Entries have flooded in for the eighth Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, which is scheduled to take place from 6 to 10 July.
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the International Powerboating Association, the event will showcase alternative clean-propulsion systems for boats.
Researchers, academics, engineers and energy industry professionals will be in attendance for a busy agenda of racing, talks and exhibitions.
BMW and YPI, along with Iqos and Credit Suisse, are event partners and will join technical experts to make up the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge jury. So far, 31 teams from 17 countries including China, the UAE, Germany and the Netherlands have registered and will go head-to-head across three classes.
Sixteen teams are already confirmed to compete in the Energy Class, which tasks entrants to design a propulsion system using a restricted amount of energy from renewable sources to power identical catamaran hulls provided by the yacht club.
The Solar Class, meanwhile, recognises boats powered solely by solar energy. Ten teams are set to compete in one-on-one duels, slalom courses and endurance races.
Finally, the Open Sea Class, previously named the Offshore Class, is described as “a sea trial like no other” for sustainable boats already on the market or about to enter it.
The challenges will test the boats’ autonomy and will include a 16-nautical-mile race from Monaco to Ventimiglia in Italy incorporating an endurance course and manoeuvrability challenge. The class, in which five teams are already confirmed to take part, promises to showcase cutting-edge technology. yacht-club-monaco.mc