7th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series
Junda still in the lead
Thursday 16th January 2020. Races for Act 3 of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series kick off in the Bay of Monaco tomorrow. Now in its seventh season, this series of monthly regattas held from October to March, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco on the initiative of Valentin Zavadnikov, continues to attract international teams.
Nearly 40 boats representing 11 nationalities are already signed up for the J/70 class, including many teams from Nordic countries and one from America. It’s a big fleet for this class which is organising its 2021 World Championship in the Principality in the month of October.
Americans triumph ahead of Sweden, Monaco clinches hard-won 3rd place
Monaco Optimist Team Race 2020
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with support from FxPro, Eventica, Fon, clothing supplier SLAM and boatyard Erplast, the curtain fell on Sunday on another successful edition of the Monaco Optimist Team Race (MOTR). This event has become a must in the team racing calendar as a unique opportunity for under-14 sailors from all over the world to compete on equal terms at a venue ideal for big events like this one. “It’s always an honour and absolute pleasure to host this regatta,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri. “We are pleased to continue working on this format, the team spirit concept of which is much more advanced than at other events.”
Americans looking too good
11th Monaco Optimist Team Race
They came with the firm intention of winning the cup and are well on their way to doing just that if they hold their nerve. The American team has hardly put a foot wrong in this 11th Monaco Optimist Team Race organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with the support of FxPro, Eventica, Fon, clothing supplier SLAM and boatyard Erplast.
80 sailors – 4 continents – 20 nations
11th Monaco Optimist Team Race
For four days the team racing elite in the Optimist class will battle it out for supremacy at the Yacht Club de Monaco in the 11th Monaco Optimist Team Race. This year, for the first time since its launch, there will be 20 teams from 20 countries in competition.
“This international event for budding young sailors is part of our Monaco: Capital of Yachting project, as being a destination that attracts high-level competitions and sailors from all over the world,” explains Yacht Club de Monaco General Secretary, Bernard d’Alessandri.
An original format, it enables participants to compete on equal terms in the form of duels. The round-robin phase when all teams meet each other is followed by the quarter- then semi- then finals which are the highlight of the event. For all contestants the over-riding goal is to help their team win as many matches as possible to stay at the top of the leader board.
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with support from FxPro, Eventica, Fon, clothing supplier SLAM and the Erplast boatyard, the Monaco Optimist Team Race has become a benchmark for young teams from all over the world.
Since 2009, this winning formula continues to appeal as evidenced by the attendance this year of 80 under-14s from Russia (Kaliningrad Yacht Club), South Africa (Royal Cape Yacht Club), Uruguay (Yacht Club Punta del Este) and China with a team from the Visun Royal Yacht Club.
Yachting’s future at the heart of the debate
During the Monaco Yacht Show, the Yacht Club de Monaco organised its 23rd Captains Forum in partnership with insurance company, Ascoma Maritime. An annual event, it brings superyacht captains together to socialise and share experiences, and is an ideal opportunity to debate topical issues that affect them.
As a Club which holds a unique position in the global luxury yacht industry, this year the YCM wanted to bring these key players together around two themes:
preservation of the marine environment through a pivotal topic for the future – noise pollution
training professionals, with a presentation on new courses offered by the Yacht Club de Monaco’s La Belle Classe Academy training centre.
Gathered on the Yacht Club de Monaco’s terrace overlooking the YCM Marina, captains were invited to discuss the impact of “20,000 noises under the sea”. Professor Michel André, Director of Applied Bioacoustics Laboratory at the Technical University of Catalonia, BarcelonaTech (UPC) gave a fascinating talk on the impact of manmade noise on marine wildlife.
It is a fact that thousands of species, for whom sound is the only way they can communicate, orientate or locate food, are increasingly being disturbed by sound waves from shipping, drilling, offshore construction and even pleasure boats which mask the natural sounds of the ocean.
In their talks which followed, Captains Sean Meagher (M/Y Latitude – 52m), Michael Zerr (S/Y A – 143m) and Fraser Gow (M/Y Gene Machine – 55m) questioned the expert on solutions and technologies available to reduce their sonar footprints, for example “smart ears” or noise sensors that can be used to map areas most affected. The discussion also looked at legislation and programmes in place to return to a “correct” sound level, with measures like requiring noisy vessels to bypass protected areas and the international LIDO (Listen to the Deep Ocean, http://listentothedeep.com) programme. This acoustic measuring software instrument provides a global approach to marine noise pollution, helps governments legislate and supports industry players in their efforts to reduce their acoustic signature.
“Sound is synonymous with life in the oceans. To pollute this vital channel of communication is to condemn the ocean to an irreversible imbalance,” says Professor Michel André. “We already have advanced technologies at our disposal to analyse and mitigate manmade noise pollution and return to a sustainable acoustic balance for future generations. To achieve this we need everyone to support us, and big yachts have a vital role to play. Not only can they collect data by recording soundscapes in less accessible regions, but also by setting an example for large ships by employing quieter engines with less impact on marine biodiversity.”
Superyacht captains on the panel of experts for this 23rd Captains Forum welcomed the idea. As Michael Zerr (S/Y A), pointed out: “Contributing to the body of scientific knowledge has become a necessity and requires all those involved in the sea to participate”.
As for Captain Sean Meagher (M/Y Latitude) he stressed the need for technical measures to help minimise our acoustic footprint in the oceans. While the large yachts may not be major contributors to noise pollution, they have privileged access to the remotest of regions which gives them added responsibility when exploring these last pristine corners of the planet.
Ascoma Maritime, partner for this event represented by Nicolas Mior, highlighted new EU legislation adopted to achieve healthy marine systems by 2020, including a provision to ensure underwater noise does not “adversely affect” marine life. “Vessels can be made quieter,” he says, “by raising engines off the vessel floor or using propellers designed to reduce cavitation – the creation of tiny bubbles that pop loudly when they explode.” He also pointed out that most measures designed to quieten a vessel go hand in hand with improving fuel efficiency.
Discussions continued in the YCM’s La Belle Classe Academy training centre where new courses for 2019-2020 were presented. In a bid to meet the needs of yachting professionals, new courses continue to be added to the programme:
Monaco Weather Lab, introduced by Navimeteo’s Gianfranco Meggiorin, the purpose of which is to give candidates a better understanding of meteorological data when sailing.
Environmental Training for Yacht Crews (ETYC), which aims to educate crew members on the ecological footprint left by their boat and includes waste management and using everyday products in a more eco-responsible manner, led by Claire Férandier.
Risk Management training day in partnership with Ascoma Maritime, on the different insurance schemes and requirements and risk prevention for private and commercial yachts.
Changes to the Polar Code by Yan Pearson.
“Destination Barman”, with instructor Giorgio Rocchino, winner of Best Barman in Italy and 3rd in Europe; the Art of Service on board being a speciality of this training centre dedicated to excellence on board.
Next Captains Forum: September 2020 as part of Monaco Ocean Week, a highlight of the day being the YCM La Belle Classe Superyachts Explorers Awards. For more information, please contact Cristina Ruiz, YCM Superyacht Relations Manager by email: c.ruiz@ycm.org
Yachting traditions triumph in Monaco!
The 14th Monaco Classic Week culminated in style today with the prize-giving ceremony attended by HSH Prince Albert II. A biennial event organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco since 1994, it is a stunning celebration of the yachting lifestyle that dates back over generations, putting the spotlight on gleaming hulls and beautiful boats, be they sailing or motor.
Everyone on the water for Fête de la Mer
On this 29th of June, which is the Feast of St Peter, patron saint of fishermen, it was a fun day of laughter and celebrating the sea in the YCM Marina, transformed for the day into a water park. It was a day for all the family, as young and old alike enjoyed the festive atmosphere to try out the many activities organised by the Club, including flite-boarding, pedal-boarding, a giant slide, walking on water bubbles, scuba diving and of course sailing, all supervised by instructors who love what they do. For this was the day of the annual Fête de la Mer organised in partnership with the Monaco Mairie, the Société Nautique de Monaco (rowing club) and the Pontons de Monaco association.
Ladies triumph: Société Générale’s all-female crew win out
To celebrate 30 years of ERI, the world leader in financial software packages, key players in Monaco’s banking sector turned out in force for the Challenge Inter-Banques-Trophée ERI organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco under the patronage of Monaco for Finance (AMAF – Association Monégasque des Activités Financières).
12 superyacht chefs shine in outstanding event!
Under the aegis of the La Belle Classe Academy training centre for those working in the luxury yacht sector, the Yacht Club de Monaco joined forces for the second year running with Bluewater to organise a culinary competition for superyacht chefs on 18th April 2019. Presided by Michelin-star chef Jacques Maximin, the Jury comprised top chefs including Virginie Basselot, (Meilleure Ouvrier de France) with one Michelin star for the Saint James in Paris, Marcel Ravin, another Michelin star and head chef at the Blue Bay Restaurant in Monaco, and Iberian Chef Pablo Albuerne, winner of the 2018 edition.
The Monaco Yacht Club at the heart of Monaco Ocean Week
As part of the Monaco Ocean Week, which takes place in Monaco from 30th March to 4th April, the Y.C.M. welcomed around sixty guests on Thursday 30th March for its environmental symposium La Belle Classe Superyachts, organised in the form of a dinner debate on the theme of “The Ocean: sizes and servitudes”.