The MonacoTech-backed entity ETYC – Environmental Training for Yacht Crew – has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bolster its new online platform that offers sustainable solutions to yacht crews worldwide.
Since the beginning of the year, the ETYC team has been developing a ground-breaking online project that it hopes will bring about significant changes to sustainability within the yachting industry.
“The innovative platform will provide a comprehensive solution to raising awareness and educating yacht crew on environmentally friendly practices,” says Claire Ferandier Sicard, the founder of ETYC. “Our aim is to provide crews with the tools and knowledge to enable them to reduce their impact on the environment through their day-to-day activities. Thanks to this platform, we will be able to showcase the boats that are taking action to reduce their impact, as well as inspiring those who are not doing so to do so. We no longer have a choice: we have to take concrete, significant, widespread and faster action if we want to reduce our CO2 emissions.”
The platform will unify a raft of international entities and players that already provide sustainable solutions for the yachting industry in an effort to build long-term partnerships in a very movable world.
“This crowdfunding campaign is of vital importance to bring our platform to fruition,” says Ferandier Sicard. “While there are currently solutions available that can reduce yachts’ environmental impact by over 50%, they are not universally accessible due to the constant mobility of the boats. We are committed to supporting yacht professionals in the most efficient way possible by adapting our solutions to their specific needs.”
The funds raised will go towards the completion of the project and “facilitate its widespread implementation”, she adds.
ETYC joined the MonacoTech incubator in March of this year, having already won prizes at the Start-Up Weekend and Business Competition in Monaco.
To learn more about the project and how you can contribute, please click here.
Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s best result of the 2023 so far on Sunday and the manufacturer’s 800th podium finish in F1 with a second place finish on Red Bull’s home track in Austria.
While the Monegasque driver was unable to beat the seemingly unstoppable force that is Max Verstappen, Leclerc just was over five seconds behind the eventual race leader, who cemented Red Bull’s 10th consecutive win. The manufacturer is now just one race win behind the all-time record of 11, which was set by McLaren in 1988.
Sunday marked Leclerc’s second podium finish of the 2023 season and Ferrari’s 800th in its F1 history. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
Third place went to fellow Red Bull driver Sergio Perez.
The results further down, however, were controversial. Leclerc’s team mate, Carlos Sainz, saw his fourth-place finish revised down to sixth after a series of post-race time penalties were handed to eight drivers after some 1,200 violations of track limits were flagged.
Consequently, Lando Norris rose to fourth, Fernando Alonso to fifth and George Russell to seventh from eighth; a result that saw him swap places with team mate Lewis Hamilton.
Communication blamed again for Sprint impediment
The race weekend in Austria also saw the second Sprint race in the 2023 F1 calendar.
There is a new format to the Sprint this year, with Saturday being entirely dedicated to the event. The day begins with a “shootout” qualifying round in which all 20 drivers are given 12 minutes to lay down the fastest time possible. The slowest five are then dropped out of the race. A further 10 minutes of racing then takes place before the next bottom five are dumped out of the running. The quickest 10 drivers then proceed to the final third round of qualifying and later the race.
It was in the first round of qualifying for the Sprint race that Leclerc incurred a three-point grid penalty for blocking McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri.
The event occurred as Leclerc slowed down to head into the pits, with Piastri last reported to have been six seconds behind him. The slow-moving Ferrari turned out to be right in the path of the Australian’s car and the loss of momentum cost the driver a half-second in time as well as his spot in the race. Piastri ultimately came in 17th, while Leclerc squeaked through in 15th.
Leclerc said it was lack of information that caused the problem, and that he could have reacted if he had been warned. This was echoed by officials, who argued that Ferrari “could have done better” to communicate how fast Piastri was approaching.
“Accordingly, we determine that although this was not entirely the fault of the driver, and that the team’s lack of communication was the major contributing factor, a grid position penalty must be imposed as Car 81 was ‘unnecessarily impeded’, because there is no doubt that the situation could have been avoided,” read a statement from race stewards.
Sainz came in third in the Sprint race, securing himself six points. Leclerc failed to make it to the final round, coming in 12th overall.
While Sainz earned a podium during Saturday’s Sprint race, he spent Sunday defending Leclerc’s position – and was thanked for it by his team mate. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
Silverstone in Leclerc’s sights
25-year-old Leclerc is already looking to the next round in Silverstone at the weekend, saying, “It’s good to be back on the podium. We maximised what we have and the upgrades we introduced this weekend worked well. The team has done an excellent job and we will keep pushing in this direction. I also want to thank Carlos as he made my life a bit easier by putting up a great defense against Checo. Now we go to Silverstone which, with Spielberg, is among my favourite circuits. Hopefully we can take advantage of the new upgrades we have on the car again and offer a bit more of a challenge to Red Bull in the next round.”
French rider Julien Epaillard, with his horse Donatello d’Auge, clinched the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco title in Port Hercule over the weekend.
It was victory for the second time in a month for Epaillard after his earlier win at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Ramatuelle Saint Tropez, which took place during the first weekend of June.
In Monaco, Epaillard and his faithful gelding Donatello d’Auge won the prestigious show jumping event with a time of 36.45 seconds.
DELIGHT AT THE WIN
In the aftermath of his success on one of the most glamourous stages of the Tour, Epaillard expressed his happiness at winning such an important event: “This Grand Prix was a big aim for me. Maybe this is the best Grand Prix I’ve ever won… So we will enjoy it! Donatello is a special horse for us; I bred him with my wife, he is now 10 years old and he has now won three or four five-star Grand Prix, so it is very nice to breed a horse like this and celebrate the win with him.”
Dutchman Harrie Smolders with Monaco N.O.P. took second place, while the third spot went to Greece’s talented young rider Ioli Mytilineou on Levis de Muze.
POPULAR EVENT
The Monaco event, under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, has long been incredibly popular and this year’s show was no exception. In the crowds were Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Princess Caroline of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi as well as VIPs such as former Formula 1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi.
This year saw 38 riders qualify for the Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco, making for a thrilling event, especially as the Uliano Vizzani-designed course was filled with challenges. In the end, only five riders made it to the jump-off.
Maikel van der Vleuten remains on top of the overall rankings, having broken the 200-mark with 203 points over the weekend. Christian Kukuk is now second place with 180.2 points and, after not qualifying for Monaco’s Grand Prix, Malin Bayard Johnsson has dropped to third with 160.14 points.
Click on the photos below to see from the Jumping International de Monte-Carlo:
24 hours of performances, workshops and parades will fill Casino Square this July as Jean-Christophe Maillot’s F(ê)aites de la Danse festival returns for a much-awaited second edition.
First held in 2017, but not repeated for nearly six years, the F(ê)aites de la Danse is to hold its second edition between 8th and 9th July. And just like it did first time round, the festival will be taking over Casino Square with a packed schedule of events that will see 250 international artists heading to the Principality.
The concept was conceived by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s famed choreographer and director, Jean-Christophe Maillot, who is thrilled to see his vision come to life again after a series of unfortunate events prevented the festival from picking up where it left off.
The programme has been extended this year; from one night to a full 24 hours of dance in all its forms.
Tap dancing, pole dancing, Latin American, capoeira, ballet, concerts… A fascinating combination of styles have been integrated into the programme, which can be found in its entirety here. There will also be a flashmob and the choreography is already online for those that want to get some practise in early.
A special “marathon” event, where participants will be tasked with dancing inside the Salle Garnier for 12 full hours, will be held and there’s space for 30 couples aged 18 and over. Applications should be sent here.
The whole event is free and open to the public. All you need to do is bring your dancing shoes!
Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.
Photo source: F(ê)aites de la Danse 2017
This article was originally published on 4th May 2023.
Objectif Monaco think tank meets with the government for the first time
Monaco’s Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, has met with representatives from the Objectif Monaco think tank after concerns about “misinformation” regarding the ongoing EU-Monaco negotiations arose.
The Objectif Monaco think tank came about in February 2023. It was created by a handful of key players in the Principality’s business sector, but quickly brought onboard numerous unions and resident families – both of Monegasque and outside nationalities that are settled in Monaco – who were attracted by a platform that could help get their voices heard in the realm of local political, economic and legal issues.
One of the principal “issues” that led to the establishment of Objectif Monaco are concerns about the “ongoing negotiations being held on a possible new framework for relationships between the European Union and the State of Monaco”.
According to a statement on the think tank’s website, “While the negotiations between Brussels and Monaco commenced over seven years ago, the opaque nature of exchanges held by negotiators on the contours of a new frameworks of relations between the EU and the State of Monaco still remains… An agreement with the EU would lead to a shake-up of Monaco’s socio-economic model. These issues, so vital for the country’s economy vitality, must be well-documented and made public. All Monegasques have the right to know and measure the stakes at play in these ongoing negotiations. All Monegasques have the right to be heard regarding what will happen for future generations.”
A first official meeting
Until recently, the government and Objectif Monaco had not formally met up, but that changed on 27th June when Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-Operation Isabelle Berro-Amadeï and High Commissioner for European Affairs Isabelle Costa got together with the group to clear the air on various subjects, namely the latest on the EU objective.
The government’s goal was to answer questions posed by Objectif Monaco as well as to “provide necessary clarification to certain inaccurate information that may have been disseminated”.
A communiqué issued by the government following the meeting revealed that those gathered also touched on what the EU developments will mean for the shorter-to-home French-Monegasque relations.
Objectif Monaco was represented in the talks by: Stéphane Garino, President of the Order of Chartered Accountants; Thomas Giaccardi, Chairman of the Order of Lawyers; Gabriel Viora, President of the Order of Architects; Philippe Afriat, members of the Order of Doctors; Fabien Deplanche, President of the Employers Chamber of Contruction; Alain Vivalda, President of the Chamber of Real Estate; and Carol Millo, General Secretary of the Chamber of Real Estate.
At the end of the meeting, it was suggested that a continuing dialogue exist between the think tank and the government in Monaco.
Michelin-starred Executive Chef Christophe Cussac has put his name – and his genius – to the Hôtel Métropole’s new gastronomic restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, reviving the hotel’s prestigious fine-dining past while firmly marking his position in the contemporary Mediterranean food scene.
With the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, Monaco is a renowned culinary destination where some of the finest talent and the best restaurants in the world reside.
Standing out amongst this calibre is no mean feat.
As Head Chef of Jöel Robuchon’s two-starred restaurant in Monaco (2004 to 2020) and the two-starred Restaurant du Métropole (2020 to 2021) as well as Executive Chef of the Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Yoshi, the rooftop restaurant Odyssey by Karl Lagerfeld, and the Bar and Lobby, with its sweet and savoury treats, Christophe Cussac has already garnered the respect of his loyal customers and peers at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo.
But this eponymous restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, is a landmark restaurant for the prestigious hotel, an exciting new culinary high for Monaco, and a dream-come-true for the native-French chef.
“It is with heartfelt emotion that I embark upon a new adventure at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, within these walls that I have grown to know so well since 2004,” Chef Christophe Cussac tells Monaco Life. “As a chef, it is a real privilege to open my own restaurant, especially in Monaco where I have such loyal guests.”
A contemporary nod to the past
The name ‘Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac’ is a tribute to the history of the Belle Epoque hotel. Inaugurated in 1886, the Métropole opened its restaurant ‘Les Ambassadeurs’ in the 1920s and it quickly became a gastronomic reference for the international elite.
Remarkably, during the recent renovation works, the team discovered a treasure-trove of old documents that included recipes of the day.
“I was fascinated to find in the grimoire the menus, the press covers and some old photos of the restaurant at the time. I did not reproduce any of the recipes exactly, but I was surprised by the simplicity of the dishes, which is very much in keeping with my own cooking style,” says the chef.
Chef Cussac’s signature lobster lasagne. Photo credit: Studio Phenix
Three flavours per dish: straight to the point
Cussac’s cuisine delivers traditional Mediterranean flavours for the modern palate, with bespoke-sourced produce crafted into a menu that eats like a piece of culinary art.
The bread trolley is a paniphile’s dream, with mini loafs of all shapes, sizes and colours, served with a fresh quenelle of decadent salted butter.
The sensory experience extends to the tableware, with beautiful plates cradling such delicate delights as: seabream tartare cannelloni, lavishly encased in caviar and gold leaf; le tian of striped red mullet with Niçoise courgettes and a robust tomato dust; deliciously sweet langoustine smothered in sauce Maltaise with tempura green beans; and perfectly pink and juicy squab with lettuce on a bed of creamy parmesan.
Together with the chef’s signature dishes of marinated sardine with caviar and Menton lemon, and lobster lasagne with tarragon, spinach and spianata, guests are taken on a culinary journey into Cussac’s own contemporary interpretations of Mediterranean specialities.
Sea bream tartare cannelloni with caviar and gold leaf. Photo credit: Studio Phenix
Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano and his team are also outstanding. Their talents shine in a spectacular dessert trolley that is laden with delicate tarts of sophisticated flavours.
The expertly considered dishes are complemented by carefully selected wine pairings: a crisp Domaine Vacheron Sancerre, a Bourgogne Chassagne-Montrachet Chardonnay and a Tuscan Tenuta San Guida are among the highlights.
The menu is ingeniously separated into three sections: the first features normal sized entrées and main dishes; the second is a dégustation menu featuring seven curated dishes; and the third is ‘Les Fines Bouchées’ comprised of 13 dishes, perfectly sized to allow guests to select their own tasting menu according to their likes and appetite.
The dessert trolley features an exquisite selection of tarts and fresh fruit. Photo credit: Studio Phenix
Service and design worthy of this prestigious address
The synchronisation between food and service at Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac contributes to its ‘wow factor’. Experienced floor staff, lead by Director Marco Tognon, are genuinely happy to guide you every step of the way, from bread and wine selection right through to the main event.
Designer Jacques Garcia has brought a new identity to the restaurant with an elegant, warm and intimate atmosphere. It is an extension of the emblematic and timeless elegance that Garcia has achieved throughout the entire hotel, from the lobby and reception hall to the hotel rooms, which will have their revamp when the hotel enters its next phase of renovation in September 2024.
Thankfully, the restaurants will remain open during this period.
Behind the scenes: guests can sit at a bar in the kitchens to really get a feel for the action. Photo credit: Studio Phenix
A major part of the works at the Hôtel Métropole has been the expansion of the kitchens, and they are almost as beautiful as the dining space itself. Three large work stations accommodate 11 chefs, and there’s also a ‘bar table’ where guests can immerse themselves in all the action, as well as a ‘chefs table’ in the main dining area, overlooking the service kitchen.
In the restaurant, light walls and soft furnishings set the scene for the open kitchen to connect the masters at work with all their guests, giving Cussac the platform to finally step out of the shadows and into the spotlight where he belongs.
Chef Christophe Cussac shines in his new restaurant. Photo credit: Studio Phenix
Watch this space…
Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac leaves an impression, a lasting aftertaste of pure satisfaction.
It is a shiny new jewel in Monaco’s culinary crown, an experience beyond dining and, as an early contender for being a top tier restaurant in Monaco, Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac has multi-Michelin stars written all over it.
