In April 2027, Lake Como will host the Europe Qualifier of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Series. Student-led university teams will compete in the Energy Class, racing zero-emission boats on identical catamaran hulls for the chance to qualify for the Monaco World Final. This international event brings together engineering, clean propulsion, innovation and competitive racing on the shores of Lake Como, one of Europe’s most celebrated waterfront settings.
Europe’s next generation, racing for the future of clean mobility.
The Europe Qualifier is the region’s gateway to the Monaco World Final. In Lake Como, university teams design, build and race zero-emission boats. Same hulls. Same conditions. One goal: A place at the MEBC World Final. On the water, engineering is tested and the best innovations earn results.
This is more than speed. The competition encompasses efficiency, reliability and the drive to develop bold technology into real solutions for the maritime and yachting industry. Built by the next generation. Powered by innovation. Driven by sustainability.
Ideas, proven on the water. Zero emission propulsion, electric, solar, hydrogen and smart energy systems — tested in real racing events, not just on paper.
Same hulls. Same rules. A level playing field. Teams from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond compete where the best engineering wins, not the biggest budget.
Bigger than the race. Students, universities and the industry come together to build connections, share knowledge and create opportunities that push beyond the finish line.
Tomorrow's fleet begins here. A direct line from student innovation to the shipyards and yachting of the future.
In the Energy Class, every team starts with the same foundation: a standardised catamaran hull provided by the Yacht Club de Monaco. From this identical starting point, each team must design and build their own cockpit, propulsion system and energy strategy. The objective is clear: create the most efficient and reliable zero-emission boat possible. Teams can explore electric propulsion, solar, hydrogen, and other clean technologies while respecting strict technical and safety rules.
More than just a race. The Europe Qualifier is a live showcase, where visitors can watch the boats in action, meet the teams, explore the paddock and see the ideas and technologies shaping the future of clean boating. From the start line to the docks, Lake Como becomes a meeting point for sport, innovation, education and the maritime and yachting industry.
Endurance, manoeuvrability and speed: the Energy Class has three racing formats that can be viewed live on Lake Como.
Step inside the team paddocks, meet engineers, see the boats and technologies up close.
The Europe Qualifier is designed for student-led university teams ready to push the limits of sustainable marine engineering. Each team unites talent interested in the future of sustainable boating across the fields naval architecture, mechanical, electrical and energy engineering, software and data, project and business management, and other disciplines. Their mission is to transform ideas into operational boats, test their technologies on the water and compete for a place at the Monaco World Final.
Applications will open soon for universities and student teams wishing to take part in the April 2027 Europe Qualifier.
Since the Energy Class was introduced in 2018, it has created an international platform for student teams to design, build and test zero-emission marine technologies. The Europe Qualifier now extends that pathway to Lake Como, where the boats will be tested through on-water racing performance and technical assessments. The strongest competitors will earn the opportunity to progress to the Monaco World Final, joining leading university teams from around the world to showcase their innovation, build international connections and compete on the global stage.
