Viola (1908) joins Tuiga (1909) in New York as Yacht Club de Monaco’s two legends unite for an historic campaign along the United States East Coast

After several weeks journeying across the Atlantic on a cargo ship, Viola (1908) reached the United States. The gaff cutter owned by Yacht Club de Monaco member Kostia Belkin arrived Friday 12 June in New York Harbor. Lowered into the water and re-rigged in Liberty Landing Marina, she will join YCM’s flagship Tuiga (1909) in a few days. For maritime heritage enthusiasts the sight of these two witnesses to a golden age of sail, designed by William Fife III and built in the early 20th century, reunited in one of the world’s most iconic harbours will be an already powerful image. “Our petite Viola is delighted to be reunited with her big sister Tuiga after their long crossings to proudly represent the Yacht Club de Monaco together and pay tribute to the 250th anniversary of our American friends”, said Kostia Belkin. A stone’s throw from the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan’s skyscrapers, Viola and Tuiga begin a new chapter in their history of flying YCM’s flag with their role in the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence celebrations. It is a major undertaking that will see the two gaff cutters sailing along America’s East Coast from New York to Newport, calling into several of the country’s most prestigious nautical institutions. Sailing on USA waters has a particular significance for Tuiga as throughout her history the gaff cutter has seen several transatlantic legends take the helm. Among them Paul Cayard, seven-time world champion, winner of numerous international competitions and captain of several America’s Cup campaigns, and America’s legendary Dennis Conner, four-time winner of the Auld Mug. More than just a visit, this American campaign reflects a long-standing relationship between the United States and the Yacht Club de Monaco and its President HSH Prince Albert II. Thanks to a shared passion for competition, these ties had already been strengthened by the Monaco-New York, the first and only transatlantic race won by the Canadian Mike Burch in which a Monegasque crew led by YCM’s Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri also participated.

A maritime tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States

Premier rendez-vous de ce roadshow, la Monaco Challenge Cup, un événement organisé du 26 au 29 juin par le Manhattan Yacht Club, pour marquer la venue exceptionnelle de Tuiga et de Viola outre-Atlantique. Cette rencontre amicale réunira plusieurs yacht-clubs américains autour des deux voiliers monégasques et donnera le coup d’envoi officiel d’une campagne exceptionnelle. Les célébrations se poursuivront à New York, du 3 au 8 juillet, avec Sail4th 250. Près de quarante grands voiliers représentant 21 nations, plusieurs navires militaires et des milliers de marins convergeront vers la baie de New York à bord d’unités emblématiques telles que l’Amerigo Vespucci (Italie), considéré comme l’un des plus beaux navires-écoles au monde, ou encore les trois-mâts sud-américains Libertad (Argentine) sans oublier Gloria (Colombie), bien connus en Principauté pour avoir participé aux festivités du 700e anniversaire de Monaco en 1997. Au sein de cette flotte internationale, Tuiga et Viola occuperont une place singulière. Les deux côtres auriques escorteront notamment La Belle Poule, célèbre goélette à hunier de la Marine nationale française construite en 1932. Ensemble, ils remonteront l’Hudson River avant de défiler devant la Statue de la Liberté lors d’une parade qui s’annonce comme l’un des moments les plus spectaculaires et symboliques des célébrations.

Une route à travers les hauts lieux du yachting américain

The first event of this roadshow is the Monaco Challenge Cup organised from 26 to 29 June by the Manhattan Yacht Club to mark the arrival of Tuiga and Viola from across the Atlantic. This friendly gathering brings together several American yacht clubs to sail with the two Monegasque gaff cutters and officially launches this exceptional campaign.

Festivities continue in New York from 3 to 8 July with the Sail4th 250. Some 40 Tall Ships representing 21 nations, several naval vessels and hundreds of sailors, will converge on New York Harbor aboard iconic ships such as the Amerigo Vespucci (Italy), one of the most beautiful training ships in the world; the three-masted South American Libertad (Argentina); and Gloria (Colombia), famous in the Principality since she took part in the 700^th anniversary celebrations of Monaco in 1997.

Within this international fleet Tuiga and Viola have a special role to play in escorting La Belle Poule, the renowned topsail schooner of the French Navy built in 1932. Together they will process along the Hudson River before parading past the Statue of Liberty in what is set to be one of the most spectacular and symbolic moments of the celebrations.

A route through American yachting’s heartlands

After New York, the two gaff cutters set sail to visit yacht clubs that have shaped the history of “US” sailing. With each port of call the programme alternates between meeting institutions, and classic yacht gatherings and regattas, giving Viola in particular an opportunity to race against the finest yachts on the American circuit. The itinerary will take them to Manhattan, Larchmont, Indian Harbor, Seawanhaka, Devon and the Montauk Yacht Club.

During the 2026 Race Week organised by the New York Yacht Club the tour continues in Newport, the historic capital of American yachting and setting for some of the greatest moments in international sailing. It will conclude for Tuiga in Nantucket, whose yacht club embodies the nautical elegance of the East Coast, with Viola continuing until early September, participating in New England classic regattas as an ambassador for YCM. From club to club, this route will retrace a unique journey through American maritime heritage from its nautical traditions to top-tier regattas.

In a world where technology is transforming boats and how they operate, Tuiga and Viola are a reminder that performance also depends on the quality of the hull, the precision of its rigging, commitment of the crew and the expertise of all those who maintain these exceptional boats. These values are dear to the YCM which celebrates them every two years at Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe (18^th edition: 8-11 September 2027).

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