A vintage boat fleet gathers in Venice for the XIII Monaco Principality Trophy, combining classic sailing with marine sustainability.
A fleet of vintage boats is preparing to compete for the Monaco Principality Trophy – Le Vele d’Epoca in Laguna, Aon Special Award, scheduled for Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June in the waters of the Lido di Venezia. The event is promoted by Anna Licia Balzan, Honorary Consul of the Principality of Monaco in Venice, with the sporting direction of Mirko Sguario, founder and president of the Venice Yacht Club, and with the patronage of A.I.V.E. – Italian Vintage Sails Association. This thirteenth edition links for the first time the sailing sport and the protection of the sea with the involvement of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for Italy, CNR ISMAR, Venice Sustainability Foundation and Corila, institutions that work for research, environmental protection and sustainability of Venice and its Lagoon.
There are two regattas on the calendar, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, starting around 13.00 in the waters in front of the Lido di Venezia. Sunday morning, at 11.00 and before the second test, the program includes the traditional sailing, visible to the public along the Shores of the San Marco Basin.
The main novelty of the thirteenth edition is the reading of the regatta as a symbolic bridge between the Principality of Monaco and the Serenissima in the sign of sustainability. The goal is to make shipowners aware of the most virtuous experiences of the two realities and stimulate reflection on environmental responsibility. On the evening of Saturday, June 27, shipowners will be able to get to know the Principality’s environmental commitment up close thanks to Marco Colasanti, President for Italy of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, who will illustrate principles, objectives and protection projects of the Monegasque entity. The meeting will be held at Palazzina Canonica, in Riva Sette Martiri, headquarters of the Biodiversity Gateway and the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR ISMAR), partner of the event. The evening will also be part of the prestigious Venice Sustainability Foundation (VSF), represented by Dr. Alessandro Costa, and CORILA – Consortium for the Coordination of Research related to the lagoon system of Venice, represented by Eng. Pierpaolo Campostrini. The awards will take place at the headquarters of the CNR ISMAR at the Arsenale of Venice, granted by Dr. Mario Sprovieri
The awards intended for the winners are also Consistent with the spirit of this edition: the Directorate of Tourism and Congresses of the Principality of Monaco in Italy is giving off a prize with a strong symbolic value: a visit to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, one of the main international reference points for the protection of the oceans, combining it with stays at the iconic facilities of the Société des Bains de Mer as well as the prestigious Méridien Beach Plaza and Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo. The Atelier Lunardelli Venezia, a historical Venetian manufacture, has signed the Overall prize in fine oak with hand engravings that artistically tell the sea as a meeting space.
The 2026 edition has the support of the main sponsor Aon, which gives its name to the Special Award, by Banca Generali, Mood, Canella, Il Palato Italiano, Zur KaiserKron and Batzen. They also confirm their commitment to Mure a Dritta, which signs the clothing made entirely of recycled fabric from plastic; Villa Sandi, which rewards the winners with the Asolo Biodiversity Friend, an expression of the protection of local biodiversity, and Nature’s, with products based on natural ingredients and 100% vegan formulas.
