E1 TEAM MIAMI – MONACO OVERVIEW
Miami, FL. (July 29, 2024) It was disappointment on the water, but progress on land for E1 Team Miami at E1 Monaco presented by BRETT last weekend. It certainly wasn’t the result Team Miami hoped for but the team still achieved valuable points for the championship. Despite finishing in 6th position after technical difficulties meant a DNS (Did Not Start) in a key race, the team still secured enough points across the weekend to remain in 2nd place in the championship standings, with rivals Team Brady back at the top spot.
Back on land it was our absolute pleasure to welcome and host guests from our partners and sponsors in Monaco. Our newest partner, Azimut Yachts took part in an E1 panel discussion in the Ocean Club on Sunday (for more info click here) and were able to see the Azimut logo emblazoned on the boat across the weekend. Guests from our longstanding Official Timekeeping Partner, Bulova also joined us. The team all wear the Marc Anthony Collection watch and it was great to see them in action over the weekend.
RACE REPORT
SET UP
As usual the team arrived early on Wednesday evening to set up the RaceBird and prepare for official shakedown on Thursday. The pilots went on a course inspection with the beautiful Monaco backdrop to get a feel for the water conditions and SmartMark course. Conditions were looking to be flatter than Puerto Banus, with occasional rollers from passerby super yachts.
FRIDAY
On Friday, free practice was a chance to test the propellers and choose which ones would be best. Early on, the team identified issues which were contributing to the speed of the RaceBird, leaving us at a slight disadvantage. The Victory Team worked quickly with to make adjustments in the sweltering heat.
SATURDAY (QUALIFYING DAY)
Despite the quick pivot, our pilots had to muscle through the issue in qualifying. Ultimately finishing P5 with their combined best times. Although not the qualifying position we wanted, we know better than anyone that the slate clears on race day. It wasn’t great situation but we’d been in worse.
Although celebrity Team Owner Marc Anthony wasn’t able to make the E1 Monaco weekend, we met as a team on ZOOM where he shared his words of wisdom with Anna & Erik on Friday night and wished them all the best for racing the next day in true Marc style… His infectious energy got the pilots fired up – Let’s Gooooo!
SUNDAY – SEMI FINALS & FINALS DAY
The team was optimistic when we kicked off race day on Sunday. The Racebird was moving slightly better than the day before, and Erik went out first for Semi Final 1 and took 2nd place. Anna followed in Semi Final 2 with a roaring start, taking the lead early on. In a moment of high drama for the fans, her racing line was compromised by Team Drogba, who subsequently straight lined a mark as a result. Both teams were awarded a long lap penalty, and Anna crossed the finish line in 2nd place, bitterly disappointed with the outcome and feeling understandably a bit fiery as a 1st place would have meant a direct entry to the finals.
The combined scores meant that instead of going directly to the finals, we would have to compete in the Race Off against Blue Rising and Team Brady to try and gain the last spot in the Final.
Erik positioned the RaceBird in the official milling area awaiting the countdown. At 20 seconds to go he went to set off and the whole team watched in horror as the boat sat stationary whilst the remaining two boats jetted away across the start line. Erik quickly set about doing a full restart to get the RaceBird going as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the RaceBird mechanics, this takes a full minute.
Now a lap down, Erik kickstarted the RaceBird and scrambled to go for a fastest lap to earn a Championship point. Unfortunately his efforts would be in vain, as our official result would ultimately be a DNS (Did Not Start).
For Team Miami the weekend of racing was over and we had confirmed 6th place, accruing 5 championship points. Naturally the team were disappointed, feeling like they didn’t quite get to race a full weekend. We’d shown so much promise but hadn’t quite been able to fully flex our skills and see what we could do due to a mechanical issue.
Despite this, as per the Miami way, we picked ourselves up, went to the Ocean Club and enjoyed a fabulous final evening in glorious Monte Carlo together.
We are back to 2nd place in the championship, nestled not far behind Team Brady in first position and Westbrook in third.
The Ocean Club was at full capacity hosting guests across the weekend including HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco who presented trophies to the podium winners as well as celebrity team owners Tom Brady and Didier Drogba.
For more information on E1 Team Miami visit our MEDIA CENTRE