EFG Bank Monaco’s sailing crew are back where they are used to being, at the head of the Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT) yacht race after winning the second leg on Saturday.
The reigning champions had been narrowly beaten on the first leg, from Muscat to Sohar, by Oman’s Team Renaissance.
EFG Bank Monaco passed Team Almouj Muscat less than ten miles from the Khasab finish line after more than 130 miles of close racing, with the second-placed boat finishing three minutes later.
The five offshore legs involve a race of 763 nautical mles around the Arabian Gulf. EFG Bank Monaco have won the last three editions of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour.
Skipper Thierry Douillard said: “It is a good feeling to win – it was not an easy leg at all. We led into the night but then ended up in a tricky position. The wind shift we had been waiting for came right at the end of the leg and we had a wonderful fight with Team Al Mouj Muscat for the lead. Thankfully it was a fight we won.”
Electrically-powered bicycle now used by La Poste. Photo: Cjp24
The French state is offering €200 towards the cost of buying an electrically assisted bicycle. The payment will be offered from now until January 31, 2018. The motor must be less than 3kW and without a lead battery, according to the Official Journal published on Saturday, February 18. Each payment will be limited to one per person, and not per machine.
A number of local authorities – Paris, Blois, Rouen – already offer up to €400 as a subsidy, and the €200 from the state would be on top of this. Motorised bicycles usually cost more than €700 euros. In Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, 400 people have already benefited from a subsidy of €250, amounting to about 1.3 percent of the town’s total population.
My Yacht Group (MYG), known for throwing legendary parties in Monaco, returned to the tiny Caribbean island of St Bart’s for the second time in as many months to celebrate the holiday of love in partnership with Bvlgari, and welcomed visiting and local HNWIs guests to a special evening in two parts.
Festivities began with an intimate Perrier-Jouët champagne and canapé reception at the stunning Bvlgari store in Gustavia, where models showcased a selection of high jewellery, timepieces, and leather goods to assembled guests.
Daniela & Thierry Boutsen of Monaco’s Boutsen Aviation ManagementAnnabelle Frankl, Ed Heaton and Alexandra Dixon HeatonBvlgari’s Christian Konrad, Nicholas Frankl, Marta Reis and Pierangelo Tondina
Immediately following, guests were invited aboard the 47m/155ft Christensen M/Y One More Toy, moored directly opposite the store, for a private dinner and after party.
In keeping with other MYG events, the charity evening raised awareness and funds for Operation Healing Forces (OHF), whose vision is for all returning Special Operations Forces to reclaim happy, productive and fulfilling lives through supporting their mental, physical and emotional healing, and provides special couples retreats, as they prepare to transition successfully into civilian life … or to return to the fight.
Jeff Hudson (blue shirt, seated) plays the OHF presentation for guests
Gary Markel, owner of One More Toy and President of OHF, and Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Hudson, US Army Retired, gave a moving presentation to highlight the incredible work the charity organisation has been doing for the past six years, with subsequent on board donations and pledges raising over $11,000 (€10,400) for OHF.
Luminous bottles of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2007 cast a festive glow upon the proceedings, with guests also enjoying Chateau d’Esclans’ Whispering Angel, plus fine fare from local Gustavia hotspot,,25 Quarter, and generous portions of caviar from St Barth Epicurean. All guests were gifted a signature Bvlgari scented candle.
One More Toy was refitted in 2015 and sleeps 14 guests in 6 staterooms. Available for charter and sale through Mark Elliot at IYC, with preferred rates through MYG for summer charters in the Mediterranean, including during Cannes Film Festival and Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
My Yacht Group is the result of twenty years spent working in the fields of sports and entertainment sponsorship and experiential marketing, creating long-term strategic partnerships with luxury and aspirational brands that showcase their products and entertain their top clients, while mixing with a highly targeted, pre-qualified guest list at invitation-only events. Few spots remain for their Monaco F1 Grand Prix party weekend.
Orla Murphy and Denise MarkelWilliam Roy, Lt. Col (R) Jeff Hudson, Marta Reis and Michelle StockdaleEmma Lang, Gary Markel and Helen DrummondM/Y One More ToyRichard Yorke, Nicholas Frankl and William RoyKevin Tedeschi and Denise MarkelNigel Stockdale with Gary MarkelGuests aboard One More Toy
This Sunday, the Association Folklorique des Portugais de Monaco (AFPM) will be celebrating its 21st anniversary in Roquebrune Village in the presence of the mayor of Roquebrune. Open to the public, the family-friendly festivities start at 2 pm.
Founded on February 16, 1996, by Monaco-resident Jose Da Costa along with a group of friends, the mission of the AFPM is to preserve and share Portuguese folkloric tradition. The association boasts a membership of some 40 people specialising in Portuguese folkloric dance and music.
Following Sunday’s celebration, the AFPM will host the 20th International Folklore Festival at the Esplanade Jean Gioan in Roquebrune Cap Martin on the June 3-4 weekend. An evening concert and dancing on Saturday will be followed on Sunday by a traditional Portuguese Folkloric commemoration. In true Portuguese fashion, there will be plenty of typical dishes – Feijoada, beignets de morue, Frango asado, rissois – to sample over the two days.
Well-known folklore groups from Switzerland, Portugal and Clermont-Ferrand will attend the June festival, which last year welcomed around 2,000 attendees.
In addition to other gatherings around Monaco in 2017, the AFPM has been invited to Corsica, Paris and Portugal to participate in various events.
Special Olympics Monaco benefit concert Saturday with OPMC
A benefit concert in support of Special Olympics Monaco, an organisation under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert that provides opportunities for adults and children with intellectual disabilities to practice sport, takes place Saturday at 8:30 pm.
Philippe Bender will conduct the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC), with guest pianist Francois-Réné Duchable, in the fundraising performance at Auditorium Rainier III.
This evening’s program includes Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1 and Les Préludes, as well as Weber’s Konzertstück in F Minor.
Tickets (€20 and €30) are available from the Monte Carlo Casino box office or online.
Founded in the early Eighties, Special Olympics Monaco counts more than 70 athletes who represent the Monegasque delegation throughout the world, including at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria next month from March 14-25.
A passionate advocate of the Special Olympics movement, HSH Princess Charlene became the Special Olympics Monaco Honorary President in 2012.
Article first published February 18, 2017.
Princely couple get in the selfie spirit for sport
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene with award winners Photo: Facebook Laureus
Hugh Grant hosted the 2017 Laureus World Sports Awards on Tuesday at the Salle des Etoiles. TV Presenter Kate Giles, also known as Kate Abdo, was co-host to Mr Grant.
Some of the biggest names in sports attended the prestigious Awards Ceremony, which was first held in the Monaco in 2000, when, as HSH Prince Albert noted, “Nelson Mandela galvanised us all with his impassioned speech” during with the South African President said: “Sport has the power to change the world.”
Mr Mandela’s inspiration led to the formation of the Laureus Sport for Good Movement, which now includes 60 Laureus Academy Members and 200 Ambassadors.
Prince Albert commented, “Laureus is a worldwide recognised movement that teaches young people to discover the best in themselves and provides them with the tools and skills they need to succeed how difficult can be the circumstances.”
There are seven Laureus awards categories, and each winner is presented with a Cartier-crafted Laureus Statuette, “a representation of the striving human form against an engraved representation of the continents”.
Five-time Olympic gold medallist in the pool, Missy Franklin, announced the first award of the evening – The Laureus Sportswoman of the Year – which went to fellow American, Simone Biles, 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault and floor gold medallist. The award was given by legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci and Prince Albert.
Laureus Academy Member Boris Becker presented the Laureus World Comeback of the Year to “the greatest swimmer ever” Michael Phelps, while Monaco’s pride and joy, the recently-retired Nico Rosberg, picked up The Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award from F1’s Emerson Fittipaldi.
Nico Rosberg with Michael Phelps. Photo: Twitter Laureus
Other winners included the Refugee Olympic Team (The Laureus Sport for Good Award for Sporting Inspiration), Leicester City FC (The Laureus Spirit of Sport Award) and Rachel Atherton (The Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year).
The Laureus World Team of the Year went to the Chicago Cubs and The Laureus Best Sporting Moment of the Year was awarded to the FC Barcelona U12 Team.
The ceremony ended with 13-time Olympic and World Championship gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson giving the 4th Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award to “the greatest sprinter ever”, Usain Bolt.
The evening was filled with touching stories, from Hugh Grant talking about the “amazing work of Laureus Sport for Good, changing the lives of millions of young people all over the world” to a tribute video to the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, who died in June 2016.
Other highlights of the 2-hour event included HSH Princess Charlene presenting Tim Conibear, founder of Waves for Change, with a special honour, The Laureus Sport for Good Award. Waves for Change “provides safe spaces, access to caring adults, and provision of weekly Surf Therapy Session for Violent Communities”. (Feature photo: Facebook Laureus)
