Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe

by Isabelle Andrieux on 30 Jun 2009
On Thursday 18 June 2009, HSH Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, welcomed new members to the Club at the traditional summer cocktail, in a setting designed by Philip Plisson.

As this year commemorates his 25 years as President, he wished to express his sincere thanks to all YCM members for their loyalty and dynamism: 'Twenty five years sharing this common passion that we all have for the Sea, the cradle of life. Twenty five years of meetings, international exchanges and competition at the highest level.'

It was the ideal occasion to congratulate the Club’s five young sailors for their superb performances at the Small States of Europe Games in Cyprus, which earned them a gold medal, two silvers and a bronze. The President also announced that a round the world voyage by a woman flying the Monaco flag was being planned. An ambitious challenge in the interest of science and renewable energies led by Alexia Barrier, it will also be a trial run for the Vendée Globe 2012. 'This young enthusiast is a driving force for the Club. It is for people like Alexia that we must build the future, by passing on the universal, timeless and unifying values which bind us all.'

The cocktail was also an opportunity to unveil the main events planned for the Tuiga centenary, which will be celebrated from 16 to 20 September during an exceptional Monaco Classic Week culminating in a special centenary regatta on Saturday 19 September.

Organised by the YCM in collaboration with official timekeeper, Hublot, and the support of Moët Hennessy, the ninth edition welcomes Lancia and its car collection from the turn of the last century, and Credit Suisse, a newcomer to this event.

'Tradition, team spirit and the ability to innovate – there are so many values that Credit Suisse shares with those who own such exceptional craft. It is entirely fitting that we pay tribute to them: they are the main players and through their passion they enable these boats to survive. Naturally we wanted to be associated with this week which looks like being one of the major events in Monaco’s calendar this year,' said Alain Ucari, CEO of Credit Suisse (Monaco).

Launched in 1994 by the YCM, this biennial event is the only one in the world to unite (by invitation only) collectors’ cars, classic yachts, vintage motor-yachts and motorboats in one port.

Running parallel to the racing, chefs’ competition and other traditional Monaco Classic Week events, numerous activities have been organised for the public:

· Exhibition 1909-2009, from 16 to 20 September
To illustrate the Principality’s maritime history and how it is linked to the technological advances made at the turn of the last century, an exhibition will compare 1909 to 2009.
Items on show include:
- collectors’ cars from 1909 to 1912 (Lancia, Wolseley, Delahaye, a Hispano once owned by the King of Spain, Alphonse XIII, and more)
- vintage motorbikes (V-twin engine was developed in 1909), including the one Prince Albert 1st rode from Monaco to Paris
- motorboats, with some dating back to 1909
- two replicas of the Blériot XI (first crossed the English Channel in 1909), one of which has an engine from that period
- a fire engine and equipment from Monaco’s fire brigade, which was first established in 1909.
· Guided tours on board training ships, from 16 to 19 September
Sedov, the world’s biggest training ship (1921, 117.5m, Russia), Palinuro (1934, 69m, Italy), a threemast schooner in the Italian navy, and Signora del Vento (1962, 85m, Italy) are coming to pay tribute to Tuiga and to open their hatchways to the public.
· Maritime Lecture 'Tuiga and the 15 M IR class' on 16 September
Presented by YCM member Antoine Fécamp, this talk will retrace the history of the Club’s flagship and the prestigious 15 Metre class, which produced some of the most beautiful yachts ever built.
· Free boat trips, 17 September (14h30-16h30) and 18 September (10h30-12h30)
Always eager to share their passion, owners of Rivas and steam-powered boats are inviting the public to get a taste of what it is like at sea on board their craft.
· One hundred years of Tuiga, 19 September
A vintage car parade, a concours d’élégance of boats in the port, a regatta in period costume and much more are planned to celebrate one hundred years of Tuiga in elegant and traditional style.

During the cocktail, HSH Prince Albert II unveiled a new Tuiga silk head scarf from Hermès in the colours of the Monegasque cutter. 'In the tradition of solidarity, generosity and sharing among seafarers, I requested Hermès to produce a limited edition (500) of a new Tuiga head scarf for this double commemoration year [25 years of his Presidency and 100 years of Tuiga], and for the proceeds of the sale to go to the Monegasque association, Orphelinats du Monde (Orphans of the World)', explained HSH Prince Albert II.

HSH Prince Albert II also presented a commemorative stamp dedicated to the hundred-year-old yacht, produced by the Principality of Monaco’s Office des Emissions de Timbres-Poste and designed by Patrice Merot.

Monaco Classic Week is from 16 to 20 September 2009. 'I invite you all to come and share this moment with us and Tuiga, a yacht who symbolises the Belle Epoque era, its innovation, its sense of modernity and its optimism. When I see the building works in the port, started a century ago on the same quay, and our desire to build a Club House for the future which we are working on so that it remains a place of influence and centre of activity in the Port, I note that our goals are the same as our commitment to safeguarding the environment. We are pursuing a common mission which goes far beyond our generation.

Tuiga continues to show us the way as a fine example of what we need to do to build a tomorrow for the future generations of the Yacht Club,' concluded HSH Prince Albert II.