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Day: 7 June 2021

Revealed: the RaceBird final design

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/06/2021

First there was the Formula E series with its electric racing cars, then the Extreme E off-road series with electric SUVs. Now, the foundations are being laid for an all-electric powerboating competition featuring the most futuristic of all designs and a mission to revolutionise the marine industry.

After the concept launch in Monaco last September, the RaceBird has been likened to a Star Wars battleship. But Monday’s unveiling of the final RaceBird design shows there is much more reality rooted in this revolutionary vision.

“There are two ingredients to the RaceBird. Firstly, the inspiration, which is nature and birds hovering above the water.” Rodi Basso, Co-Founder and CEO of E1, tells Monaco Life. “Our aim is to be as natural as possible, racing with the water not against it, using the water as an ally and the foiler to pivot the powerboat and make it faster around the corners. Secondly, the technology – we are going to inherit the state-of-the-art technology of high-end motorsports and plug it straight into the marine industry.”

Symbolically launched on 7th June, the day before World Ocean Day, the RaceBird heralds in a new era for the powerboat world, allowing for the creation of an exciting new competition – the World Electric Powerboat Series, which aims to revolutionise marine mobility and reduce pressures being placed on fragile underwater ecosystems around the world.

“The UIM, which is the only internationally recognised authority for world powerboating and which is headquartered in Monaco, is thrilled to launch the first ever World Electric Powerboat Series,” Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) President Raffaele Chiulli tells Monaco Life. “This new flagship class will create a competitive, fascinating, challenging, environmentally friendly and entertaining all-electric powerboat racing series.”

Alejandro Agag, Sophi Horne and Rodi Basso

The concept came about during Covid-19 lockdown when Alejandro Agag, founder of the Formula E and Extreme E auto racing series, and his good friend Rodi Basso, a former aerospace engineer who has worked with NASA, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren in Formula 1, agreed that the marine transportation world needed to catch up with the automotive world in adopting electric power. Well aware that sport is a powerful platform for making change in the wider world, they decided to create the E1 Series to not only offer exciting electric powerboat racing at spectacular venues around the world, but to drive innovation and change in marine mobility and try to leave a sustainable legacy in ports.

“Since I have the privilege of knowing Raffaele Chiulli from my previous motor racing experience, I connected a few dots and here we are just under one year later, showing the world the final design of the powerboat,” says Basso.

The RaceBird was designed by Sophi Horne of SeaBird Technologies and Brunello Acampora of Victory Marine. Using innovative hydrofoil technology, the electric RaceBird powerboat will rise above the water’s surface, allowing for minimum drag and maximum energy efficiency. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 knots (93 km/h or 58 mph).

The next major milestone will be in September when the covers come off the first full-scale model at the Monaco Yacht Show, before the start of prototype testing which is set to get underway later this year. Over the coming months, Victory Marine will manufacture a full fleet of race-ready electric powerboats for a 2023 race schedule.

“E1 will race in amazing remote locations in parallel with Extreme E and also in some of the most glamorous cities in the world,” says Raffaele Chiulli. “Fans can look forward to experiencing incredible landscapes and fabulous urban water locations. The pilots for this inaugural series are expected to come from a wide range of backgrounds, with some from existing powerboating championships, and others making a transition from road vehicle electrical technology to the water, including some former F1 world champions.”

The RaceBird final design was unveiled publicly on Monday 7th June

The drivers will be called ‘pilots’ because the craft effectively flies above the water. Like the Extreme E series, there will be a male and female pilot of each boat alternating between sessions because, as Rodi Basso says, “our direction is to build something modern and future proof, something that embodies all the principals that we believe in as an E team and as a UIM team.”

A total of 12 teams will be pitted against each other during 10 events per season. There will be five European city races in Monaco, London, Geneva or Zurich, Naples and Barcelona, in classic configuration.

“We show up, we build the city events, the paddock and the race for a two-day race weekend – Friday and Saturday,” says Basso. “There will also be a week-long Technology Festival exhibiting the latest sustainable technologies, and a Fan Zone to excite and engage the local population about sustainability and E1’s mission.”

The other races will take place in partnership with Extreme E, utilising the Saint Helena, a 105-metre ex-Royal Navy Ship that serves as a base and delivers Extreme E vehicles to cities around the world. Together with the electric SUVs, Saint Helena will transport the electric powerboats to compete in the E1 series in locations such as Greenland, New York City, Miami, the Amazon and the Middle East.

The RaceBird is capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 knots

Rodi Basso says high-profile personalities, including Hollywood celebrities and sports stars, have already shown an interest in forming an E1 team. “I am sure even more interest will be peaked after Monday’s launch and September’s Monaco Yacht Show, but the conversations are developing very actively and we are looking forward to making a few announcements in the next few months.”

It is not just the thrill of the race that has everyone excited (although, who doesn’t want to see these boats in action?), it is also the promise of what this technology means to the future of the entire marine industry.
“Our objective is simple and clear. We want to develop an environmentally-friendly alternative propulsion system so that the yachting of tomorrow can utilise clean energy sources,” says the UIM president. “This is a real technological challenge because we want to meet the energy needs of the leisure boat but also of the shipping industry and all the accompanying environmental prerogatives. We are convinced that this series will allow significant improvements in innovation, not only in eco-friendly powerboating, which is the competition side, but also in yachting technology in general.”

With its championship and city partners, the E1 Series will install permanent electric charging posts in each port where it races that will remain after the event, serving as an incentive for the local community to move to electric boating.

“The sports industry, and particularly motorsport, strives for continuous innovation that not only creates thrilling competition, but exploits state-of-the-art technology and captures the imagination of fans. In this case, environmental protection plays a pivotal role. Striving for an emission-free marine mobility has to be the ultimate goal,” says Chiulli.

Photo of Monaco by Michelle Woodson Howell

The E1 race schedule is yet to be decided, but according to the UIM, Monaco is likely to play a significant role in the competition.

It is a natural progression for a country with such a rich history in racing, from the prestigious Formula 1 and innovative Formula E auto racing, to the world’s first powerboating competition and the recent Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

“Monaco is playing a key role in incubating new ideas, novel solutions, and eco-friendly technologies,” says Chiulli. “I see a history of cycles here. In 1904, Monaco was driving the field of innovation and imagination by hosting the first ever powerboating competition. Now, Monaco is playing a key role in developing innovative propulsion systems, using all that is alternative to traditional fossil fuel technologies to lead the way towards clean energy sources to power the yachting of tomorrow.”

During Monday’s digital reveal of the RaceBird design, Alejandro Agag confirmed that the E1 Series has secured investment from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), representing a significant step forward in the long-term development of the championship.

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Photos provided by E1

Spotlight on sea turtles this World Ocean Day

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/06/2021

As part of World Oceans Day, Tuesday 8th June, Monaco is once again educating sea users on how to report sightings of marine animals, particularly sea turtles, and how to help those in distress.
Organised by the Monegasque government and the Oceanographic Institute, the meeting is set to bring together around 40 sea users and aims to engage and encourage them to report any sightings of turtles and marine mammals. The data collected will make it possible to identify the species present in Monegasque waters, to better understand their behaviour, and contribute to the study and protection of ecosystems.
The first edition was organised in March 2019 during the opening of the Monegasque Centre for the Care of Marine Species (CMSEM) at the Oceanographic Museum.
Since then, more than 120 observations have been made including 119 loggerhead turtles and seven green turtles, documenting their age, state of health and travel habits.
Observe, Report, Preserve
Sea users are invited to report all types of marine animals, from cetaceans to sharks, as well as any unusual situation such as waste or pollution.
Particular attention, however, is paid to sea turtles, and participants of the Monegasque meeting are educated on the rules of observation, as well as those for the intervention and handling of these animals when necessary. They are taught how to identify if a sea turtle is in distress, how to handle it in accordance with good practices, and how to notify the specialised networks.
They are also encouraged to share their observations on the digital platform OBSenMER, which is designed to be used by both professionals and the general public for the collection, saving and sharing of information.
The easy-to-use application allows users to enter the place of observation, date and time, as well as the type of animal that has been spotted.
The Oceanographic Museum is directly notified of each observation made via the platform, and the government is also made aware so it can better understand the biodiversity of Monegasque waters.

Photo of the outdoor sea turtle rehabilitation tank at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life

The observations are also added to the databases of structures such as the Network of French Mediterranean Sea Turtles (RTMMF), MIRACETI and ACCOBAMS to improve and strengthen knowledge of species.
The Monegasque Centre for the Care of Marine Species (CMSEM) at the Oceanographic Museum has a laboratory dedicated to the care of injured or sick animals, the reproduction and breeding of animals, as well as a large outdoor pool for rehabilitation – which is visible to the public – before the animals are put back to sea.
The CMSEM also runs collaborative projects dedicated to the study of seahorses and large nacres.
 
 
Photo of a sea turtle in the Oceanographic Museum by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life 
 
 

New Opera season line-up revealed

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/06/2021

The Opera Monte-Carlo has announced its new 2021-22 season that is set to feature some serious operatic productions, including Madame Butterfly.
In this year of change, the Opera Monte-Carlo has announced the 2021-22 season with both excitement and a heavy heart. Excitement for the spectacular productions coming out and a heavy heart knowing this will be Jean-Louis Grinda’s final season with the Opera, running through the end of 2022.
Cecilia Bartoli will then take the reins, bringing with her a huge talent, dedication and artistic intuition, and ringing in a whole new era for the Opera as the first woman to hold the position of Artistic Director.
The season will open with a recital by Angela Gheorghiu on 8th October accompanied by pianist Jeff Cohen. The programme will include works by Durante, Paisiello, Bellini, Donizetti, Tosti, Respighi, Schumann, Strauss, Rachmaninov, Rameau, Martini, Debussy, Massenet, Brediceanu, Stephanescu, Flotow, and Satie.
This will be followed by three dates from 16th to 21st November with one of the opera world’s most beloved pieces, Madame Butterfly, conducted by Giampaolo Bisanti and featuring Annalisa Stroppa, Marcelo Puente, and Massimo Cavaletti.
Then on 19th November, Monaco gets a Spanish flair with Placido Domingo, Saioa Hernandez and Ismael Jordi for an invitation-only event at the Grimaldi Forum.
To finish up the year, but not the season, on 12th and 14th December Massimo Zanetti conducts the rarely performed Verdi opera, Il Corsaro. Giogrio Berrugi plays Corrado and Irina Lungu takes on the role of Medora in this musical rendition based on Lord Byron’s long-form poem The Corsair.
In her opening letter, Princess Caroline, who presides over the opera, says: “It is special because of the strangeness of the period we are going through, with the deep gratitude that I feel for the artists and teams thanks to whom cultural activity continues in the Principality.”
The Opera Monte-Carlo will continue into 2022 with a Cecilia Bertoli led Jean-Louis Grinda production of Il Turco in Italia.
In the coming weeks, a full schedule will be available on the company’s website at https://www.opera.mc/
 
 
 
Top photo by Michael and Cedric Studio Delestrade
 
 

How much would you pay for Doggy John Monaco?

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/06/2021

Princess Stephanie and son Louis Ducruet have gratefully accepted an enormous ‘Doggy John Monaco’ sculpture, which is expected to fetch an impressive sum when it goes up for action in benefit of the Fight AIDS Monaco charity.
When passing by the Casino terraces this summer, it will be impossible to miss the nearly two-and-half-metre high red and white French bulldog sculpture sitting in the middle of Monte-Carlo.
The work is part of the famous ‘Doggy John’ collection by Parisian artist Julien Marinetti and was made especially for Fight AIDS Monaco to be sold with the proceeds going to the charity. The estimated value of the piece is a half million euros.
“It’s a real breath of fresh air for Fight Aids Monaco,” said Louis Ducruet. “We still need donations, especially this year when fundraising could not take place due to Covid.”
Fight AIDS Monaco was created in 2004 by Princess Stephanie to help those living with HIV and AIDS, as well as to raise awareness about prevention and testing.

Photos by Frederic Nebinger, Prince’s Palace

The huge bulldog, painted in the colours of the Principality and autographed by Princess Stephanie, will be on display all summer, giving art lovers and potential buyers the chance to see it up close.
The artist comes from the Saint-Germain-des Près neighbourhood of Paris, which is an up-and-coming hub for art and handicrafts. He studied sculpture and drawing at the Academie de la Grande Chaumière and has built his career on the animal sculptures he is now famous for. His most popular is the bronze-made ‘Doggy John’, which he has recreated in multiple colours and styles.
Marinetti’s generosity comes from a personal place, as the artist has lost friends to the disease. “I was 10 or 11 years old when AIDS started and I have seen a lot of friends die from this horrible disease,” he said.
Now, some lucky recipient will be able to own a Doggy John and know that they will be contributing to an incredibly good cause.
 
 
Photos by Frederic Nebinger, Prince’s Palace
 
 
 

Roca team tumbles to third in Jeep Elite standings

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/06/2021

ASM Basketball took a beating on Sunday at home against Bourg-en-Bresse, not only suffering an 86-94 loss, but also falling from the top spot in the Jeep Elite standings. 

The Roca team went up against Bourg-en-Bresse at the Salle Gaston Médecin in front of 900 fans, but even the home court advantage couldn’t get them over the line this game.

“I don’t want to make excuses for us, it’s no use. Bourg found more energy,” said ASM centre Mathias Lessort after the match.

Though they did not come out victorious this game, they did fight the good fight and even came back after a 17-point deficit to come within eight points of Bourg.

At the halftime point, Monaco saw themselves in the unusual position of trailing 44 to 55, and things didn’t get much better for them after returning from the locker room. Bourg came out swinging further expanding their lead, which they didn’t relinquish right up until the very end.

“Bourg en Bresse deserved this victory,” ASM Coach Zvezdan Mitrovic said. “The announcement of the LNB (to organize a Final 4 on the 24th and 26th) cut the switch in my team which previously tried to hang on for first place. We’re going to play 16 matches in 38 days, I’ve never seen that in my coaching career.”

Monaco made 29 out of 61 shots, with 12 for 28 in three-point range. They took three rebounds, with Lessort scoring 12 on his own, collected 15 stray balls, made 19 assists and stole the ball seven times.

Co-top scorers were Captain Dee Bost and Marcos Knight, followed by Ibrahima Fall Faye and Brenden Frazier who both had 12 a piece.

As the end of the season nears, AS Monaco is down but nowhere near out as they look forward to quarterfinal rounds in a few weeks that promise to be hugely exciting.

Before then, they must try to regain their mojo and break the losing streak. They will have their chance when they meet Gravelines on Wednesday in yet another away game.