Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

Harnessing energy, talent, and AI in Monaco

The 2025 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge will bring together yachting industry professionals and students for an exciting and productive event that offers priceless opportunities for mentoring, knowledge sharing, and networking, vital to innovation and research.

This year’s edition will mark a watershed with the official inclusion of Artificial Intelligence for the first time ever. With more than 50 teams taking part, representing 25 countries and 40 universities including prestigious institutions like Politecnico di Milano, TU Delft, and the University of Cambridge, the event is a genuinely international and multicultural platform. A success with the public, it revives the Principality’s historic enthusiasm for visionary maritime competitions.

Towards clean autonomous sailing

In 2025, AI is now acknowledged as a hugely powerful resource, enabling the teams to incorporate it into their projects.

It will play a crucial role in the move towards decarbonisation, digitisation of naval operations, and the development of autonomous ships. A new class, the AI class, will be dedicated to fully autonomous vessels, paving the way for major technological advances.

Exploring the projects of the future

Located at the Yacht Club de Monaco Marina, the SeaLab is a space dedicated to innovation displaying futuristic projects, prototypes, and demonstrators. It showcases advanced propulsion technologies like solar power and hydrogen, along with innovative materials.

The YCM E-Dock, developed in partnership with Aqua superPower, has AC and DC charging points allowing electric units to recharge quickly and reliably.

The five competition events

The varied programmes includes five thrilling events, with nautical challenges such as handling and manoeuvrability, sea trials, speed record attempts, endurance races and slaloms, all in a spirit of fun and friendly rivalry.

Spectators can watch the competitions from the Lucciana pier and the YCM quays.

Monaco: the driving force behind green sailing

The Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) is committed to putting into practice the vision outlined by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, for whom "promise needs to be replaced by proof", by adopting an ambitious and pioneering environmental strategy.

Central to this approach is the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, a veritable laboratory for maritime innovation.  This unique competition combines exploration of alternative propulsion tech with research in the field of naval architecture and design. It is part of a wider movement, as reflected by the SEA Index®, a benchmarking tool used to calculate the carbon footprints of seagoing vessels.

A meeting of pioneers

Monaco is now the undisputed international hub of sustainable marine innovation, bringing together prestigious constructors including Azimut-Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Ferretti Group, Lürssen, Monaco Marine, and visionary experts.

The event is about sharing knowledge, through daily Tech Talks and the Hydrogen Round Table with more than 40 participants, and developing talent through the Corporate Mentoring Programme and a vibrant Jobs Forum.  That unique synergy makes the Principality the epicentre of an innovative, forward-looking yachting sector.

Experience the sailing challenges with the simulator

Take part in the sailing competitions yourself with the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Create and test your own custom boats in a series of challenges, including world record attempts and slalom trials.

For more information, visit the official website of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.