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AI Class introduced at 12th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
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AI technology and autonomous boats are the new focus of the Yacht Club de Monaco event.
![[Alt Links] Monaco Energy Boat challenge, sustainability, yacht race, regatta, sustainable yachting, zero-emissions, carbon footprint, Monaco, Yacht Club de Monaco, Sanlorenzo, Azimut, Benetti, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation](https://i0.wp.com/yachtstyle.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1-MEBC23lb_08050564_%C2%A9LucasButto.jpg?ssl=1)
Photo: Lucas Butto
AI and autonomous boats are the focus of the 12th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (July 1-5, 2025), an event organisers describe as “a catalyst for sustainable yachting”.
The five-day event at Yacht Club de Monaco features a series of races and rallies to showcase innovative, sustainable vessels developed by students specifically to race on the occasion. The team that develops a project with the most effective technologies for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction wins €25,000.
This year’s edition includes four categories, with the new AI Class (autonomous boats) added to the Energy Class (new technologies on standardised hulls), SeaLab Class (floating laboratories) and Open Sea Class, for CE-certified, zero-emission prototypes up to 25m with room on board for at least three people.
![[Alt Links] Monaco Energy Boat challenge, sustainability, yacht race, regatta, sustainable yachting, zero-emissions, carbon footprint, Monaco, Yacht Club de Monaco, Sanlorenzo, Azimut, Benetti, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation](https://i0.wp.com/yachtstyle.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2-MEBC23sg_08089210_%C2%A9Stefano-Gattini.jpg?ssl=1)
Photo: Stefano Gattini
This year’s event is expected to feature up to 24 teams and over 1,000 students from 29 different universities. Of all the teams competing, 30 boats will be powered by electricity, 12 will operate on hydrogen and 12 prototypes will be on foils.
Other event highlights include conferences on yachting technologies and alternative fuels, as well as tours of the Energy Observer catamaran. Launched in 2017 and having already cruised 68,000nm, Energy Observer is considered the first self-sufficient yacht fuelled by a mix of solar, wind, hydro and hydrogen power.
As well as being hosted by Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), the event is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Swiss bank UBS, German car manufacturer BMW and Dutch deep-sea infrastructure expert SBM Offshore.
![[Alt Links] Monaco Energy Boat challenge, sustainability, yacht race, regatta, sustainable yachting, zero-emissions, carbon footprint, Monaco, Yacht Club de Monaco, Sanlorenzo, Azimut, Benetti, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation](https://i0.wp.com/yachtstyle.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3-MEBC240704ff_01919__%C2%A9FrancescoFerri.jpg?ssl=1)
Photo: Francesco Ferri
Two major shipyards are also involved, with Sanlorenzo collaborating with teams from the universities of Bologna and Genova, while Azimut|Benetti Group supports the team from Politecnico di Torino.
Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo’s Executive Chairman and CEO, said: “We absolutely must empower future generations through education, and encourage them to think outside the box to find innovative solutions for leisure boats that reduce our impact on the environment. By investing in students, we are paving the way to a better future.”
Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM’s General Secretary, added: “We are delighted to see the growing involvement of major shipyards. This collaboration is essential to the transition to more responsible yachting.”
