 Admiral’s Cup. This follows the racing and cumulative results from the RORC Channel Race, six inshore races in the Solent, and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Fifteen 2-boat international teams contended for the championship, with Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in second and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in third.

Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco and co-skipper of Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 (YCM), can’t quite believe what they achieved. “To win the Admiral’s Cup in its revival year and with Monaco’s first ever participation is beyond words. I’m not a professional helm and this was the most exhausting race I’ve ever done. But we knew the Fastnet would be decisive and our team executed it flawlessly. Will Harris, our navigator, was just phenomenal, he didn’t miss a beat.

“From the moment we exited the Solent everything went to plan. We held our lead, fought off relentless pressure from Callisto (RNZYS) and Beau Ideal (RHKYC) and made every move count. The team showed incredible resilience, character and trust in each other. This was a true team effort, from the sailors to the shore crew.

“For Monaco, this is historic. We’re a small place, but we’ve just shown we can achieve great things. I hope this inspires the next generation of young sailors at Yacht Club de Monaco – they followed our every move. Right now, I’m exhausted and can’t imagine doing another offshore race on a 42-footer any time soon, but this has been a magical journey. The Admiral’s Cup is an extraordinary event, brilliantly organized and fiercely competitive. I’m proud beyond words to have been a part of it.”

Yacht Club de Monaco member Peter Harrison, skipper of TP52 Jolt 3 (YCM), noted how this was his biggest achievement in sailing and doubts it will ever be topped.

“To help lead the Yacht Club de Monaco to its first Admiral’s Cup victory on our very first attempt is just extraordinary. From the start, Pierre Casiraghi and I believed in this campaign. The Club was fully behind us, and with Matt Adams managing the project and a world-class team around us we built something truly special.

“We had a strong core, many of whom I’ve sailed with for years on the Maxi 72 and we carefully brought in talent who would complement that group. It was about chemistry, trust and shared commitment. Everyone delivered. From shore crew to helm, from sailmakers to strategists, it was a true team effort. It’s a huge moment for Monaco and I believe it firmly establishes YCM as a force in offshore sailing.

“Right now, I’m a bit exhausted, but if you’re going to win the Admiral’s Cup, you need to start planning a year out and I know we’ll be thinking seriously about defending it. The event was impeccably run and every race was delivered. Full credit to the RORC team. It’s been a phenomenal experience and a celebration we will remember for a long time.”

Event information – Race details – Results

The Admiral’s Cup, considered the unofficial world cup for offshore racing before ending in 2003, returned to UK waters in 2025. Fifteen 2-boat international teams contended for the championship, competing in two offshore races and three days of inshore racing:

July 19 – Channel Race – 160 nm
July 22-24 – Inshore races (7 completed)
July 26 – Fastnet Race – 695 nm

Source: Louay Habib/RORC