YACHT CLUB DE MONACO WINTER COCKTAIL | YCM AWARDS – TROPHÉE CREDIT SUISSE 2022 | 21st December 2022
HSH Prince Albert II, president of the Yacht Club de Monaco, HE Mr Pierre Dartout and the great YCM family gathered for the traditional Winter Cocktail to celebrate the arrival of new members and reward its top sailors.
All the emotions of sport
Over the decades, Yacht Club de Monaco has become “a major player on the international yachting scene,” noted HSH Prince Albert II, its President since 1984, “establishing itself as a meeting point where big events converge contributing to the Principality’s reputation and influence”. Whether through its race members as proud ambassadors competing on seas all over the world or the quality of its organisation as organiser of prestige events, the Club takes centre stage when it comes to sport. It was an opportunity to look back on a busy and varied season, a highlight being the J/70 World Championship, and pay tribute to Pierrick Devic (Leonteq) who put in an excellent performance to clinch the J/70 World Vice-Champion title out of a 90-strong fleet from 23 nations and congratulate the silver medal in the One Pro category of Ludovico Fassitelli (Junda).
In 2022, YCM was also active offshore with two members on the start of the 12th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer) and Oren Nataf (Rayon Vert) were competing in this legendary solo race, “We were very proud to have two boats flying the YCM flag on the start of this prestigious transatlantic,” continued the Sovereign. Boris Herrmann, skipper for Team Malizia founded by Pierre Casiraghi, will be heading for Alicante in Spain for the start on 15th January 2023 of The Ocean Race, a round the world in stages with crew.
The sea and sports events are fundamental to the Club which brings together the world’s best sailors, and this evening is a chance to honour them at the YCM Awards – Trophée Credit Suisse. This year’s ceremony was preceded by the awarding of a new distinction in the form of a chevron (bronze, silver and gold) by HSH Prince Albert II to all winners since the Awards were launched in 2005 as reward for consistently good results. The recipients present were: Dan Meyers (YCM Sailor of the Year in 2010), Igor Simčič (2012), Vladimir Prosikhin (2015), Pierre Casiraghi (2017), Kostia Belkin (2019), Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (2021) and Guido Miani (2008 and 2011).
And Sailor of the Year 2023 is …
Among nominees for the coveted YCM Awards – Credit Suisse Trophy (Sailor of the Year) were great helmsmen: Nico Poons, RC44 World Champion, Pierrik Devic, J/70 World Vice-Champion, Joost Schuijff, winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race (Monohull Line of Honours), Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio, Swan36 European Vice-Champion, Vladimir Prosikhin, Melges 20 World Vice-Champion and Leonardo Ferragamo, Swan50 World Champion. This year’s trophy was awarded to Pierrik Devic, making his first appearance in the nominees, who stood out for his remarkable consistency all season in the J/70 class, in addition to his World Vice-Champion title. “I am very touched to receive this Award which I dedicate to my crew without whom I would not have won it. It represents 60 days on the water together. It’s a fixed team and I wanted from the start to create a good atmosphere on board. Above all, we are good friends who want to have fun on the water. It’s just magical”.
The evening starts with awards for the new generation and lifeblood of the YCM’s Sports Section. For the second time in his short career, young Noah Garcia won the cup. After shining in the Optimist class in 2019, this season he excelled in ILCA 4, including bagging the French Champion title, and says he “can’t wait to fly the YCM flag high at other meetings” next season. The cup adds to a track record that recalls that of the Monegasque kiteboarder, Alexander Ehlen, French Formula Kite Vice-Champion who has his sights set on the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Steeped in solidarity
YCM members Fabrice Papazian and François Miribel recalled their adventure in the Antarctic aboard the Boréal 47, Sir Ernst. “After spending nearly a month in the Antarctic as far as Marguerite Bay 67° South, we sailed in the Patagonia channels in the southern winter. We are getting ready to do another trip over there before heading back to the Mediterranean to prepare another polar expedition in two years’ time,” explained Sir Ernst’s owner, François Miribel. The first boat to take part in the citizen science bathymetry programme in partnership with the IHO as part of the Seabed 2030 project, Sir Ernst recorded depth measurements in places where no data had existed until now. The two sailors presented their book of photos, the proceeds of which will be donated to a research institute battling cancer in children. “This trip was important for these kids and their families. It is important to help them achieve their dreams,” said Fabrice Papazian. “This launch at the Club is very special for me as this is where I started sailing”.
Book to discover here: https://sirernst-expeditions.org/index.php/le-livre/
Writing history and the future
YCM has travelled a long way since its launch on 17th June 1953, reflecting the wishes of HSH Prince Rainier III who wanted the Principality to have a yacht club like those he visited when cruising on his boats. For the 70th anniversary, YCM has a string of events in store, including the 16th Monaco Classic Week (13-16 September 2023) which is set to be exceptional. This one-of-its-kind biennial honours our sailing maritime heritage by bringing together classic yachts, period motor yachts and vintage motorboats.
While the Club remains attached to the past, it continues its drive to shape the future with the 10th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (3-8 July 2023), a meeting for alternative power sources. The 10th edition is packed with new elements, including the first ever E-Boat Rally for electric boats available on the market, enabling a record number of builders to show the public what the future of pleasure boats looks like. Also of note is a new Mentoring Programme to get the yachting industry involved in supporting students. It complements the Job Forum initiative that gives these young engineers a great opportunity to get an internship or their first job.
The future is being written now for YCM which remains committed to the industry’s eco-transformation. In parallel to the SEA Index, a rating to assess superyacht CO2 emissions and the YCM Explorer Awards that recognise owners for eco aspects of the design and how they use their yacht, in 2023 the Club will host the first Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous (23-24 March 2023).
At the dawn of a new year and the 70th celebrations, YCM intends to maintain its course on major sporting, environmental and innovative projects, under the aegis of the Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting approach, to contribute to development of sustainable yachting.
REPLAY : www.webtv.monacocapitalyachting.com/ycm-awards-trophee-credit-suisse
Press contacts:
Yacht Club de Monaco – Tel: +377 93 10 64 09 – Email: presse@ycm.org
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