Yachting Art Magazine

With one month to go before the start of the 24th Admiral's Cup, Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, has secured victory in the UK's national IRC championship. This event, organised to mark the 250th anniversary of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, is part of Team Jolt's rise to prominence.

Pierre Casiraghi's victory at the helm of Jolt 6 in the British IRC Championship marks a significant step in Team Jolt's preparations for the Admiral's Cup. Held as part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, this regatta brought together a strong field in conditions typical of the Solent.

The Yacht Club de Monaco is preparing to take part in the Admiral's Cup for the first time, from 17 July to 1 August 2025, alongside thirteen other teams representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the New York Yacht Club, among others. Team Jolt is entering two boats for this challenge: the Carkeek 42 Jolt 6 skippered by Pierre Casiraghi and the TP52 Jolt 3 under the command of Peter Harrison.

Both boats are participating in an intensive programme combining regular training and international competitions in order to prepare as well as possible for this event, which will include offshore races and inshore regattas. The recent victory in Cowes illustrates the progress made by the team in this demanding environment.

In sporting terms, Jolt 6 won the IRC 1 class. The conditions encountered on the English waters tested the crews, with westerly winds oscillating between 10 and 18 knots and current transitions typical of the area. According to Pierre Casiraghi, the boat's tactics and responsiveness in light winds made the difference at key moments in the races.

The crew of Jolt 6 comprises ten experienced sailors. Among them, Ben Saxton was in charge of tactics, Will Harris navigated, while Joey Newton and Cole Brauer managed the rigging.

Pierre Casiraghi praised the precision of this cosmopolitan team, whose complementary skills were a decisive factor in the victory.

Facing professional helmsmen such as America's Cup winner Dean Barker, Pierre Casiraghi emphasised the demands of this type of competition, which requires constant self-questioning and pushes you to surpass yourself in every race.

Jolt 3 took third place in IRC 0. Skippered by Peter Harrison with Ed Baird as tactician, the boat completed a solid performance after its first victory in the RORC Easter Challenge last spring. This result confirms the consistency of the programme put in place by Team Jolt.

The British IRC Championship was a necessary step before the Admiral's Cup, where the level of competition is expected to be even higher. The diversity of formats — with offshore races and inshore regattas — will require crews to be highly versatile and coordinated.

Pierre Casiraghi emphasises the need to continue the efforts already made: victory in Cowes is a step forward, but the challenge of the Admiral's Cup means that the momentum of preparation must be maintained. The focus is on crew cohesion, smooth manoeuvring and optimising settings in order to compete against an international field where every detail will count.

The 2025 Admiral's Cup will bring together fourteen teams from thirteen nations. The format combines inshore and offshore races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, the highlight of the competition. This legendary regatta is a major test for crews, due to its length and the complexity of the conditions encountered.

Through its participation in the various events on the calendar, Team Jolt aims to be perfectly prepared for the start of this edition. Priority is being given to ensuring that the team members are working together seamlessly and to improving the technical performance of the two boats entered.

Pierre Casiraghi's victory in the British IRC Championship is part of an overall strategy to build momentum, with each race helping to fine-tune the preparation of the crew and equipment. The Yacht Club de Monaco, competing in this event for the first time, intends to make its mark in this major international sailing event.