The Société des Explorations de Monaco has said a fond farewell to outgoing boss Gilles Bessero and welcomed in its new leader, Xavier Prache.
The Société des Explorations de Monaco, a Monegasque government-created initiative committed to knowledge, sustainable management and protection of the oceans, has a new director.
Upon his retirement, outgoing Chief Gilles Bessero (pictured left above), who had been in charge since December 2018, passed the baton to Xavier Prache at a ceremony held at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco on 1st September.
NEW HEAD
Prache is a 1992 graduate of the Naval Commissariat School and has spent his career until now in the service of the French military, where he was most recently Commissioner of the Armed Forces and previously head of the support group at the Toulon Defence Base.
Over the years, he has been stationed in La Réunion, Brest, Cherbourg, Toulon and Monaco, where he was seconded to serve as aide-de-camp to Prince Albert II between 2011 and 2012.
His training and management skills in financial, logistical and administrative matters made him a stand-out candidate for this new job, but it is his deep understanding of the marine world and his expertise in geostrategy were the clinchers.
Xavier Prache officially assumed the duties of former Director Gilles Bessero on 1st September. Photo credit: Michel Dagnino
NEXT STEPS
Prache will hit the ground running with a Mediterranean mission followed in 2024 by one in the Coral Sea of the South Pacific.
“The future of the ocean is a subject that concerns us all, inseparably linked to that of humanity,” said Prache at his appointment. “It requires having a good knowledge of this environment, ensuring its sustainable management and, of course, protecting it.”
By combining scientific research, public mediation and cooperation governmental, the Société des Explorations de Monaco is in line with the legacy of Prince Albert I “to make the Ocean known, loved and protected”.
Prache concluded, “It is driven by realistic optimism that I take up my duties, happy at the idea of contributing to the action of the Sovereign and the Principality for the sustainable preservation of the ocean, and of preparing and leading the programme of activities with our partners around the world.”
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Scotland’s Rugby Union side will be based in Nice for the entirety of their Rugby World Cup campaign, which gets underway against South Africa in Marseille on Sunday.
Scotland will train at the Arboras complex near the Allianz Riviera in Saint-Isidore for the duration of the campaign.
“We already managed to come in June for a 10-day camp. The installations are superb, with a main pitch, the perfect gym and the new synthetic pitch being a useful tool for our players,” says Coach Gregory Townsend. “By coming to Nice in June and August, we have created on each occasion the training and preparatory conditions that we’ll have during the World Cup. It’s really perfect!”
The team arrived on Monday, posing on the iconic blue chairs that line the Promenade des Anglais to inaugurate what they hope to be a successful tournament.
For Scotland, it will all kick off this coming Sunday in Marseille, when the team comes up against one of the favourites for the competition, and reigning champions, South Africa.
Four group-stage matches in Nice
A fortnight later, on Sunday 24th September, the Scottish side will make the short journey up the road to face Tonga at the Allianz Riviera, before subsequent matches against Romania in Lille and then against statistical favourites Ireland in Paris.
Whilst Scotland feature just once in Nice, the Allianz Riviera will host three more group-stage matches. The first will see Wales face Portugal on Saturday 16th September (5.45om). On Sunday 17th September, England will face Japan (9pm). Italy will face Uruguay on Wednesday 20th September (5.45pm) before Scotland’s match against Tonga, the final match to take place on the Riviera.
South Africa based in the Var
Meanwhile, South Africa will be based in La Seyne-sur-Mer, just down the coast in the Var region, for the duration of the tournament. The coastal town is just a short drive from Marseille, where the Springboks will contest two of their group-stage matches (against Scotland and then Tonga on Sunday 1st October).
Coach Jacques Nienaber believes their opener against Scotland will be “the most important of the tournament”.
“We are in a difficult group, that’s why the match against Scotland is so important,” concluded the South African.
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Jean d’Haussonville, France’s new Ambassador to Monaco, has met with Prince Albert and Princess Charlene to present his papers and be welcomed into the Principality’s diplomatic fold.
Ambassadors from Monaco’s closest neighbour of France are more than simply ceremonial. The two nations are intertwined, sharing many things, including an integrated customs system and a common language to name but a few.
This close relationship means that when a new ambassador from France is appointed to the Principality, it is cause to pull out all the stops.
On 5th September, such an occasion occurred as Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, alongside Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco’s Government Advisor-Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, met with Jean d’Haussonville, who presented his Letters of Credence to the sovereign.
The newly appointed Ambassador was then received by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, who hosted a welcome lunch for him at his residence. It was an event also attended by the Prince.
IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS
D’Haussonville is a graduate of the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and a former student of the National School of Administration. Since 2010, he has acted as Managing Director of the Chambord National Estate and he notably was First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of France to NATO in Brussels from 1997 to 2001 as well as Advisor to the Minister of Culture and Communication from 2004 to 2007.
Additionally, he is an Officer of the National Order of Merit, Knight of the Legion of Honour and Officer of Arts and Letters.
All of Monaco wish the Ambassador a successful and fruitful term.
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Autumn sees the annual Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez bringing together some of the world’s most beautiful modern and classic sailing boats to race in what is one of the most the prestigious regattas on the racing circuit. Miriam Cain looks at a handful of the finest classic sailing yachts, and replicas, available for the yacht aficionado to be part of the action.
The perfect backdrop for a classic sailing yacht regatta, Saint-Tropez has been hosting Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez for over 40 years. Originally known as La Nioulargue, the annual rendezvous of beautiful, traditional and modern sailing yachts is held in the bay of Saint-Tropez each autumn. This year, it will take place from Friday 29th September to Sunday 8th October.
The history of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
The event was launched in 1981 when an owner and skipper of two classic yachts raced each other from the foot of the village of Saint-Tropez around the Nioulargo to arrive opposite Club 55 on Pampelonne beach. Today it has become an exciting regatta for owners to enjoy the power and performance of over 300 sailing yachts in every size and shape racing across several performance classes.
The Voiles de Saint-Tropez, and other classic regattas hosted in some of the world’s favourite cruising grounds, capture the attention of not just yachtsmen and dedicated racing fans, but of owners, their captains and crew worldwide. The yachts themselves are awe inspiring but add to this the passion and skill of their crew together with the festival like atmosphere that surrounds a racing event both on the water and on the quayside, and you have the making of an exciting few days that is accessible to owners worldwide.
A world of tradition
For those wanting a genuine sailing experience or to take part in some of the finest racing action, the enduring appeal of a classic yacht is second to none. Admired for their beauty and desired wherever they go, owning a classic sailing yacht is not just about acquiring a vessel, it’s about becoming a part of a rich legacy.
The French two-masted Schooner Weather Bird, for example, was built in 1931 for Sara and Gerald Murphy, a high-society American couple whose well-known families flourished in fortune. After settling on the French Riviera, the couple launched Weather Bird, which served as inspiration for numerous artists that they hosted on board. Some of her most notable guests included Cole Porter, Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, not to mention Murphy’s good friends Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is rumoured that Fitzgerald characterised the main characters in his novel Tender is the Night after the Murphys.
Weather Bird has received many updates and upgrades over the years, including a complete refit in 2021. Her interior spaces showcase the classic 1930s styling, with a timeless, romantic feel, while her exterior deck spaces are spacious and offer seating areas for guests to socialise and relax while cruising, or racing in regattas, such as Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
The 31m (101’8”) WEATHER BIRD is available to purchase through Northrop & Johnson with an asking price of €3,370,000.
Another classic is the legendary sailing yacht Tamory. The 26.58m (87’) wishbone ketch was built in 1952 and will be familiar with classic yachting enthusiasts in the Riviera, having been moored in the Monaco Palace’s berth in Fontvieille for the last few decades. She is a yacht of special character and strong heritage; any new owner would be owning a piece of yachting history. Despite having undergone a number of refits over the years, including her most recent in 2000, Tamory has managed to retain her classic, elegant styling with her teak deck in excellent condition and below deck, her charming interior comprising a wood and cream finish with polished brass accents.
The timeless Bermudian schooner Armide is another fine example of a beautifully restored classic. Built in 1938 and meticulously restored between 2016 and 2018, her exterior radiates timeless elegance with her classic design and flush decks. Adorned with beautiful bronze deck fittings, reconditioned spruce masts and booms, and a new bow sprit to enhance performance, she is now part of the South of France’s maritime patrimony. Although she was not initially built as a race boat, thanks to her new sails and rigging, Armide would be a formidable contender on the regatta circuit.
The 40.5m (132’1”) NAEMA is available to purchase through Northrop & Johnson with an asking price of €5,950,000.
For those looking for a classic design but with all modern amenities, there are a number of replica vessels and classically styled but modern builds. The topsail zchooner Naema, for example, is classic to all appearances, but she is in fact a replica of the famous Alfred Milne design Panda, which was launched in 1938. Built in 2006 and refit in 2015, Naema has been created with authentic schooner rigging, but with modern sail handling systems and electric winches.
For those looking to race, she has a proven record having won the 2019 Classic Schooner Association Regatta. She has also been engineered to deliver all amenities for luxury living aboard, including superb guest entertaining areas.
The 27.32m (89’) SPIRIT OF VENICE is available to purchase through Northrop & Johnson with an asking price of €2,100,000.
Alternatively, the 2018-built Spirit of Venice is a classic masterpiece combining modern elements and the latest technology with an authentic classic style. She was built with all the features to be sailed single-handedly around the world with the utmost comfort and updated technology.
Whatever your preference, be it a restored classic with a special pedigree or a modern day replica, the immediacy of ownership is a distinct advantage as you can sail away on your classic yacht without having to wait for a new build – see you on the finish line.
Feature photo: The 31m (101’8”) WEATHER BIRD is available to purchase through Northrop & Johnson with an asking price of €3,370,000. All photos supplied.
New Crypto Wealth Report scores Monaco 9/10 for “tax friendliness”
The first ever Crypto Wealth Report from Henley & Partners has awarded Monaco a solid nine marks out of 10 for tax friendly parameters.
With 88,200 crypto millionaires globally, 425 million cryptocurrency-owning individuals and a total market value of just under €1.1 billiond, this market has gone way beyond trend level and is now a bona-fide player on the world money stage.
A brand-new report, which was published by international wealth and investment migration specialists Henley & Partners on 5th September, has indicated a definite Monegasque presence in the crypto world; one that is particularly respected for its taxation of crypto-related activities.
WHERE DOES MONACO STAND
The Principality figures in the new report in several key areas.
Where Monaco shone brightest was in tax friendliness for investors. Each country included in the report was assessed for its approach to taxing crypto-related activities and the Principality got near top marks, with nine out of 10 alongside Hong Kong and Mauritius. Singapore and the UAE were the only nations to score a perfect 10 out 10.
Monaco also scored well – 7.5/10 – when it came to infrastructure adoption and economic factors. Where it was weakest was public adoption, scoring just 0.3/10, the lowest on the table of the 26 nations listed.
As global investment expert, Jeff D. Opdyke, states in the report, “Crypto is the most inevitable trade and technology of the last 30 years, and now is a fantastic opportunity to buy as we’re unlikely to ever see these prices again.”
The Principality’s overall score, which was devised using 750 data points, saw it rank 17th worldwide on the report’s Crypto Adoption Index.
Singapore took the top spot, closely followed by Switzerland, the UAE, Hong Kong and the US.
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Expect music, dancing and plentiful plates of delicious Mediterranean food at next week’s Soirée Méditerranéenne in the Condamine market.
Set to take place on Friday 15th September from 8pm, the Soirée Méditerranéenne is being held in conjuncture with the popular Monaco Méditerranée show in the Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille that is also on the programme the same weekend.
The mix of Mediterranean nations represented at the market will be just as diverse as those of the artisan event in Fontvieille, with delicacies and traditional favourites from countries such as Lebanon, Morocco, Italy, Greece and, of course, Monaco set to feature on the menus of the shops, restaurants and bistros that line the Condamine’s food court.
Alongside the food, guests are in for a real cultural treat of music, dancing and vibrant décor.
No reservations are required for the Soirée Méditerranéenne, but be sure to arrive on time if you’d like to get a table.
