Viola from Yacht Club de Monaco launches season

For her first regatta of the season YCM member Kostia Belkin’s Viola got off to a solid start with 9th place at La Mise en Bouche in La Rochelle. The gaff cutter won two of the three races on the programme in a remarkable return to the classic yacht circuit. A total of 14 of these iconic sailing yachts turned out for the event. Viola, built in 1908 by William Fife embodies all the elegance of our maritime heritage. Listed as a Historic Monument in France, this sleek and slender yacht remains faithful to the characteristic lines of Fife designs in the early 20th century, with her thrusting stern, comfortable beam and slender bow ensuring smooth passage through the waves. While her age may suggest a sedate appearance, the opposite is the case thanks to a committed competitive crew who make this exceptional yacht fly in a manner worthy of the most modern of sailing boats.