Monaco’s “Le Libecciu” vessel was launched on the afternoon of Friday, July 21, to rescue two swimmers in considerable difficulty. The Maritime and Airport Police Division boat, together with another craft, come to the aid of the two tourists off the solarium of Esplanade Stefano Casiraghi.
Heavy seas hampered the mission, but two rescuers went immediately into the water to save the two very experienced swimmers, one of whom was in a state of advanced distress and suffering from shock.
The two swimmers were immediately taken in charge by the Monaco fire service at Port Hercules. One was taken to the Emergency Room at the Princess Grace Hospital to receive the proper care. The two had entered the sea despite warning signs indicating the dangers.
Two teenagers, one 16 and the other 17, were arrested in possession of matches, lighters and binoculars on Wednesday and were still in custody in Martigues, near Marseille, at the end of the week.
One other person, arrested in relation to a fire in Peynier, near Aix-en-Provence, also remained in custody, while two others had been released. Negligence, such as the careless discarding of cigarette butts, has also been blamed for some of the blazes.
Gusts of wind have kept some of the bigger fires burning, according to Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bernier, the civil security officer leading the fight against the worst blaze, at Bormes-les-Mimosa, which resulted in 12,000 people being evacuated, hundreds of holidaymakers spending the night on the beach and a total of 7,000 hectares burned overall.
Later in the week, flare-ups were also reported at Carros, near Nice.
For a while it looked as if AS Monaco would win an early game of the season against arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, July 29.
However, the first-half goal from Djibril Sidibe was cancelled out in the second half by Dani Alves, making his debut for PSG. Alves went on to help Adrien Rabiot head in the winning goal against the Ligue 1 champions.
Djibril Sidibé scores in the first half. Photo: Facebook AS Monaco
The Champions Trophy is traditionally the French season’s curtain raiser, pitting the winners of the last French Cup against the holders of the Ligue 1 title. The capacity crowd numbered 45,000 in Tangiers.
Meanwhile, there is no confirmation that Kylian Mbappe will leave for Real Madrid for the princely sum of €180 million. However, the Guardian reports that reps for the 18-year-old are not only demanding Mbappe become the “best-paid player in the Monaco squad” by netting €7 million a year, like Falcao, but in addition to the annual salary, his agent, according to Le Parisien, is also asking for €1 million a month.
CREM, the Club for Foreign Residents of Monaco, will be taking a well-earned summer break from Monday, July 31, until Sunday, September 3, reopening at 9 am on Monday, September 4. The club will be taking phone calls and answering emails from Monday, August 28.
The club, set up to help residents integrate more fully into the life of the Principality, to host its own special events and to make connections with Monaco’s outstanding and varied cultural agenda, is now open each morning, from 09:00 until 12:30, Monday to Friday.
One of the new season’s first big events will be the CREM anniversary party on Monday, September 18. The club will be celebrating seven years of success. More information on future events can be found at on their website.
Thursday night, at 10:30 pm, the Yersin, the ecological research ship flying the Monegasque flag, left Port Hercules in Monaco for a 3-year journey around the world.
Earlier that evening, the princely couple with their children, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, attended an invitation-only departure ceremony from the Monaco Yacht Club.
The expedition will be transmitted online with its own media platform. Incredible shots and short videos will be broadcast worldwide to raise awareness about marine environment issues, mainly pollution, acidification, species and coral disappearance.
Photo: Prince’s Palace of MonacoPhoto: Prince’s Palace of MonacoPhoto: Prince’s Palace of Monaco
On a tour of the ship earlier in the month, Captain Jean Dumarais, also one of the ships designers, told Monaco Life: “This is a perfect mix of existing technology that has the least impact on the sea as possible.”
Yersin owners François and Geneviève Fiat spent 30% of their investment on comfort and 70% on technology, which as Mr Dumarais points out, is “the opposite of every other yacht budget”.
Head of Mission Colonel Bruno Philipponnat pointed out, “We don’t have a good understanding of the shores or deep waters. And even though we have the Scientific Centre of Monaco, our scientists need to get out in the field.”
He added: “The Prince is really proud of this project and has followed it every step of the way. He hopes this will encourage other heads of state peers to better protect their seas.”
With several laboratories on board, the vessel is self-sufficient in water, food and electricity thanks to the generators that will accompany the 44 scientists, journalists, crew members who are part of the journey.
The Fiats baptised their ship Yersin after Alexander Yersin (1863-1943) a Swiss physician who discovered the bacillus responsible for the plague because “he did so much for other people,” said Geneviève Fiat. To use his name, the Fiats had to ask his niece for permission. She accepted almost immediately.
A Yersin quote – and the crew’s leitmotiv – “It’s not a life that doesn’t move” is written on the ship’s hull.
The Yersin will return in 2020 after having followed a longitudinal route between the Tropics. Its journey can be followed on social networks or at the Oceanographic Museum where an exhibit will be on display. (Home page image: Axel Bastello/ Palais Princier)
Photo: Prince’s Palace of MonacoPhoto: Prince’s Palace of MonacoPhoto: Prince’s Palace of MonacoPhoto: Prince’s Palace of Monaco
