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Day: 6 October 2021

Carron II, two weeks racing in the French Riviera

by: Alessandra Vicedomini
06/10/2021

Nearly 4,000 skippers, captains, sailors and owners of classic yachts headed to the south of France for the Classic Yacht races, and we were lucky enough to steal Carron II skipper Angelo Mazzarella for a quick interview on the port of Saint Tropez.
Designed by William Fife and built in 1935, and originally owned by the Aga Khan, Carron II is considered one of the most elegant Bermudian sloops in the world.
This classic Fairlie eight-meter yacht is now docked in Geneva, at Société de la Nautique.
Concentration, helvetic precision and team spirit are key factors in the daily training concept run by helmsman Jean-Luc Levequemn who meticulously supervises the sails top level (Swiss-made only), the boat maintenance and regular tests on Leman lake, known for its strong and extremely challenging winds up to 90 knots per hour.
This year, Carron II raced in both traditional glamourous awards in Cannes for Régates Royales and in Saint-Tropez for Les Voiles, walking off both times with first prize.
The 2021 edition once again enthralled on the water, and those on shore – and certainly seafarers and sailing fans across the world – were warmed by the hundreds of dazzling images of the most elegant yachts on the planet.

The Régates Royales de Cannes, photo by Studio Borlenghi

“We enjoyed very good conditions throughout the week in Cannes, and though sometimes a little boisterous according to some, the wind was a constant player,” Angelo MAzzarella told Monaco Life. “There were no serious conditions to lament and victory was easy.
“In Saint-Tropez, however, it was a different story. On Wednesday, winds were up to 35 knots per hour and we had to go back to the harbour with broken spreaders calling a rescue boat, with a very high risk to break the mast. We were so lucky, as Thurdays are free from racing and we could repair all damages, working intensively 24/7 to go back to serious racing on Friday. We tried to make the most of every last puff of breeze to play to our strength and finally we won again, grabbing the cup on Saturday!”
It is no surprise to see Carron II constantly adding prestigious cups to the existing palmares, counting five podiums at the 2018 and 2019 World Cups, Lake Constance’s victory, and first places in the Cowes and Norway renowned races.
So no wonder we are looking forward to watching the next Geneva World Cup in 2022.
 
 
Top photo by Studio Borlenghi
 
 
 
 

Monaco’s Atomic Energy Lab celebrates 60 years of research

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/10/2021

For the past six decades, Monaco’s Atomic Energy Laboratory has been investigating the effects of radioactivity and pollution on marine ecosystems, and the milestone has been celebrated during a special ceremony at the Oceanographic Museum.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Monaco-based Environment Laboratories (IAEA), which helps in ocean preservation using nuclear technologies, marked its 60th anniversary last week in a celebration attended by Prince Albert II and several special guests including member states representatives.
“The work of the IAEA Environment Laboratories in Monaco is unique,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in his speech. “For 60 years, these labs have been helping countries confront marine pollution, seafood safety and other emerging challenges. We are helping them achieve their own sustainable development goals.”
In a nod to the reigning Sovereign’s great-grandfather, Prince Albert I – a great champion of the seas, Grossi went on to say, “We owe where we are today to that noble tradition that you, Monsignor Prince Albert II, have decided to personally continue and to support in the way you and the Principality of Monaco have been doing for the past six decades.”
Since 1961, the labs have been using nuclear applications to implement strategies for the sustainable management of marine environments. They have tackled issues such as pollution, algae blooms, seafood safety, microplastics and climate change.
The IAEA laboratories work with several research centres to assess carbon sequestration rates in coastal environments using nuclear techniques, including radioactive isotopes for sediment dating.
In-depth knowledge on carbon sequestration can help expand the natural carbon sinks in coastal ecosystems that have the capacity to absorb CO2 emissions entering the ocean and thus help in mitigating ocean acidification.
“The dialogue between laboratories like yours and political authorities is one of the keys to our future,” said Prince Albert. “The time has come for humanity to tackle the great problems of the Ocean with the best resources at its disposal, so that it can more quickly overcome the obstacles so deeply anchored in the very roots of civilisation.”
The ceremony featured a photo exhibition, hosted by the museum, highlighting the unlikely pairing of nuclear science and ocean conservation efforts. It was punctuated by the broadcasting of video messages sent by scientists from all over the world, and a film about the work of the labs.
 
 
Photo source: IAEA
 
 

Sportel awards winners announced

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/10/2021

The most beautiful sports sequences and the best sports book of the year have been recognised at Tuesday night’s Sportel Awards ceremony at the Grimaldi Forum.
Sportel is an annual sports content media rights and technology convention currently taking place at the Grimaldi Forum. On Tuesday night it gave credit to leaders in the industry in front of an audience of well-known international sports players.
The jury for the event was chaired by world athletics champion Muriel Hurtis, along with French gymnast Samir Aït Saïd, journalist Jacques Cardoze, mixed martial artist Ciryl Gane, freediver Julie Gautier, fencing star Astrid Guyart, Secretary General for Monaco’s European Olympic Committee Yvette Lambin-Berti and handball player Allison Pineau.
The ceremony also featured French Olympic medallists from the recent Tokyo games as well as other world champion athletes to present the Georges Bertellotti Golden Podiums to the 2021 recipients.
The Best Slow-Motion Prize went to Romain Grosjean’s Escape-Bahrain 2020 by Phil Rorke; the Discovery Prize was given to Toujours se relever from Guillaume Papin and Julien Ababsa; Nick Story nabbed the Best Promotion Programme for Formula Dreams; the Innovation Prize was awarded to Oscar Lago for his use of cinematic cameras in live broadcasts; and the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee took the Advertising Prize for The Journey.
Additionally, the Renaud de Laborderie Book Prize was also given, to reward the most beautifully illustrated sports photography work. The prize went to Les plus grand livre de Basketball de tous les temps (The biggest book of basketball of all time) from Trashtalk, Marabout editions.
The award for best autobiography was awarded to Peter Schmeiche for his book, ONE: My Autobiography, who was unable to attend but sent a message thanking the Sportel Awards for the honour in absentia.
Finally, the Special Jury Prize went to Lyes Houhou and Arnaud Bonnin at Canal + for Fait qu’on parle (Let’s talk). The award was presented by Prince Albert II.
Great sports champions, including the latest crop of French Olympic medallists, were also celebrated at the ceremony.
The Sportel programme has been filled with photocalls, screenings, autograph sessions and meet-ups with world class athletes giving their time to meet-and-greet with fans.
 
Photo of the Grimaldi Forum by Monaco Life
 
 
 

Circus Festival to return with new format

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/10/2021

The 45th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and the 10th New Generation Festival will unite for their return in 2022, extending the event from nine days to 11.

After a year’s hiatus due to the global health crisis, the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and the New Generation Festival will be entertaining circus fans once again at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille from Saturday 22nd January to Sunday 30th.

Though the events will still offer all the thrills and excitement of the past, the organisers have changed the format slightly for this year. The festival will span 11 days rather than nine, and will offer the same number of shows to accommodate demand. Additionally, the two events will be merged.

The Circus’s official Facebook page declared, “Further information will be communicated later”, but has teased the event saying, “The two great jubilees will be reunited for their return in one festival.”

Though details are still scarce, the organisers have said that, “A single program will be presented in competition with some of the best numbers in the world to be judged by an international jury of professionals from the circus world.”

Due to the pandemic, the participants have been restricted to troupes coming from Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia.

Created in 1974 by Prince Rainier III, the Monte Carlo Circus Festival has grown to be the largest, and one of the most prestigious, in the world. The Circus now is presided over by Princess Stephanie.