14 ° C
Profile

Month: September 2023

Sailing: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez gets underway

by: Luke Entwistle
30/09/2023
2014 edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

The 25th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez got underway on Friday, with a packed schedule between now and Sunday 8th October.

The boats are gradually trickling through into Saint-Tropez, and whilst the Maxi Yachts will have the gulf to themselves on Sunday, together with a race start off Portalet, by Monday, there will be 250 Modern or Classic sailboats present at the event.

Each day, the Classic yachts will begin proceedings at 11:00, with the Modern yachts taking to the water at 12:30. From Tuesday onwards, the Maxi Yachts, a type of racing yacht at least 70ft in length, will then compete in the waters off Pampelonne.

With the competitions getting underway on Sunday, the teams registered practice laps on Friday, but the Village des Voiles is already open with entertainment being provided in the evenings. The charming Var town is already being transformed by the international sailing event, with great entertainment in store over the course of the coming week.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez full schedule

Saturday 30th September – Maxi registration (over 18.28m) and Classic and Modern yachts measuring up to 18.28 metres.

Sunday 1st October – regattas for the Maxis, registration of the Classic and Modern yachts measuring up to 18.28 metres.

Monday 2nd October – regattas for the Maxis and the Modern yachts.

Tuesday 3rd October – regattas for the whole fleet.

Wednesday 4th October – regattas for the Modern and Classic yachts Day Off for the Maxis and Club 55 Maxi Cup.

Thursday 5th October – Challenge Day and Club 55 Cup for the Modern and Classic yachts, regattas for the Maxis.

Friday 6th October – regattas for the whole fleet, Prize-giving for the Maxis.

Saturday 7th October – regattas for the Modern and Classic yachts.

Sunday 8th October – Prize-giving for the Modern and Classic yachts.

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook,  Twitter,  Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Photo credit: Philippe Stanus

MYS: The Honours yachting awards champion three inspiring individuals

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/09/2023

The inspiring personal achievements of three standout individuals in the yachting industry have been celebrated at the inaugural The Honours event. Here are the stories behind the people who picked up a Bowspirit Award. 

The inaugural edition of The Honours was held at the Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Place du Casino on 26th September. The awards, aptly called the Bowspirit Awards, were created to highlight the work of important and influential members of the yachting community and to shine a light on their aspirational efforts to improve the industry, from philanthropic ventures to innovation. 

From conservation projects to coordinating disaster relief and establishing equality within a male-dominated sector, each of the three winners of the first-ever Bowspirit Awards at The Honours, an event co-organised by the Monaco Yacht Show and the Superyacht Life Foundation, have all made a strong impact on the yachting industry and they were invited by host Mariasole Bianco, an environmental and ocean conservation advocate, to share their stories on the night with an audience of esteemed guests that included superyacht owners and industry VIPs. 

AND THE WINNERS ARE… 

The laureates were chosen from a pool of more than 360 nominees by expert judges who looked for those who “epitomise the heart and soul of the superyachting sector” 

The first award was given to American philanthropist, superyacht owner and competitive sailor Wendy Schmidt. Through her Schmidt Family Foundation, Schmidt Ocean Institute and other not-for profits, she has been instrumental in advancing ocean science and research via the free use of the Falkor (too), a top-of-the-line research vessel that is at the disposal of scientists worldwide free of charge. In exchange, the researchers must agree to make their findings public. 

Schmidt also co-founded 11th Hour Racing to raise awareness of ocean health and solutions for sustainability in the sailing and maritime industry. 

Next up was professional yacht crew Jenny Matthews, who decided at the age of 18 to ditch university and become a superyacht captain; a bold choice in an extremely male-dominated career. She diligently made her way up the ladder, eventually being recognised by being granted an Officer of the Watch certification, something few women at the time had achieved.  

This led her to create ‘She and the Sea’ on social media as a way for other women in the industry to share information, network and inspire the next generation. 

Finally it was the turn of Croatian captain Zoran Selakovic, who heard the call of the sea from an early age. He went on to cruise the world and build a significant career in the industry.  

When tragedy struck in the form of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean, he saw friends lose everything and decided he could do something to help. He met with the founder of YachtAid Global, Mark Drewelow, and stepped in to coordinate help through the charity, which received offers from more than 100 superyachts to assist in relief efforts within two weeks. 

He soon became YachtAid Global’s director and has been involved in disaster relief since. Other projects he has assisted with include building the first public library in the Galapagos and helping provide clean drinking water in rural parts of Mexico, as well as coordinating Operation Swimway, which aims to add the migratory routes of pelagic fish to ocean conservation areas.  

SETTING THE BAR HIGH FOR THE FUTURE

“The evening was a wonderful expression of the good that exists in the superyacht good life, that highlighting there is so much more to this industry, its owners and crew than meets the eye,” said Dilan Saraç, Executive Director of Superyacht Life Foundation. “Our three inaugural honourees are all well deserving of the award, and they have set a high bar for future nominations, which we have no doubt the industry will meet because of the breadth of talent and heart that lies within all facets of the superyachting industry and lifestyle.” 

Click on the images below to see each of the winners of a Bowspirit Award:

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.   

 

Photos supplied

Introducing the new Mosaic Art & Music Festival coming up in October

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/09/2023
mosaic festival

In just a few days, a brand-new series of classical music concerts called the Mosaic Art & Music Festival will launch in Monaco and Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Here are all the details. 

Spread across the two iconic venues of Cap Ferrat’s Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and the Yacht Club de Monaco, the organisers of the first-ever Mosaic Art & Music Festival say the event will be a “creative hub bringing musicians and music lovers together”. 

Speaking about the programme she has helped curate and indeed create, founder Tatiana Svetlova says, “We’re so excited to bring these musicians to the French Riviera. We can promise thrilling concerts that mark our first festival in this part of the world.” 

VILLA EPHRUSSI 

The majority of the events will be held at the stunning Villa Ephrussi, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and whose grounds are world-famous for their splendour. The site is worth a trip any time, but next month there will also be the additional draw of four nights of events. 

Established pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja is taking part in a concert alongside talented young performer Eveline Berezovsky on 4th October. Together they will perform pieces by Schubert, Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Ravel and Shostakovich from 7.30pm.  

The following night, also at 7.30pm, Jacques Rovier will be joined by the up-and-coming David Fray for a piano performance featuring the music of Bach, Schubert and Schumann.  

At 7.30pm on 8th October, crowds will have a chance to hear the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann and Thierry Escaich as played by Edna Stern and Louis-Victor Bak.  

Then, on 29th October, Edna Stern returns at 5.30pm for a concert entitled Fire of Black and White, dedicated to two Czech composers, Karel Reiner and Gideon Klein, who were detained in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Klein died shortly before the end of the war, but his Sonate lives on and will be performed that evening along with Reiner’s Sonate Opus 35 No. 2 ‘Victoire’ Andante. Pieces from Mozart, Schumann and Leos Janacek will also punctuate Stern’s repertoire.  

After the concert, the Villa Ephussi will also host a gala dinner occasion from 7.30pm, featuring entertainment by pianist Evgeny Kissin and actor Veniamin Smekhov, who will commemorate Jewish-Soviet poets who were victims of Joseph Stalin’s antisemitic crusade.  

MONACO 

Two additional festival events will take place at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 14th October. A show created for children by Tatiana Svetlova and Edna Stern, and based on Schumann’s Carnival Opus 9, will come to life, introducing young people to the classical genre through a visual piece featuring a sand artist. There will be a 12pm show in French and a 3pm show in English.  

For tickets and more information, visit the website here. 

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

 

Photo source: Hugo Richard, Unsplash

London to Monaco cyclists complete epic 1,100km ride for charity

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/09/2023

Prince Albert II of Monaco was at the finish line in front of the Palais Princier to greet the teams of cyclists who completed the eight-day journey from London to Monaco, raising more than €100,000 for the Blue Marine Foundation in the process.  

After eight days and 1,100 km, the more than 100 cyclists who participated in the 2023 London to Monaco bike ride benefitting ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation reached the Principality on Tuesday 26th September, where they were warmly welcomed by Prince Albert and a much-needed glass of champagne.  

It was also here, at the finish line, that Peter Lürssen, CEO and Managing Director of the German ship building company that bears his family name, gifted a bespoke Blue Marine Electric MOKE to the Prince.  

The ocean-inspired Blue Marine Electric MOKE was exclusively custom-designed by Steve Edge and manufactured in the UK by MOKE International, the world’s first and only heritage brand to go fully electric, and a partner of the Blue Marine Foundation. 

“The London to Monaco cycle ride is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness on the necessity to protect our fragile oceans,” said Prince Albert on the day, whose long-standing activism on behalf of ocean protection is well-documented. 

AFTER PARTY 

The Prince then hosted an exclusive Blue Marine Yacht Club event on Thursday 28th September. This took place aboard the incredible MY Phoenix 2 from Lürssen, which was originally designed by another Blue Marine Foundation partner, Winch Design.  

Partygoers had the opportunity to contribute to Blue Marine’s worldwide network of projects, bid on some fantastic items up for auction, become Blue Marine Yacht Club members and have first dibs on purchasing one of only 30 limited edition Blue Marine 30×30 MOKEs. The name is derived from the Foundation’s aim of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, and a £10,000 (€11,500) donation was made on the sale of each vehicle.  

The London to Monaco ride, which set off from Somerset House in London, had raised over £100,000 before the ride began. The goal was to raise a further £50,000 by the end of the endeavour, but a final official tally is yet to be announced.  

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.   

 

Photo supplied

Come onboard Phoenix 2, worth a cool €125 million

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/09/2023

Let Monaco Life take you onboard one of the biggest – and most expensive – superyachts at this year’s MYS, the Phoenix 2, and be amazed by her Manhattan-style glamour.

At 90.1 metres in length, Phoenix 2 makes a dominant appearance at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show. The Lurssen motor yacht, of Winch Design, is among the top six largest presented this year and is listed for sale with Cecil Wright for an impressive €124.95 million.

Built in 2010, and fresh from a 2019 refit, Phoenix 2 is in pristine condition and dazzling both inside and out.

Built for the late Polish billionaire Jan Kulczyk and handed down to his son Sebastian Kulczyk upon his death in 2015, New York and its skyline were the owner’s inspiration for this yacht’s styling. Motifs of the Empire State Building can be found everywhere, from the backs of bar stools and the carpet, to the wall art and cutlery.

The yacht even has a stainless-steel Phoenix sculpture on the bow in reference to the eagles on the Chrysler building.

The grand piano sets the tone for this moody main deck ballroom. Photo by Monaco Life

Phoenix 2 was the owner’s second Winch-designed yacht, but his first new build. Named Phoenix, the first yacht was built for a different owner who had requested a Parisian art-deco theme. For his first bespoke yacht, Kulczyk chose to surround himself with New York art deco.

High-gloss macassar wood is refreshingly light enough to allow the other main colours – black, cream, gold and burgundy – to create an ambiance of Gatsby glamour and entertainment.

Among the highlights are a dripping crystal chandelier that guides guests down an aluminium spiral staircase which serves four decks, a plush home cinema complete with popcorn machine, a hammam and spa, and a sundeck that features an oval pool with skylights filtering natural light into the lobby below, as well as a separate jacuzzi.

Looking up the spiral staircase on Phoenix 2, photo by Monaco Life

The master suit is accessed via a separate glass spiral staircase from the owner’s private observation lounge and office on the upper deck; the curved edges and polished finishes contrast perfectly with the bold black and white textiles.

A gilt-and-black lacquer Steinway grand piano is centred in the main deck ballroom, and beside it, an exquisite dining table that is overlooked by a swinging six-piece jazz band in custom made gold bas-relief mural.

Every plate, every phoenix-engraved chair, has been made for this purpose. It is opulence at its best.

The hammam on Phoenix 2, photo by Monaco Life

The superyacht can accommodate 14 guests in seven cabins. Watersports include four colour-coordinated wave runners, diving equipment and kayaks; and there are two touch and go helicopter platforms.

The Monaco Yacht Show runs until Saturday 30th September.

See more in our instagram video below, and scroll down for more images of Phoenix 2. ..

 

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation. Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

 

All photos by Monaco Life

What does the future hold for state housing in Monaco?

by: Elsa Carpenter
28/09/2023
state housing monaco

A new report by IMSEE has forecast the future housing needs of Monaco as well as the changing needs of the Principality’s citizens up to the Year 2024.  

It has been more than five years since the last report on the future of state housing in Monaco was released publicly by IMSEE, the Principality’s official statistical agency, and nearly eight since the last census on the Monegasque population was formally carried out in 2016. 

A lot has changed in those years, including some truly vast building projects that have added hundreds of additional homes to the state-owned property portfolio, and this fresh report has compiled all the relevant data and developments to paint a more up-to-date picture of the future of state housing needs over the coming 17 years.  

As before, the report was created at the request of the government, which is seeking to better understand the “evolution of the Monegasque population” as well as plan and manage the allocation of state-owned addresses.  

The report has concluded that the number of official Monegasque nationals, who are eligible for state-subsidised housing, will rise by roughly 1,000 people to 10,660 by 2024. This figure was reached using projections on births and naturalisations.  

Additionally, housing developments either currently in the works for 2023 to 2027 or planned from 2028 to 2033 will see a total of 1,327 new state-owned units built, with 715 in the first time period and 612 in the latter. 

This will allow the government to meet its objective of being able to provide state-owned housing to 75% of the Monegasque population by the end of 2034. 

At the end of 2022, just over 6% of state-owned properties were empty or yet to be allocated.

Click here to read the full report, which is currently only available in French.

 

Make sure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.   

 

Photo by Monaco Life