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Month: January 2021

Boris Hermann takes on Cape Horn

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/01/2021

Monaco’s representative in the Vendée Globe solo sailing race, Boris Herrmann, made his first solo passage around Cape Horn in gale force winds with a torn main sail, but has still held onto 10th place.
Boris Herrmann, skippering the Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco on his around the world voyage for the Vendée Globe solo sailing race, made safe enough passage around treacherous Cape Horn at 3:27am French time on Tuesday 5th January.
The experienced captain faced gale force winds ranging from 35 to 40 knots with the added challenge of having to repair a torn main sail.
“Every passage is different, and this was very intense physically as well as mentally,” Herrmann said, once through the worst of it. “In big seas, I was able to start the repair but had to wait for the glued patches to dry before stitching. I had to reroute a little to the south to do the repair. The wait was very frustrating and rather spoiled the long-awaited moment of passing the Horn, even though the emotion was there. But the ordeal has made me more determined than ever to catch up. I’m happy to have the Pacific behind me.”
Cape Horn, the point at the tip of Chile in South America where the Atlantic meets the Pacific, is notoriously dangerous. Strong winds, giant waves, strong currents and icebergs are common features, making it a passage only undertaken by seasoned sailors.
This transition point from the Atlantic to the Pacific may seem trivial, but for sailors, it marks a change in the way they handle conditions.
For Herrmann, it will be a bonus, as he is more confident in these waters. “I know how to do it well in the Atlantic, in the conditions I know, but the sea is more marked, the swell is heavy in the Pacific. It’s not the same and I find myself a bit slow,” he explained on the Vendée Globe site.
Making it around Cape Horn is symbolic as it marks roughly the two-thirds point on the homeward stretch. But it isn’t exactly smooth sailing from now on. Decisions must still be made at every turn and for Herrmann, the next one will be whether he should go through the calmer seas of Le Marie Strait or to head for the open ocean, with the Falklands at his port side, and take his chances there.
But he is optimistic either way and ready for the work ahead to improve his position. “I will be entering the last third of the race and there is still a lot to do to finish on the top.”
 
Photo by Boris Herrmann
 
 

New restrictions amid coronavirus spike

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/01/2021

Indoor sports activities have been banned and a return to teleworking is “strongly encouraged” in the latest round of measures designed to stem a post-Christmas increase in Covid cases.
The Principality recorded 30 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, followed by 31 on Wednesday – the highest number yet. There are currently 15 people hospitalised at the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, as well as eight in critical care in ICU. 128 people with mild symptoms are being monitored at home.
The post-Christmas surge in cases has prompted the Monaco government to take new measures, although still not as strict as those in neighbouring France and Italy.
While restaurants are allowed to remain open, all indoor public sports activities have been banned. Gyms, pools and sport centres, including those in schools, have been told to close their doors for the next three weeks to lessen the chance of transmission.
The National Council disagrees with the decision, arguing that the facilities have taken all precautions and that there have been no known contaminations coming from these establishments. Additionally, they argue, practicing sport is good for a person’s overall well-being and should be allowed.
But the government maintains that physical activity in enclosed spaces is a “risky practice”.
The ban is in place until and inclusive of 27th January when it will go under review again.
The second major measure is a return to teleworking. Employers are being “strongly encouraged” to have their staff return to remote working as much as possible for the foreseeable future. Remote work will be systemised by the week’s end for public employees, while for private sector workers, the government says, “very concretely, any professional mission that does not require a physical presence in the workplace for its successful completion must be carried out teleworking.”
The increase in positive cases in the Principality is not unsurprising, given the nature of Christmas celebrations coupled with the government’s extensive testing campaign.
“This increase in the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 should be linked to the massive deployment of tests carried out in Monaco. In fact, the more we test, the more we identify infected people,” said Minister of State Pierre Dartout during a press conference on Tuesday.
He revealed that over the past two weeks, 7,000 PCR and antigen tests were administered, with 7.66% returning positive results. The testing capacity in Monaco is now 16,000 per 100,000 people per week.
Therefore, the government is again requesting that every resident or employee who has spent time abroad get tested as soon as possible. It is even offering free hotel accommodation to those who test positive to avoid contaminating other members of the household. Those who would like to be screened may call the Covid-19 call centre on +377 92 05 55 00 to set up an appointment.
Meanwhile, a large testing campaign among students and teachers is also underway.
 
Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life, all rights reserved
 
 

Luxury collections auction at the Hermitage

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/01/2021

Featuring at this year’s winter sales by Artcurial will be ‘Property of a Lady’, a special collection of over 100 exquisite jewellery pieces accumulated by one owner over the course of four decades.

Artcurial Monaco will be hosting its winter auction from 19th to 21st January at the Hermitage Hotel where unique pieces of jewellery, exceptional timepieces and stunning ladies handbags will go under the gavel to the highest bidders.

“Our fine jewellery, collector watches and Hermès and luxury handbags departments unearthed wonderful treasures during a very active and positive quarter. This season will be deeply marked by the irresistible ‘Property of a Lady’ collection which includes a meticulously curated selection of highly original and elegant Cartier jewellery and watches,” said Louise Grether, Director of Artcurial Monaco.

There will be two preview days, on 17th and 18th, where buyers can narrow their choices before the actual event.

First up on Tuesday 19th January at noon will be over 60 lots of Hermes handbags. Also going up for sale are handbags from Louis Vuitton, Dior and Chanel.

The Hermes collections feature newer editions such as the 24/24 and the mini Roulis, as well as several limited-edition models like a Birkin Tressage 30 and a Birkin Shadow 35 as well as a super rare mini Constance 18 in Salvador lizard with gold plating.

Then at 4pm, roughly 50 men’s watches go on the block. Included in the auction are an extremely hard to find Philippe Patek from 1945. This particular watch has been in the same family since it was first purchased and is of “dazzling quality”. Additionally, there will be two Rolex Comex watches and a Paul Newman Daytona up for grabs.

The following day, 20th January at 11am, 2pm and 5pm, more than 330 lots of exquisite jewellery will be available to bid on, including a collection of over 100 pieces being offered by the same owner and collected over a 40-year period from her husband. Artcurial is calling this special compilation ‘Property of a Lady’ and it features bracelets, rings and necklaces from various well-known jewellers such as Tiffany, Garrard and Asprey, but also a fine collection of Cartier pieces including many made with the iconic panther design.

Pink, blue, yellow and white diamonds are also going under the gavel, one being an exceptional stone of 29 carats. The pieces being sold range from the Art Deco era to the 1980’s and include works from artists such as César, Boivin and Lalanne.

The final day will be dedicated to ladies’ timepieces from 2pm on 21st January with more than 80 watches being presented, including 34 from the ‘Property of a Lady’ collection.

 
 

Garden works delayed

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/01/2021

The reopening of Monaco’s popular Jardin Exotique has been delayed until 2022, it has been announced.
The botanical garden, featuring exotic plant species and incredible views over the Principality and the Mediterranean, is a favourite among visitors and locals alike.
The land upon which it is located was acquired by Prince Albert I in 1912. He then commissioned Louis Notari, chief engineer in Monaco, to build a new garden with footbridges. During this construction, Notari discovered a grotto underneath, which has also served as a tourist hotspot.
Extensive works have been underway for months, restoring rock faces – both real and manmade – which pose a risk to visitors. Meanwhile, five walkways are also being restored.
The Jardin Exotique announced on its Facebook page this week that the renovation works were taking longer than expected and that the garden is not expected to reopen to the public until the summer of 2022.
 
Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life, all rights reserved
 
 

Car-free day returns to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/01/2021

No-car zones will become a more regular feature of Monaco, as the government builds on the success of ‘Bike Sunday’ and helps citizens transition to a cleaner form of transportation.
The government initiated the first ‘Bike Sunday’ on 20th September and it was such a great success it has decided to make it a regular event.
On 10th January, from 10am to 5pm, the lower part of the F1 Grand-Prix circuit will be a designated “bike-only” zone. Boulevard Albert 1er, JF Kennedy, and Route de la Piscine will all be closed off to traffic.
The event is designed for young and old and aims to “take-back” this zone from cars.
Like the first event, participants will also be able to enjoy a range of entertainment and workshops on Quai Albert 1er. The Department of Public Safety will be offering a training course on road safety for cyclists and an awareness workshop on the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
The Union Cycliste de Monaco will hold educational workshops on sharing the road with motorists and help explain the aim of soft mobility.
Meanwhile, MonaBike will offer its bikes to the public free of charge for the day, together with electric bicycles and scooters by retailers in the Principality, including Monaco Bike Pro, Monecobike, Stajvelo, The Bike Shop.
For the safety of all, wearing a helmet is compulsory for those up to the age of 18 when riding a bicycle and a scooter.
The event, organised by the Department of the Environment with the support of Club VE and the Municipal Council, will take place in strict compliance with health rules and social distancing. Wearing a mask will be compulsory for people not participating in a sporting activity and hydroalcoholic gel will be made available.
The event will result in traffic disruptions with the total closure of several lanes from 9:30am to 5pm.
 
 

Casiraghi gets “emotional” during Monaco shoot

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/01/2021

Monaco features as the backdrop for Charlotte Casiraghi’s first advertisement with French fashion house Chanel, but that’s not the only reason why the photoshoot pulled at her heart strings.
Princess Caroline’s 34-year-old daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, was practically born in Chanel. Her mother was a long-time friend and muse of the iconic fashion house’s late creative director Karl Lagerfeld, and Casiraghi grew up front and centre at Chanel’s shows.
Now, she is the company’s brand ambassador for 2021 and, appropriately, their latest campaign was shot on her home turf in Monaco. The beauty was captured on film for the Chanel Spring 2021 campaign by photographers Vinoodh Matadin and Inez van Lamsweerde at Villa La Vigie in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
La Vigie isn’t just any old house. Lagerfeld lived many happy years there and it was a place that Casiraghi grew up visiting regularly, giving it a comforting air of familiarity.
“It was so pleasing to wear the collection for the shoot, and I got very emotional doing it at La Vigie, a house on a hill overlooking Monaco, which is full of history for me, as it’s Karl’s old house,” said Charlotte Casiraghi.

Villa La Vigie can be clearly seen amongst the greenery above the Monte-Carlo Beach. Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life

The collection shows her in a red jumper paired with sequined black trousers set against a night time scene; a short-sleeved skirt suit reminiscent of the 1940’s with a city backdrop; a gamine pink and white striped dress near a pool; and a thoroughly modern black leather-look mini dress on a sun-drenched terrace, to name a few.
Charlotte Casiraghi will also join forces with Virginie Viard, Chanel’s now creative director, to host literary salons called Literary Gatherings on Rue Cambon. These meetings are meant to be “a project perpetuating Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld’s unconditional love of literature,” according to Chanel press release.