As part of the Yacht Club de Monaco’s sailing policy, a new boat has just joined the Monegasque fleet. Called Malizia, she’s a GC32 helmed by Pierre Casiraghi. Fresh from her builder, this latest generation fully flying one design foiling catamaran will join the GC32 Racing Tour which kicks off on Lake Garda this Thursday, 26th May.

On 8th May in the Netherlands, the Monegasque team took possession of the GC32 before headed for Riva del Garda where the first of five regattas on the GC32 Racing Tour takes place this season.

A baptism by fire for the Monaco team, it’s a chance to compete against more than nine other top international teams. The first regatta will also be an excellent trial principally to fine tune trimming the foils, that enable the GC32 to fly above the water.

Malizia symbolises the Grimaldi family’s deep attachment to the sea and is a tribute to Francesco Grimaldi, who arrived by sea from Genoa in 1297 and began what would become Monaco’s first family. He was nicknamed La Malizia in the Monegasque language, meaning ‘the wily one’. For Pierre Casiraghi, the name has a special meaning: “Given what Malizia represents for us in the Principality of Monaco, I’ve always wanted to give this name to a race boat.”

Pierre Casiraghi, winner of the Rolex Giraglia Race in 2014 the Melges 32 Gold Cup the same year and fourth in the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart, will be assisted on board by an experienced crew. “We’re the youngest crew and I am by far the least experienced on the circuit! I am so fortunate to be surrounded by a team prepared to take up the challenge,” he says.

Among them is Sébastien Col, a match racing specialist and former America’s Cup helmsman; Boris Herrmann, a 505 champion turned round the world race sailor, and driving force behind this project alongside Pierre; Richard Mason, who is equally at home on an Olympic dinghy as he is in the offshore Figaro one design; and Adam Piggott, a  long term multihull specialist.

Coaching the Monaco team is former Olympic Star sailor, Pierre-Alexis Ponsot. Winner of the Bacardi Cup in 2012 and a French Olympic team member also with a clutch of victories in the Tour de France à la Voile, Ponsot has also previously coached GC32 teams.

2016 a trial season

Pierre Casiraghi, who has been training in Riva del Garda with the crew since 16 May, has the measure of what he’s taken on: “We must be patient and take it one step at a time, as these boats are very powerful and quick. It’s imperative we take the humble approach.”

The potential of the GC32 was demonstrated to them when test sailed the boat in Quiberon last year: “We were doing 24 knots, and as soon we started bearing away, within seconds we were up to speeds of 32 knots.” An extremely technical and demanding boat, safety will be a priority for Casiraghi.

“This being the first season, our objectives are simple: to learn and sail as effectively and cleanly as possible. We can’t wait for the start!”