It’s impossible not to notice the strong resemblance between Pierre Casiraghi and his late father, Stefano. But it’s not just about looks. Pierre has also inherited his father’s bold spirit, his love for the sea, and his taste for adrenaline. “Competition is part of my DNA,” he told Monaco Matin, and he proves it through action. Without ever attending a sailing school, he has taken on one of the most dangerous regattas in the world and even crossed the Atlantic by sailing alongside Greta Thunberg.
The Yacht Club of Monaco, where Pierre serves as vice president, is competing for the first time in its history in the Admiral's Cup, which is organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the UK, one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. King George V founded the Royal Ocean Racing Club in 1931. This high-stakes competition began on July 17 and runs through August 1, and it has been held every two years since 1957 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, although it had not taken place for many years. TThe sailing world refers to this competition as the unofficial World Cup of offshore racing.
Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Caroline of Monaco and founder of Team Malizia, captains the Carkeek 40 Jolt 6. With it, he will sail through the Solent Strait via The Needles channel, passing Portland Bill, Start Point, and the southernmost tip of Great Britain, The Lizard, before reaching Land’s End. From there, Pierre will cross the Celtic Sea, loop around Bishop Rock, and arrive in Plymouth. The Rolex Fastnet Race is so dangerous that, in 1979, 18 people lost their lives due to a violent storm. Like his father, Pierre thrives on challenges. “It’s a battle against yourself,” he says, as these kinds of adventures bring “unique and deeply emotional moments.”
He is bold but not reckless. He knows that the race is complex and the currents are unpredictable, so the training had to be equally rigorous. “We have spent a lot of time on the water to try to be as prepared as possible,” he says. IThis competition is a battle against himself, but he is also aware that he represents Monaco and understands the significance of that for its people. Older residents, in particular, closely follow the race and often share their thoughts with Pierre when they encounter him in the old town, which is easy enough to do in such a small principality.
As previously mentioned, he inherited not only his father’s style and good looks but also his thirst for adventure. Stefano Casiraghi, a successful businessman, balanced his corporate life with his passion for sports and became a world champion in offshore powerboat racing. It was during one of those races, his greatest passion, that he lost his life in 1990 when he lost control of his boat in the waters off Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, 35 years ago. Pierre is now seven years older than his father was at the time of his death, and their resemblance grows stronger with each passing year. It is in his DNA, as Pierre himself said while competing in a historic regatta and preparing to welcome his third child.