Arkas Sailing Team clinched victory in the Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, excelling in ORC Overall, ORC Group 1, and IRC categories.
Arkas Sailing Team completed the prestigious Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, one of the Mediterranean's most esteemed offshore races, securing first place in the ORC Overall, ORC Group 1, and IRC categories.
The Turkish team, competing on the challenging course of approximately 500 nautical miles from Palermo to Monte Carlo, also secured third place in Line Honours, achieving historic success in one of the season's most significant offshore races.
Arkas Sailing Team achieved first place in three categories at the Palermo-Montecarlo 2026, one of the most important organizations in Mediterranean offshore sailing. The team's TP52 class boat, Arkas Blue Moon, topped the ORC Overall, ORC Group 1, and IRC categories, becoming the standout team of the event.
The 21st edition of the Palermo-Montecarlo race commenced on August 18 from Palermo. Following a mandatory stop in Porto Cervo, the race concluded in Monaco, covering a course of approximately 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers), conducted continuously day and night. The event, held from August 18-23, saw participation from 42 boats across six continents.
In the race held in the Maxi, Group 1, Group 2, and IRC categories, strong competitors such as Black Jack 100, Marta 07, Fiamme Gialle Nice, and Chocolate 3 competed.
Variable Conditions Challenged Teams
In the initial part of the race, the fleet was met with westerly winds at 10-15 knots. The wind occasionally reached 20 knots, and the variable weather conditions throughout the race highlighted the tactical performance of the teams. The Palermo-Montecarlo, regarded as one of the Mediterranean's most significant offshore races, is organized by Circolo della Vela Sicilia in collaboration with the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
The race also serves as the final leg of the Italian Offshore Championship and the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge. One of the season's significant victories was achieved by the TP52 Arkas Blue Moon, owned by Bernard Arkas, under the leadership of skipper Serhat Altay. The 14-member crew, composed entirely of Turkish sailors, fought against leading offshore teams in the Mediterranean, reaching first place in the ORC Overall, ORC Group 1, and IRC categories. Arkas Blue Moon completed the course in real-time in third place, securing third in Line Honours, while topping the ORC Overall, ORC Group 1, and IRC categories based on corrected time calculations.
A Significant Achievement for Turkish Sailing
The results obtained at the Palermo-Montecarlo have been added to the significant international successes achieved by Arkas Sailing Team in the 2026 season. This result, coming immediately after the overall victory at Loro Piana Giraglia 2026, marked the team's second major Mediterranean triumph of the same season. By reaching the top in two prestigious Mediterranean offshore races in the same season, Arkas Sailing Team set a precedent in Turkish sailing history, while also achieving Turkey's most successful performance to date at Palermo-Montecarlo. With this result, the team once again elevated Turkish sailing to the highest podium on the international stage.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
