Prince Albert II Champions E1 Series as Sustainability Platform at Jeddah Opener
Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the UIM E1 World Championship season opener in Jeddah, where he emphasised electric powerboat racing’s role as a platform for ocean sustainability whilst praising Saudi Arabia’s sports innovation and Team Monaco’s debut season.
The Prince addressed competitors and officials following Saturday’s racing at the Red Sea venue, delivering remarks that positioned the all-electric championship within broader environmental objectives.
They are not just competitors and great athletes skilled in their sport, but they are also ambassadors and pioneers of sustainability on the water. I think they realised this and they will be a tremendous force for the future as we try to spread this notion of progress, competition, but also sustainability on the water.
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Development
Prince Albert commended the Kingdom’s investment in international sports events, noting the significance of hosting the E1 Series opener.
This is a great place here in Jeddah, here in Saudi Arabia, to showcase this because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been so dynamic in the sports world and so innovative in many ways. I really congratulate them on their efforts in different sports of course, but especially here for the E1 Series. It’s a tremendous showcase for the sport and for sustainability.
The Jeddah event marked Saudi Arabia’s continued involvement with the championship, having previously hosted E1 races and providing backing through the Public Investment Fund.
Team Monaco’s Season Debut
The Prince’s attendance came as Team Monaco competed in its first championship round, racing under number 98 with pilots Maxime Nocher and Oban Duncan. The team finished ninth in the season opener after completing its 19-month development programme initiated by Prince Albert himself.
Team Monaco 2026: Racing under number 98 (Monaco’s country code), the Principality-backed entry aligns with the Prince Albert II Foundation’s ocean regeneration mission and the Princess Charlene Foundation’s drowning prevention efforts.
Team Monaco operates from the Yacht Club de Monaco and positions itself as an institutional entry representing the Principality rather than following the celebrity-backed model adopted by rival teams owned by Tom Brady, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Will Smith.
Royal Family’s Racing Connection
Monaco’s royal family has a longstanding connection to powerboat racing, though marked by tragedy. In October 1990, Stefano Casiraghi, husband of Prince Albert’s sister Princess Caroline, died in a racing accident off Monaco whilst defending his Class 1 World Championship title. The 30-year-old Italian businessman was racing a Fabio Buzzi-designed catamaran when it flipped at 150 km/h, breaking his spine instantly.
Casiraghi had won the 1989 Class 1 World Championship and planned to retire after that final race. His death led to major safety reforms in offshore powerboat racing, including mandatory closed canopies.
E1’s Environmental Mission
The UIM E1 World Championship features electric RaceBird hydrofoils racing on city waterfront circuits across four continents. The series positions itself as a platform for developing marine electrification technology whilst delivering zero-emission competition.
Prince Albert has previously emphasised the championship’s alignment with environmental objectives.
Beyond the sporting performance, participating in the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF is a fantastic opportunity to raise public awareness about ocean protection. True to its visionary spirit, Monaco supports innovation and initiatives promoting cleaner technologies for the oceans.
The Prince Albert II Foundation, established in 2006, focuses on ocean conservation, renewable energy and climate change mitigation. The E1 Series provides a competitive platform for advancing electric propulsion systems whilst engaging global audiences through sport.
Championship Expansion
The 2026 season features eight rounds across four continents, with the championship making its Caribbean debut in the Bahamas. Following Jeddah, the series travels to Lake Como in April, Dubrovnik in June, and Monaco in July before heading to Lagos, Miami and the Bahamas finale in November.
Broadcast coverage extends to over 140 territories worldwide, providing visibility for the championship’s environmental message alongside competitive racing.
Teams Competing
Championship Rounds
Broadcast Territories
Team Monaco returns to action at Lake Como on 26-27 April, with the Principality hosting its home round on 18-19 July at Port Hercule.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
