The tides of elite offshore racing turned in favour of Yacht Club de Monaco this season as Jolt 6, a Carkeek 42 helmed by Pierre Casiraghi, stormed to provisional victory in the AC2 class of the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race — just weeks after conquering the IRC National Championship in Cowes.
Backed by the precision-driven ethos of Richard Mille, for whom Casiraghi is a longtime ambassador, and racing under the banner of Rolex, which continues its legacy of sponsoring the world’s most prestigious sailing events, Jolt 6 has written a thrilling chapter in modern competitive yachting.
The journey to Fastnet triumph began in the Solent. At the IRC Nationals in Cowes, Jolt 6 stunned the field, clinching IRC 1 class honours under testing conditions that demanded not just speed, but cohesion and clever tactical calls. This victory set the tone for what would become a historic campaign for Monaco.
With a crew that included high-calibre talents like navigator Will Harris and tactician Ben Saxton, Jolt 6 arrived at the Rolex Fastnet Race poised and battle-hardened. Their strategy? Calculated aggression and superior transitions — particularly in navigating the notoriously complex tidal shifts between the English Channel and the Celtic Sea.
The result: a hard-fought, emotional win in the AC2 class, sealing YCM’s first ever Admiral’s Cup title as part of a dual-boat effort alongside Jolt 3 in the AC1 category.
Pierre Casiraghi, the Monaco royal who serves as Vice-President of Yacht Club de Monaco, is no stranger to oceanic challenges. Beyond his leadership role, he is a sailing ambassador for Richard Mille, often spotted wearing the RM 60-01 Regatta Flyback Chronograph — a piece designed to withstand the harshest marine conditions. For Mille, Casiraghi represents the perfect fusion of tradition and technical innovation.
While Rolex has long held its position as the official sponsor of the Fastnet Race, the synergy between its classic yachting identity and Richard Mille’s avant-garde approach became evident in Jolt 6’s campaign — a blend of heritage and high performance, of legacy and ambition.
The broader significance of Jolt 6’s victory cannot be overstated. For Yacht Club de Monaco — competing in the Admiral’s Cup for the first time — to come away with both class and team wins speaks volumes about the principality’s growing stature in the sailing world.
It’s a story of a team built with purpose, a strategy executed with military precision, and a symbolic coming-together of two horological titans: Rolex and Richard Mille. Their presence on and around the water is no coincidence — it’s a testament to how far competitive sailing has evolved, where performance, design, and elite craftsmanship converge.
As the waves settle and the silverware is polished, Jolt 6’s dual victories at Cowes and Fastnet will be remembered not just for what they won — but for what they represented: a Monaco-led vision of modern sailing, powered by the pulse of Richard Mille and the prestige of Rolex.
The Yacht Club de Monaco embarks on a historic first in the Admiral’s Cup.
