Update SNAPSHOTS Brought to you in association with
With four Vendée Globe victories between them you can feel the mutual respect coming off the page. Michel Desjoyeaux (left) is the only two-time VG winner, while also flanking Charlie Dalin is the race’s youngest ever winner, François Gabart – in 2012/13
3. Embracing change and innovation Bill was a voracious learner who continuously sought out new ideas. He’d spend evenings researching athletic performance and then come to practice the next day with fresh insights. His open mind was instrumental in elevating my sailing – and the training methods of many others – to new heights. 4. Family and community Bill had a gift for bringing people together. He fostered genuine friendships and mentorships – between himself, my father and me – that transcended the sailing world. His dedication to community- building is reflected in the ongoing programme he started, which continues to shape young sailors and students even now.
The legacy he leaves behind Bill’s influence reaches far beyond my story. Over the years he worked with numerous sailors, athletes and students, each with their own ‘Bill Monti story’. Many credit him with a turning point or breakthrough – be it in fitness, academics or personal growth. His holistic approach to training, which merged physical fitness,
mental fortitude and emotional well-being, paved the way for how modern sailing champions (and many other athletes) prepare. What was once considered unconventional is now seen as foundational – a testament to Bill’s foresight and unwavering commitment to excellence. Bill also deserves the credit for introducing cross-training long before it was a ‘thing’.
An unfillable void – but a lasting Impact Losing Bill over Christmas was a stark reminder that even the most influential among us eventually depart. Yet his spirit lives on in everyone he touched. For me he remains present in the discipline I carry, the resilience I summon under pressure and my gratitude for every opportunity sailing has provided. I hope this tribute does justice to the incredible person Bill Monti
was. For those who knew him, please join me in celebrating his life and the countless ways he made the world a better place. For those who never had the chance to meet him, I hope this small remembrance sheds light on a remarkable individual who changed my life – and my family’s life – for the better. His legacy continues in the programme he launched during my
high school years, inspiring new generations to pursue a holistic path in sports and in life. Fair winds and following seas, Bill. Thank you for everything. – John Bertrand (USA)
q 18 SEAHORSE
l When China’s Jingkun Xu… finished 30th in the 2024/25 Vendée Globe he became only the 100th race finisher in the event’s 35-year history… l Moving on up… youngest ever Vendée finisher Violette Dorange joins Sam Davies as co-skipper of Initiatives Couer l Global Solo Challenge star… Cole Brauer has signed up as new co-skipper of Malizia with Boris Herrmann… l Handy… for expanding US interest in the Imoca circuit… l Brauer benefits… from the support of the Magenta Project l In other VG titbits… l Charlie Dalin’s sponsor Macif… hoped to recruit Dorange for the Macif scholarship programme in 2025/26… l But… Sam and Initiatives Coeur got the jump on them… l Special praise… for Justine Mettraux… one of only a handful of VG skippers whose placard, motoring up the Les Sables channel, read ‘Thank you to my Team!’ l Secret squirrel… special praise also to Boris Herrmann who – keep this to yourself – really does not particularly enjoy all that bashing around the oceans any more… l But the brilliant… engaging German skipper loves the rest of it and does a cracking job for sponsors and team owners… l And is adored… by those he sails with… l Plus with Boris’s encouragement… Team Malizia has put in an entry for the Admiral’s Cup with Yacht Club Monaco l And when Yacht Club Monaco… say ‘we are entering one of the world’s most prestigious and important regattas’ you know you’ve pitched your event just right l In other sports news… Max Verstappen chops in that tired old Falcon 90EX for a shiny new US$50m Falcon 8X (no idea, maybe it’s better mpg?) l Before clicking off Amazon… Max also dropped into the basket a new $33m Mangusta powerboat l Annual salary… $75m+… l Last bonus… $15m+ (plus a lot…) l Eat your heart out… winningest America’s Cup skipper of all time Pete Burling l To think… how our celeb-tagging editor used to debate burgers or pizza with an obviously rapid Dutch 16-year-old around the racetrack cafés of Europe l Back from la-la land… often bemoaned in these pages are the financial disadvantages for wannabe US Olympic sailors l And yes… they do not enjoy national funding like many overseas competitors… l But keep in mind the scale… of college sailing budgets… l Tufts… for example, in 2024 spent US$150,000 including flights and hotels, coaches, food and vehicle rentals… l Excluding… full-time salaries and capital acquisitions… l Not a lot in the scheme of a big programme… but nor is $150k an insignificant amount for one college team l Here we go… after the messy Ineos-Ainslie split RYS Athena Racing remain Challenger of Record… l It was curious… how Sir Ben stepped ashore in Barcelona for the final time without a single stitch of Ineos clothing on l Who’s gonna pay… we know that neither the RYS nor Sir Ben lack exceptionally wealthy connections… l Including… some of the kings of the oil business… l But Sir Jim… pumped in an astonishing amount of money over two Cup cycles… l Hoping for the best… obviously… But it won’t be an overnight fix l Other Cup news… not really news, is it? l That the port of Barcelona… lost 4m euros hosting AC37… l The port… certainly never want it back... l But nor could they bear… seeing the Cup go to rival Cup hosts Valencia! l One word… Jeddah l Monthly bargains… stellar IRC racer Daguet 3… l Plus numerous Imocas… Arkéa, Apicil, Big Mac (that’s what we call Violette’s boat) l For full details…
RaceboatsOnly.com l For history…
EurosailNews.com
MARK LLOYD/ALEA
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