The sixth edition of the Monaco Solar Energy Boat Challenge will take place from July 2nd to 6th in the Principality. The Monaco Yacht Club has unveiled the highlights of this major event of clean Yachting.
The objective of the event is to promote and optimise clean energy marine propulsion systems.
Launched in 2014, the Monaco Solar Energy Boat Challenge is open to the public and it is unique in the world. It brings together young engineers and industrialists to imagine the propulsion of yachting through sustainable energy.
Jointly organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Hydros Foundation and the International Union Powerboating (UIM), the Yacht Club of Monaco has unveiled its main lines.
In line with the commitment to the Principality, the challenge to competitors is significant – to ban all fossil energy to get as close as possible to “zero emissions”.
The Yacht Club is leading by example, having signed a partnership with Torqeedo, whose boats are now equipped with 100% electric propulsion systems.
Trials will tackle three categories of boats: Solar, Offshore and Energy Class. Races in the bay of Monaco will allow all fans to admire these pearls of Yachting for a week under the sign of clean energy in the Principality.
Twenty competitors will enter the historic category of Solar Class. All equipped with the most inventive technologies, these boats are true Formula 1 seas, up to 20 knots without making a noise!
Two offshore races will also be offered from Monaco to Ventimille. Will participate the boats equipped with the new generation of electric tenders developed recently by the Yachting industry. Technology that allows them to travel up to 36 nautical miles (67 km) without fossil fuel!
Finally, created by the Yacht Club of Monaco in 2018, the Energy Class is a one-design catamaran race powered by electric or hydrogen engines. The aim is to compare the most efficient and enduring propulsion system based on clean energies. And hydrogen seems to be popular this year because of the 8 boats registered so far, three wish to work on this track of reflection that aims for energy autonomy, without emission of greenhouse gases or fine particles.
From July 2nd to 6th, the principality will once again be under the spotlight for its commitment to a clean planet. The event meets a growing craze, especially internationally. For this 2019 edition, an Indonesian team, Hydros Team Universitas Indonesia, has entered the Energy Class.
Charlotte Casiraghi and Dimitri Rassam’s wedding plans revealed
Princess Caroline’s daughter will marry the French-Lebanese film producer this summer on a date yet to be determined. Paris Match claims the wedding will take place this June, according to close sources.
The civil ceremony will take place at the Princely Palace of Monaco. The couple are also planning a religious ceremony – mooted for the island of Pantelleria in the Strait of Sicily, Italy. Dimitri’s mother, French actress and model Carole Bouquet, runs her own winery there.
This wedding will not be the only wedding to take place in Monaco. Charlotte’s cousin Louis Ducruet is also marrying his fiancée Marie Chevalier this summer.
Monaco Swan One Design marks opening of summer season
The Monaco Swan One Design, organised in conjunction with the Yacht Club de Monaco, is the first event in the 2019 Nations Trophy Mediterranean League.
Open only to ClubSwan 50s, Swan 45s and ClubSwan 42s, this five-day exclusive regatta will offer the prospect of tremendous Swan One Design competition for all owners and crew.
The Monaco Swan One Design regatta will comprise four days of inshore, windward-leeward racing.
Some 16 Swans are set to contest this, the second running of the event – scheduled from 9 to 13 April.
The Mediterranean League was first held last year and Monaco is once again a popular choice as the first location in the four-event series.
Enrico Chieffi, Vice-President of Nautor’s Swan, told Sail World, “We are committed to providing our Swan One Design fleet with the very best racing opportunities on an ongoing basis.
“The success of the Mediterranean League is confirmed by an increase in yachts interested in taking part from the outset. We are very excited to be returning to Monaco and its magnificent yacht club.
“It promises to be an excellent first event and a competitive series. Everything augurs well for The Nations Trophy itself later in the season.”
The countries represented in Monaco will be Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Nations Trophy Mediterranean League was launched to foster the spirit of gentlemanly competition engendered by the original, eponymous event. Adding further excitement to the concept, the results of the 2018 and 2019 Mediterranean Leagues will impact upon the final result of The Nations Trophy 2019.
Stevan Jovetic came off the bench to score his first Ligue 1 Conforama goal since the opening day of the season to earn AS Monaco a point against En Avant Guingamp.
Captain and team top scorer Radamel Falcao missed the game because of injury and the team’s prospects looked difficult for the long away trip to Brittany.
Last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at home to SM Caen was Monaco’s first defeat since the return of Leonardo Jardim.
Guingamp started brighter and played well through the match, keeping Monaco from applying any pressure, until Jovetic, with seconds remaining in the match, struck home in a goalmouth scramble to earn the point.
Monaco edged up the table to safety while the result keeps Guingamp at the bottom of Ligue 1.
Monaco Life publisher Eric Brundage and Editor-in-Chief Cassandra Tanti sat down with Italy’s Ambassador in Monaco, Cristiano Gallo, to talk about the centuries-old relationship between the two countries and how Italians, the second largest population in the Principality, have helped shape the Monaco that we know today.
Mr Gallo, can you tell us about your background and how you came to be the Italian Ambassador?
I have been a diplomat for 32 years across the world. But here in Monaco, it is the first time I am Chief of Mission so it is an important experience for me and I feel very privileged to do this job here in this beautiful territory, where so many Italians are present and where our presence is very important. We try to contribute to the welfare of this land and we play a fundamental role here in this society in many areas, and that’s why I am happy to represent the Italian community in Monaco.
More specifically, for the past 10 years I was the Chief of Protocol in the Italian Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This experience is important because countries like Monaco place enormous importance on diplomacy and how to behave with authorities. It is an area where substance, context and image are all joined. We have seen the importance of protocol when Chinese President Xi Jinping was here, it showed the significance of forging bi-lateral relations. Previously, I was responsible for taking the Italian Prime Minister all around the world, organising international visits and cementing bilateral relations between Italy and many foreign countries. I have worked in the United Arab Emirates, Sub-SaharanAfrica, and many places in Eastern Europe. I am more than halfway through my four year mandate here in Monaco and I am very happy so far.
What are your priorities as Ambassador?
According to my mandate I have to foster bilateral economic and cultural ties to better promote the image of Italy in Monaco. Over the past two and a half years, we have taken part in more than 40 events. For example, every year we organise Culture Week in October and during this we have events that promote our main culture and our entrepreneurs. It is a two-legged promotion. We have a Design Day to showcase how Italy is excelling in creativity and taste, presenting new products and ideas in interior design and home philosophy. We are doing everything we can to export our idea of elegance and our high-tech products. There is also a Food Week every November, and National Day on June 2nd. We have many event formats to celebrate Italy and its presence in Monaco.
There is a strong Italian presence in Monaco, in fact it is the second largest population after French…
Yes, we have had a large increase recently, so the figure is now at 22% with more than 8,000 residents here. And I would like to underline that the weight of the Italian community, apart from the numbers, is the high quality of people who live and work here, business families that have contributed to the development of this country. In the past, the large construction projects were made by Italians. Even now the Odeon Tower, which has changed the Monaco skyline, was built by the Italian Groupe Marzocco. And the only tower in the new land extension is designed by Italian Renzo Piano.
Rendering of luxury apartments on the new Portier man-made island in Monaco. Picture: BOUYGUES CONSTRUCTION
Apart from construction, what are the main business relationships between Italy and Monaco?
Gastronomy is significant, there are many Italian restaurants and cafés here and they bring a special atmosphere. Italy also supplies the luxury yachts with fresh produce. And then there is design, which we can link not only to luxury homes but the superyachts in Monaco. Basically where there is creativity, Italy is present.
Italy recently hosted the President of China, as did Monaco, and it was quite a historic visit for different reasons…
Yes indeed, there were around 30 agreements signed between the two countries, in sensitive areas of importance, so it was a great success. We have to appreciate the atmosphere of good cooperation.
Italy was the first to sign the controversial Belt and Road initiative. China already owns the Italian ports of Venice and Genova, and this new deal will open even more ports. How do you see Monaco fitting within the major infrastructure relationship that is about to emerge with this multi-billion dollar ‘Silk Road’ across the globe.
Italy and Monaco have a good cooperation in this area as Monaco has just bought an 80-year concession for the Ventimiglia port. This is very significant because it will lead to new infrastructure, jobs and value to the city. It will be very convenient for Monaco also because when Port Hercule is full, Ventimiglia is only a few nautical miles away.
Monaco places enormous emphasis on the environment and sustainable practices. Is Italy in line with this approach to development?
This is one of the main topics of our cooperation with Monaco. We have tri-lateral agreements with France to protect the sanctuary areas of Pelagos for example, and there are many others. For years we have been sharing this effort to protect the environment.
Port Ventimiglia – The Port of Cala del Forte once the work is completed
And is the development in Ventimiglia being given the same care and attention to the environment as the current land extension in Monaco?
That area is also covered by the Pelagos sanctuary, which stretches to Corsica, so the water of course is protected. At one end we have business relationships with Monaco, at the other we are connected with our treatment of the environment, and we work to find a balance. We find a way to promote business without damaging the environment, which is always the challenge.
Do you see the culture and infrastructure of Ventimiglia also changing with the new port? Is there a plan to beautify the city?
Yes there will be knew commercial and parking areas, and new infrastructure, like a lift for example to connect the port to the town, Monaco-style. So Ventimiglia will benefit greatly from this new relationship.
