In order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Yacht Club de Monaco, the elite from the classic sail as well as motor yacht world will be present at the Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe. The event will be hosted by Port Hercule, scene of major 20th century innovation trials, from September 11 to 15, 2013. The latter took over from the Société des Régates de Monaco, established in 1888.
This 11th edition will be dedicated to owners around a certain yachting art de vivre, from classic yachts to the stunning Dinghy 12’s of yesteryear, competitions for chefs and elegance contests, La Belle Classe restoration prize, motorboat and steam-boat challenges, cocktails, elegant social gatherings, and more.
A festival focused on classic yachting will stretch along the whole of Quai Antoine 1er, as the Marlborough Gallery is to host a Titouan Lamazou exhibition from 10 to 28 September, while the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo is busy organising an auction of old boats, paintings and nautical objects.
Monaco Classic Week 2011© Carlo Borlenghi
Finest examples from the classic yacht fleet
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco since 1994, under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II, Monaco Classic Week is the only event to have classic sailing yachts, period motor-yachts, motorboats and steam-yachts in one harbour and all out on the water together.
As this is such a special occasion, the YCM has focused on quality by inviting the world’s finest examples of racers and cruisers, where architect and boatyard inspired by passionate owners produced exceptional yachts. More than a hundred boats, including 60 classic sailing yachts, 40 motorboats and 10 period motor-yachts have already confirmed their attendance. They include Belem (1896), French three-mast awarded historic monument status; Alcyon 1871, an exact replica of a Marseille race boat which won in Monaco in 1882; Over the Rainbow (35m, 1930), completely restored by Jean-Michel Folon when he was the owner; and the three 15M IR yachts, Mariska (1908), Hispania (1909) and The Lady Anne (1912), eternal rivals of the YCM’s flagship Tuiga (1909) for their always highly anticipated races!
Designed by Scottish architect William Fife, these four gaff cutters are the only survivors of a fleet that numbered around 20 from 1907 to 1917. They will be battling it out for the coveted `15 Meter Class Association Annual Trophy`. Originally the Royal Clyde Yacht Club Trophy 1884, today it is awarded to the one obtaining the best results in four of the big meetings of this second 15 Meter Class Association season: Copa del Rey Vela Clasica Menorca (Spain, 28-31 August), MP2013 (Marseille-Provence, European Capital of Culture (France, 4-7 September), Monaco Classic Week (11-15 September) and the Portofino Rolex Trophy (Italy, 19-21 September).
Dinghy 12’ class here for first time in Monaco
This series took off in Italy where many had preserved these dinghies from their youth. So having taken the trouble to maintain them why not get these small Stradivarius gems with their mahogany hulls flying across the water like dragonflies?
Passion did the rest, with an official class being created and a championship organised against that most stunning of backdrops – Lake Garda. Easy to tow and requiring minimal crew, the Dinghy 12’ is making its mark across Europe. An official club has recently been set up in Germany, and you can bet that in Monaco the Dinghy 12’ will gain new followers.
Titouan Lamazou exhibition
Through some 60 drawings, photographs and gouache-enhanced photos, artist and sailor Titouan Lamazou takes us on a journey round the world: Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Congo, United States, Europe, Indonesia, Mauritania, Siberia and Senegal, telling the story of women of the world; their injuries, pride, beauty, humour, courage, commitment, disillusion and audacity.
The Marlborough Gallery will also unveil his Tuareg pieces produced this year: “To pick up the story again of the lovely people I met and liked so much in the last century. To better understand myself and use the paintbrush to highlight a dramatic situation that repeats itself, like a metronome, as if the very beginnings of destiny were the mark of man,” comments Titouan Lamazou.
The exhibition will be punctuated by all sorts of other events to discover the different facets of this inventive and generous artist, such as the presentation of his Bateau-Atelier project, a 50m catamaran designed with French naval architect Marc Van Peteghem, which will enable the first Vendée Globe winner to work on all the world’s oceans.
Marine objects, paintings and yachts: under the hammer!
Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo joins the festivities on Friday 13 September 2013 when it will organise an auction around the Art de Vivre la Mer comprising a selection of objects, furniture items, classic sailing yachts, old motorboats and period motor-yachts, as well as jewellery, watches, photographs and works of art. They include Bernard Buffet’s Poisson and Max Ernst’s 1938 sculpture Sphinx et la sirène.
Provisional programme 2013 (subject to change as of 15 July 2013)
Tuesday 10 September
6.30pm Opening night of Titouan Lamazou exhibition at the Marlborough Gallery, 10 to 28 September (yachtsman attire, by invitation)
Wednesday 11 September
6.30pm Members Cocktail to meet those involved in Monaco Classic Week on Quai Rainier III (“Jetée Sud”) and aboard yachts (yachtsman attire, by invitation)
Thursday 12 September
10.30am-3.30pm Chefs’ Competition, with Moët & Chandon and Hennessy
1.00pm Classic yacht race (starts organised by rig type)
8.00pm Crew Party (Crew attire, by invitation) and prize awarded for Jeroboam painting competition
Friday 13 September
10.30am-12 noon Regularity Challenge (motor-yachts)
1.00pm Classic yacht race (starts organised by rig type) and Dinghy 12’s
3.00pm-4.30pm Regularity Challenge (old motorboats)
4.30pm-6.00pm Whistle Competition (steam-yachts)
5.00pm Demonstration of Dinghy 12’s in the harbour
6.00pm Art de vivre la mer auction
8.30pm La Belle Classe evening (yachtsman attire, by invitation)
Saturday 14 September
10.00am Elegance Parade for sailing boats at the harbour exit
1.00pm Classic yacht race (starts organised by rig type) and Dinghy 12’s
3.00pm-4.30pm Elegance Parade (motor-yachts and motorboats)
5.00pm Demonstration of Dinghy 12’s in the harbour
7.00pm Personnalité de la Mer 2013 prize presented at the Oceanographic Museum (yachtsmen attire, by invitation) followed by Nuit du Yachting at the Yacht Club de Monaco
Sunday 15 September
11.00am Prize-giving (yachtsman attire, by invitation)
