Yacht Class n°43 (Dec-Jan-Feb 2025)
YACHT CLUB DE MONACO
From 10th to 13th September, the Principality proudly hosted the 17th edition of Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe at the heart of the YCM Marina. A unique event celebrating sport, passion, heritage and the art of living at sea.
Written by : Anaïs Riu – Photos : Studio Borlenghi / Yacht Club de Monaco.
Imagine a truly dazzling display that only happens once every two years: 160 exceptional boats lined up along the quays of the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), silent witnesses of a century and a half of naval engineering. Welcome to Monaco Classic Week (MCW). Created in 1994, this unique event remains one of the few in the world capable of bringing together century-old traditional sailing boats, vintage motor yachts with perfect lines, weathered mahogany motorboats and elegant 12′ dinghies on the same stretch of water. Thirty years of existence have shaped an event that has become unmissable, harmoniously combining sporting competition, the Mediterranean art of living and the preservation of an exceptional maritime heritage. Once again this year, the magic is in the air: 50 gleaming Rivas side by side with century-old giants such as Madcap (1874) and Partridge (1885). Varnished decks, sparkling chrome, international delegations from America, Asia, Australia and even Saudi Arabia… Glamour, passion and tradition sail under the Monegasque sun.
Centenarians that withstand the passage of time
In the bay of Monaco, Madcap, the oldest pilot cutter still seaworthy, stands proudly alongside her centenarian counterparts. At 151 years old, this venerable hull continues to cut through the waves with the same elegance as in the days of sailing. “These ships have amazing stories to tell, and I think we must continue to share this passion. Yachting is an integral part of life in Monaco, it is also a gateway to the world,” says Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary and Chief Executive of the Yacht Club de Monaco. Among these witnesses to naval history, Partridge celebrates its 140th anniversary with particular panache. This gaff-rigged cutter, a masterpiece by architect J. Beavor Webb, embodies the spirit of Monaco Classic Week. Long forgotten, converted into a houseboat and stranded on the English coast, she owes her rebirth to seventeen years of tireless restoration. Now owned by Jean-Raymond Boulle, a member of the Yacht Club de Monaco, Partridge symbolises the famous transmission of heritage that is the soul of the event. The gaff-rigged cutters Kismet (1898) and Viola (1908) complete this vivid picture of sailing’s golden age. Viola welcomes Marie Tabarly, daughter of the famous sailor Éric Tabarly, on board, thus continuing the family tradition of sailing. “It is wonderful because these objects are so elegant, so aesthetically pleasing,” marvels Catherine Chabaud, President of the Yacht Club de France, voted Personality of the Sea at the 2015 MCW. “It is very interesting because this gathering allows us to see the richness of this production between the two wars. With classics, overall, you are never disappointed.”
Mariette of 1915, the recognition of a masterpiece
If all eyes are on one ship, it is Mariette of 1915. This 39.78-metre gaff-rigged schooner, designed by the legendary Nathanaël G. Herreshoff, won the prestigious MCW 2025 Trophy. With 807 m² of sail area, she commands respect with her imposing presence and remarkable state of preservation. The jury, chaired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, praised much more than just a restoration: a living example of transmission. “At the time these yachts were built, they represented the pinnacle of technology for using the wind to propel boats,” explains the legendary sailor. Mariette of 1915 embodies this spirit: alongside her permanent crew of sailors, Corinthian crew members regularly come on board and receive training. This century-old schooner demonstrates that maritime heritage should not simply be preserved: it must live, sail and pass on its expertise to future generations.
Record participation of the Rivas
On the quayside, another spectacle attracts everyone’s attention: 50 mahogany Rivas, the largest gathering ever seen in the Principality, transform Port Hercule into a showcase of gleaming chrome and shimmering varnish. Among them, the legendary Lipicar IV, the personal Aquarama of Carlo Riva, founder of the brand, recalls the golden age of Italian design. “For us, this event is very important, I would even say unmissable,” says Lia Riva, daughter of the “Ingegnere di Sarnico”. It is a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation, as evidenced by the visit of Monegasque Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, who is fascinated by these exceptional machines
Elegance takes centre stage
As with every edition, the Concours d’Élégance transformed the Lucciana pier into a veritable floating catwalk. Chaired by Allegra Gucci, the jury judged much more than just the beauty of the lines: “We observe the crews, the captains, and the owners. How they are on board, how they are dressed, how they greet the jury. Then we judge what the French call the “coup de cœur”, that is to say, the thrill that the boat creates,” explains the president, owner of the famous three-masted Créole. “You have to look at them like paintings. Ultimately, it is the overall story that each boat tells. That is to say, the harmony between the boat, the sails and the crew”, explains Catherine Chabaud. After several hours of deliberation, the results were announced at the closing cocktail party, with Mariska (traditional sailing boat), Blue Bird (motor yacht) and Lady Isabelle (vintage motorboat) emerging as the winners.
One watchword: passion
This 17th edition ends with the certainty that it has offered much more than just a nautical gathering. “I believe that the greatest driving force behind this gathering is passion. It is one of the pillars of the event. The passion of the people who come, but also that of those who organise it,” emphasises Bernard d’Alessandri. Between the scent of sea spray, the beauty of the boats and the friendliness of the crews, every participant leaves with the feeling of having experienced a moment out of time, as Michael Fortenbaugh, commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club aboard Mariska, sums up perfectly: “There is no other event in the world like this one, with its extraordinary spirit and camaraderie. The atmosphere here is truly exceptional.”
