Thirty-three years after the first edition, the historic Venice-Montecarlo powerboat race returns. Conceived in 1990 by a group of enthusiasts from the Venetian Powerboat Club and the Yacht Club de Monaco, including offshore champions Renato Della Valle, Alberto Smania, Gianfranco Rossi and Angelo Vassena, the Venice-Montecarlo is an offshore race in stages, considered the “Dakar of the sea” because of the obvious difficulties and contingencies on a 1400 nautical mile course.
The winning formula of the Venice-Montecarlo
With a formula that can also entice shipyards to participate with production boats, since its first edition the Venice-Montecarlo has been attended by major teams, racers, boat builders, including recreational ones, and motorists. Thanks to a regulation that allows some stages to be skipped in case of failure, usually all registered boats reach the coveted finish line in Monte Carlo. Although those who usually excel are the racing boats designed just for this race, the Venice-Montecarlo is a showcase of Italian boating on the sea, a traveling boat show that brings the best offshore crews to compete along the coasts of our peninsula.
The prologue of the Venice-Montecarlo
The relaunch edition, considered a prologue, will feature a shortened route, starting in Venice on July 21 and arriving at the Rodi Garganico Tourist Port two days later. Two intermediate stops are planned for the monohulls, in Cervia and San Benedetto del Tronto. Along with boats, this year the Venice-Montecarlo will also be contested by jet skis, which will make intermediate stops along the way due to autonomy issues.
Those registered for the Venice-Montecarlo
To date there are 17 pre-registered teams, but the organizing committee is confident of reaching 40 teams. These include. powerboat champions such as Christian Cesati, whose family boatyard Albatro International Will be present with five boats, Jérôme Brarda, former race car driver who will be on board the Wild Eleven A vintage Cigarette 38, Giancarlo Cangiano, President of the Marina of Capri and two-time World Offshore Champion, Serafino Barlesi and Francesco Calo’, 3-D World Champions. An event, the Venice-Montecarlo, in which Zoom, the legendary
Riva Super Aquarama that won the London-Montecarlo in 1972
. A production hull, number 427, modified to compete with racing boats born and designed to win these competitions.
Aboard the No. 1 boat, a Tornado 50, two champions who have made skiing history: Alberto Tomba and Kristian Ghedina. The two, with 63 World Cup victories to their credit, will race together with Maurizio Bulleri, multiple Italian and European powerboat champion and Powerboat P1 world champion in 2005, Giampaolo Montavoci, Head of Sports Organization of the Venice-Montecarlo, Alessandro Correggiari and Daniele Parisi of Tornado Yachts.
The 1000 Km of Italy
The Venice-Montecarlo prologue along with the 70th Pavia Venice Raid will be part of a single event called the “1000 Km of Italy” that will award the title of European Jet Raid Champion. Runabout watercraft, designed for a minimum of two people and with one saddle, will take part in the Championship. Front-directed, with a rear jet or fully enclosed drive propulsion system, watercraft competing in this category must comply with UIM regulations.
James Barbaro
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1 thought on “Engines are warming up for the return of the Venice-Montecarlo”
Much as I admired the amazing effort of Zoom and Gianfranco Rossi on the London to Montecarlo race in 1972, they did not win – they came second (which was still astonishing) behind HTS. They did win their class, however. I was a time keeper on that event.