Yacht Class n°45 (june-july-august 2026)
At the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), a century-old sailing vessel has set sail on a three-year expedition dedicated to the sea, to youth, and to intercultural dialogue between peoples.
Written by : Anaïs Riu – Photos : Anaïs Riu et Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication
Monaco, 4th May 2026. Along the quays of the Yacht Club, anticipation builds gently. Students, scientists, sailors and journalists mingle in an atmosphere at once studious and vibrant. A few metres away, the sailing vessel Wiki, an elegant silhouette launched in 1920, is preparing to write a new chapter of her history—and perhaps, in her own way, that of the Mediterranean Sea.
A departure full of meaning
At 3:45 p.m., the ribbon falls. A few minutes later, at exactly 4:00 p.m., Wiki casts off her moorings as all eyes turn seaward. The gesture is symbolic, almost solemn: that of a departure which goes far beyond mere navigation. Carried by the Help Save The Med project, the expedition promises to be exceptional in scope: three years at sea, more than 40,000 kilometres to be sailed, and a clear ambition: to reconnect the shores of the Mediterranean around a shared purpose. “The Mediterranean is in danger. But this project is not only about the environment; it is also about culture,” explains Tom Woods, the initiator of the venture. “It is about creating a community of interests among the 24 countries and territories that border it.”
Sailing with purpose
On board, the crew embodies this plural vision: sailors, scientists, filmmakers and young reporters form a floating micro-society dedicated to transmission and sharing knowledge. Far from a regatta, Woods is keen to stress: “This is not a race. We will sometimes encounter difficulties, but the idea is to create dialogue where none exists.” The concept is simple—almost radical in the world of yachting: to sail with purpose. Each port of call becomes a laboratory of exchange, bringing together scientific research, educational workshops and local encounters. “Sailing, celebrating, racing… that’s all well and good. But can we do something that is genuinely useful?” he asks. “Personally, I want to leave a clean sea for future generations.”
Youth at the heart of the project
The expedition places young people at the very centre of its course. Tens of thousands of school pupils will be involved, either in person or remotely, through an international educational programme. From Nice on 5th May, then on to Port-Cros, Corsica and beyond, each stopover will be transformed into a platform for learning and awareness-raising. The aim is simple: to understand, to document and to pass on. “The young are less uncompromising than adults,” Woods continues. “We, ourselves, have not succeeded, so let us give them the means to do better.”
Monaco, home port of a shared ambition
If Monaco was chosen as the starting point, it is no coincidence. “Bernard d’Alessandri once told me: yachting must change. I listened straight away,” Woods confides. Supported by the Yacht Club de Monaco, presided over by H.S.H. Albert II, Prince of Monaco, the project finds a natural resonance in the Principality. “It is a place that understands the sea, which protects it, and where values of continuity and commitment are shared.”
A collective dynamic
Around Wiki gravitates a network of committed stakeholders: environmental organisations, scientific institutions, cultural partners and international media. All contribute to turning this expedition into a collaborative platform in service of the Mediterranean Sea. From combating invasive species to promoting the recovery of plastic waste, and including the observation of cetaceans, the initiatives will be manifold, each rooted in local realities.
Setting sail differently
As the sailing vessel gradually fades into the horizon, one conviction remains on the quays of Monaco: yachting can be something more than a way of life. It can become a tool, a vector for transmission, a bridge between cultures. And perhaps, as Tom Woods hopes, “a way of showing that in an anxious and fragmented world, it is still possible to move forward together.”
