Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

A sporting and environmental challenge…

Faced with the need to tackle crucial environmental and technological challenges, the Yacht Club de Monaco aims to promote a new vision of yachting and positive ideas through a unique event, the only one of its kind in the world.
Under the leadership of its President HSH Prince Albert II, and loyal to a tradition of innovation at the first powerboat meetings held here, the Yacht Club de Monaco is an incubator that supports yachting R&D. This event aims to stimulate the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and the industry to develop propulsion methods using clean energy.

The days of just raising awareness are over – time now for action!

First organised in 2014, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is an international challenge open to the public, which welcomes students and professionals from all over the world to race in three different classes:

Energy Class: Introduced in 2018 by the YCM -  which supplies each team with the same catamaran hull design —, the challenge for students is to design the most powerful and durable cockpit and propulsion system using renewable alternative energy sources, from a limited quantity of energy (max. 10 kWh stored on board).

Solar Class : Competing at every edition since the first one held in 2014, boats in the Solar Class will be involved in match racing, slalom and endurance races, powered by the Sun.

Open Sea Class: Mainly open to exhibitors from the YCM Marina and boats already or about to be on the market, includes a course to Ventimiglia in Italy from Monaco. This endurance race will be a real test for the green-energy propelled boats.

Since its creation, this event has brought together young engineers from schools and universities around the world, putting them in contact with the key players in the yachting industry.
The aim is to stimulate their creativity, asking them to develop alternative, eco-friendly propulsion systems and inviting them to pool their knowledge, building bridges between the engineers and industry leaders of the future.

Advances in yachting...

This 2024 edition will include the 2nd YCM E-Boat Rally. The event is open to electric boats currently available on the market, to give the public a glimpse into the future of yachting, over a 21 nautical mile return voyage from Monaco to Cala del Forte in Ventimiglia, where the competitors can recharge their craft and show them off to Italian spectators.

SeaLab, a hub of innovation…

Based at YCM’s marina, SeaLab is a chance to discover the latest cutting edge projects, prototypes and demonstrators, including boats not yet certified for the Open Sea class by the EU.

Each exhibition features interactive presentations and information panels, allowing visitors to gain a better understanding of the technology, design principles, and vision behind each project. 
For those interested in the technical side, experts are often on hand to discuss the design subtleties and challenges encountered during the boats’ development.

A visit to SeaLab is a voyage to the very frontier of marine technology, celebrating the passion, dedication, and innovation driving the future of sustainable yachting.
The ideas and inspirations found there will make a lasting impression.

Observe how different teams take to the water using a variety of renewable energies and propulsion systems to create boats with long ranges and incredible top speeds.

  PHOTO CREDITS: YCM/Studio Borienghi