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The Monaco Classic Week is not just a regatta. It is a journey through time and the history of yachting which in Monaco combines sport and a certain “Art de Vivre” common to classic sailboats, vintage motor-yachts and vintage motorboats at one time. which saw the birth of aviation and the first seaplanes.
It is this spirit that never fails to captivate participants and the public alike during an event orchestrated by the Yacht Club de Monaco. It combines races to highlight the authenticity of sailboats, the coveted La Belle Classe Restoration Prize, good living at sea with the Concours des Chefs, respect for etiquette at sea with the competitions of elegance, and an extraordinary journey into the past at the exhibition “The Encounters of Motor Boats at the Time of Albert I of Monaco – The Collection of the Restored Monaco Yacht Club”. On the last day, a Grand Parade led by the SS Delphine (1921) brought together all the participants in front of the Oceanographic Museum for a parade of living maritime heritage in all its facets to Larvotto beach and back to the YCM marina. The opportunity to celebrate the 100 years of this steam yacht, the last still in operation, recognizable by its inverted bow and elegant lines (78.5 m long, 10.83 m wide) with three boilers feeding the engines original quadruple expansion of 1500 hp.
Style as much as performance
After the rigors of Friday’s race at the Cala del Forte marina in Ventimiglia and back, Saturday was about what inspires the soul of yachting, that passion people have for their boat and the way they appreciate them ashore. and at sea. The Concours d’Elégance again involved Princess Beatriz of Orleans-Borbon and an elitist jury called upon to judge the style, class and harmony of the crews and their boats. Sailboats, motorboats and motor yachts paraded past the jury on Lucciana Pier, crews digging deep into their imaginations to match their uniforms and gestures to suit the stature of their boat. The salutes, cheers, cannon shots and even the songs of the sea presented a challenge for a jury embarrassed by the choice when the final decision had to be made.
A handpicked fleet
On the Mediterranean classic yacht circuit, Monaco Classic Week stands out as the only one to bring together an exclusive range of classic sailing and motor yachts, selected and invited by the Yacht Club de Monaco. For the owners, delighted to be together and to share their passion, it was a more intimate format with only sailboats built before 1950 with a wooden mast that could anchor in the Marina YCM.
About thirty people responded to the invitation, most of them Fifes, including three from the 15M IR yachts. It was the perfect opportunity for Moët Hennessy to pay tribute to the prestigious Scottish shipyard by officially launching a Glenmorangie Tuiga Whiskey 25 years old. In their wake, ten vintage motor yachts and thirty vintage motor boats, including ten Rivas, surpass themselves in finesse and elegance while seven others, including three American Chris Crafts compete for supremacy by the pure elegance of their lines.
Mariella (Fife 1938) wins the Monaco Classic Week Trophy 2021
The La Belle Classe Restoration Prize rewards the quality of the restoration of boats that are often more than a century old. For this fifth edition, the Jury chaired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and made up of experts in the history of yachting, including Dr William Collier, spent the week inspecting all the boats. The rating takes into account respect for the original plans, the materials used for the construction and the know-how of the people involved in their restoration. The story of the boat and that of its owners are part of the passion and commitment that also come into play. It is a combination of this competition and the competition of elegance that decides the winner of the Monaco Classic Week Trophy because they include all the criteria evaluated in these two aspects to which is added this indefinable reaction “love at first sight” in mind. that reigns. in the life, maintenance and restoration of the boat.
The big winner this week is the Bermudan yawl Mariella (1938) of the Fife type by Carlo Falcone which succeeds the auric schooner Puritan (1930). Also received awards for the quality of their restoration, Iran in vintage motorboats, Blue Bird 1938 in motor yachts and the Olympian gaff cutter (Gardner 1913). Iran (Stempler Corsier Port – 1948) won the jury’s vote for the Elegance Prize, as did the motor yacht Istros and the sailboat Viola (Fife 1908).
Three races for the 12 ‘Dinghies
In a slight southwest, the race committee ran three windward races in quick succession for the 12 ‘Dinghies. “A day of light weather which favored light sailors! explained the Lorient sailor Christophe Le Bruchec. “The Italians have proven to be very competitive,†he declared, confirmed by the standings dominated by Aldo Samele-Acquaviva, ahead of his compatriots Alessandro Pedone and Federico Pelopais.
Chef’s Competition won by Eileen 1938
Ten boats, sailing and motor, presented their chefs at the highly rated Concours des Chefs, whose jury was chaired by Mauro Colagreco (Mirazur), three Michelin stars. Coordinated by Simon Ganache, Executive Banquet Chef at YCM, the theme was “Land and Sea,†with Wagyu beef and king crab for a starter, and black cod, carabineers and octopus for the main course. Another ingredient they had to work on to improve their recipes was Glenmorangie’s ‘The Original’ 10 Year Old Whiskey which they made with panache. The winner was Thibaud Barbafiera the “cook†on the Bermudan cutter Eileen 1938 (Anker 1938) who best combined these culinary imperatives and impressed the jury. He beats Ricco Dubignon of the motor yacht Le Kir Royal and Conor Demprey of the Blue Bird 1938.
Success for an exceptional exhibition of works from the YCM collection
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Prince Albert I, the Albert I-2022 Committee presented for a week an exhibition of some sixty objects restored and presented for the first time to the public, including medals and trophies, relating at the motorboat meetings held in Monaco at the beginning of the 20th century. All the objects will now find their place in the various lounges of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
They said:
Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco
“As the curtain falls on this 15th edition of the Monaco Classic Week, we are all very moved to have shared our passion for all these boats. This event is unique but also makes sense because it brings together people who have the same concept of sailing and pay the same attention to the preservation of maritime heritage. We see that the old boats still have a timeless elegance. Monaco also had a role to play in the beginnings and development of aviation at the turn of the 20th century. Because aviation began with seaplanes and the first overflights of Monegasque waters which took off from the docks. The Yacht Club’s exhibition of posters and lithographs reflects what yachting is today. When we talk about Monaco as the capital of yachting, it’s a story that began a long time ago and continues.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, President of the Grand Jury of Monaco Classic Week “We were very well received by all the crews who told us the story of their boat, the restoration work that was carried out, and always with the same passion and the same love. In the end, it is a very difficult decision to make, so many craftsmen who work on these boats to preserve them in all their original grandeur did an excellent job. In the end, it is the heart that decides for each member of the jury.
Prizes and trophies
Monaco Classic Week 2021 Trophy: Mariella (1938)
The 33 classic sailboats have been divided into four groups, depending on their size, age and type of rigging. After three days of racing, the results are as follows:
Big Boat: 2 validated races
1- Mariella (Fifre 1938) – Peter Simmons
2- Tuiga (Fifre 1909) – Daniel Pereira
3- Mariska (Fifre 1908) – Dan Polsjak
Classic: 2 races validated
1- Stiren (Stephens 1962) – Oren Nataf
2- Dambuster (Illingworth & Primrose) 1962 – Nicholas Hill
3- Brynhilde (Parker 1958) – Niall Robinson
Vintage Marconi – 3 races validated
1- A wave (1948) – William Borel
2- Meerblick Classic (1917) – Gabrielle Kohlmann
3- Alouette (Olin Stephens 1937) – Martin Fox
Vintage gaffe – 3 validated races
1- Viola (Fifre 1908) – Kostia Belkin
2- Olympian (Gardner 1913) – Guillaume Fetas
3- Vistona – (McPherson 1937) – Gian Battista Borea d’Olmo
La Belle Classe Catering Prize:
S / Y Mariella (yawl – Fife 1938)
Motorboat Iran (1948) (Stempler Corsier Port)
M / Y Blue Bird of 1938
S / Y Olympian (Gardner P-Class 1913)
Concours d’Elegance:
Motorboat: Iran (1948) РEric Andr̩
Motor-yacht: Istros (1954) – Mr Nuten
Sailboat: Viola (Fife 1908) – Kostia Belkin
Photo credit: YCM / Studio Borlenghi
Tags on NauticNews: Monaco Classic Week
– RP –
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