The Best Of Monaco Classic Week 2019
The 14th Monaco Classic Week 2019, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, took the principality by storm this September 11-15th September. Known as La Belle Classe, Monaco's elegant biennial event is a testimony to the Yacht Club's commitment to maritime heritage, and the only one of its kind to bring together classic yachts, period motor-yachts and vintage motorboats.
La Belle Classe was dreamt up with the idea that it would promote four essential values: respect for naval etiquette, the safeguarding of the environment, the preservation of the classic yacht heritage and innovation for luxury yachting.
Monaco Classic Week 2019: The Highlights
Celebrating the American-Monegasque Friendship
The theme for the Monaco Classic Week 2019 was the American Era - a celebration of US sailing traditions, showcasing American-built yachts from 1851 to 1973 while paying tribute to the special American-Monegasque friendship.
More than 100 classic yachts, including seven of the big schooners from the International Schooner Association, could be seen in the YCM Marina. Some 800 sailors, owners and skippers from 26 countries put on a show that revived a bygone era, when American sailing and motor boats dominated the seas for speed.
A highlight was the Schooner Cup Series Big Boat race, in which a dozen schooners competed. It was won by Elena of London, a 2009 replica of the 1910 original.
Other races included Metric Class races, Classic yacht races and 12-foot dinghy races. Special events included a manoeuvrability challenge for motorboats, similar to those performed in 1904, and a picnic at sea for motorboats. On Saturday the sea shimmered with old-world beauty, with two Elegance parades of classic yachts and motorboats.
The Monaco Classic Week 2019 Trophy was awarded to Puritan, a 1930 schooner, and the 2019 La Belle Classe Monaco Restoration Prize went to the Swedish gaff Ester, beautifully restored after 75 years on the seabed.
Iconic Appearances
Making special appearances this year:
- - The YCM’s emblematic flagship Tuiga, celebrating her 110th anniversary this year
- - La Spina, a masterpiece of Italian design, which represented the 12M class
- - Atlantic 2010, a replica of the 1903 three-mast schooner which set the best time for an Atlantic crossing in 1905
- - The 79m SS Delphine, the largest steam-boat still sailing, built in 1921. Having caught fire and sunk in 1926, she was restored in New York and went on to serve in the US navy, even hosting three world leaders, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill, as they negotiated part of the 1945 Yalta Agreement
Art de Vivre la Mer
In keeping with the Club’s Art de Vivre la Mer philosophy, the Chef’s Competition was open to crew members and chefs. Each was presented with a set number of ingredients from which they had to produce a range of dishes, presenting them to a jury of top chefs later that evening.
Widely regarded as the most elegant yacht show in the world, Monaco Classic Week 2019 certainly lived up to its reputation, and gave spectators the chance to admire these lovingly restored yachts from another era, and to appreciate their timeless elegance.More information here.
(Photo Credits: Studio Borlenghi)
