Monaco Classic Week brings glamorous yachts to the French Riviera

4 September 2015 • Written by Risa Merl

More than a hundred beautiful classic sailing yachts, launches and historic motor yachts are celebrated in the revival that is the Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Class September 9-13, 2015.

The biennial event invites the finest classic yachts to converge in the Principality on Monaco where owners and crew enjoy competitions on the water and glamorous social events onshore in the evening.

Launched in 1994, this is the first year that the Monaco Classic Week will be hosted out of the new Norman Foster-designed Yacht Club de Monaco clubhouse, where the classic yachts will fill the marina.

Notable yachts in attendance include the 28 metre 1909 gaff cutter Tuiga, sailing as the Yacht Club’s flagship, the 1908 launch Mariska, 1927 three-masted Creole and 46.3 metre  Lulworth, launched in 1920 and the largest gaff rigged cutter sailing today. Lulworth is currently for sale.

The yachts will be gleaming and ready for the technical inspections on September 9, with the Jury bestowing the La Belle Classe Restoration prize to the boat they deem has been refitted closest to its original state since launch.

Racing takes place in Herclues Bay off Monaco on September 10-12, with 50 classic sailing yachts racing along with more than 30 entrants in the Dinghy Class. There is also competitive fun for the motor yachts, with manoeuvrability tests for the vintage powerboats and classic Riva launches, which are not only beautiful but can make you money, too.

Sailing yachts racing during the Monaco Classic Week

The Monaco Classic Week hosts plentiful onshore activities including a gastronomy challenge with a focus on organic foods, cocktail parties and an auction where there is a chance for owners to bring home a classic yacht, paintings and nautical collectibles.

Spectators can enjoy seeing the Elegance Parade on September 12, when all the sailing yachts in attendance will parade one by one past the Jury, headed by Princess de Orleans-Borbon.

The final day on September 13 will see an invitation-only prize giving, and yachts will head off for the Trophee Pasqui race from Monaco to Nice.

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