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Day: 10 December 2024

Young adventurers honoured at Monaco Outward Bound awards ceremony

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/12/2024

Over the summer, a group of 10- to 17-year-old students from Monaco participated in Outward Bound programmes in England and Wales. Earlier this month, these brave young adventurers were honoured for their efforts at the local branch of the organisation’s annual awards ceremony, held at the Yacht Club de Monaco in the presence of Prince Albert II and Lord Sebastian Coe.

Taking direction from Alfred Tennyson’s words in Ulysses – “To serve, to strive, and not to yield” – the international Outward Bound network seeks to inspire young people to stretch beyond their usual limits and learn the art of balancing responsibility, risk, and reward.

During this past summer, 23 students from the Principality, accompanied by Outward Bound Monaco chaperones, stepped out of their comfort zones and took part in programmes centred around daring activities such as gorge climbing, hiking, kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, and overnight camping expeditions.

Now, their personal achievements have been celebrated and honoured at a momentous awards ceremony in Monaco on 4th December, where each was presented with a diploma and commended for their bravery and perseverance.

The event was attended by Prince Albert of Monaco, the patron of Outward Bound Monaco, and Lord Sebastian Coe, a former Olympian and the current president of World Athletics, as well as numerous family members and friends of these adventurous young people and supporters of the local Outward Bound chapter.

“Outward Bound programmes are not easy,” said Prince Albert, “but they teach courage, resourcefulness, and the value of pushing beyond one’s limits.”

Lord Coe and Prince Albert II are pictured with the cohort of students who completed Outward Bound programmes this summer. Photo credit: Ed Wright Images

Sarah O’Connor, President of Outward Bound Monaco, reflected on the organisation’s mission and the impact of the evening, saying, “The aim of Outward Bound is to help young people believe they can achieve more than they thought possible. We are not talking about aspirations, but about belief in what you can do based on physical experience. Outward Bound takes young people out of their comfort zones and on adventures in wild places. It presents young people with challenges that help them to know themselves.”

The evening marked a proud moment for the students, who dedicated their summer to tackling demanding activities that tested their limits. Their efforts were rewarded not only with new skills and resilience but also with a profound sense of accomplishment.

For more information about Outward Bound Monaco and their 2025 courses, click here.

Read related:

More than 300 local children join Princess Charlene at drowning prevention event

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photos credit: Ed Wright Images

Formula E: Tough start to the season for Maserati MSG Racing at São Paulo E-Prix

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/12/2024

Maserati MSG Racing endured a difficult start to Formula E’s 11th season opener in São Paulo over the weekend, with setbacks for both newcomer Jake Hughes and veteran Stoffel Vandoorne, despite some promising moments.

The 2024/25 Formula E season officially kicked off on 7th December at São Paulo’s Sambadrome with a turbulent race filled with thrills, spills, and numerous mishaps. Only 14 of the 22 drivers managed to finish, highlighting the event’s chaos and challenges.

Jake Hughes, making his debut for the Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing team, struggled during qualifying, finishing ninth in Group A. He ultimately started 18th on the grid. Teammate Stoffel Vandoorne fared better, narrowly missing a place in the duels from Group B by just 0.074 seconds, and secured a P9 start.

See more: Maserati MSG Racing announces new driver line-up for 2024/25 Formula E season

Despite these qualifying results, the team entered the race with cautious optimism.

Hughes out early

Hughes’ race came to an abrupt end on Lap 2 after a collision involving multiple drivers. A chain reaction at the Turn 5/6 chicane left him pinned against the wall.

“There was a bit of a traffic jam ahead, with three or four cars involved in someone else’s accident,” he explained after the race. “I could see what was coming, so I was actually trying to avoid the crash. Unfortunately, one of the other drivers squeezed the driver I was trying to avoid, and he hit the inside wall, bouncing me into the outside wall. There’s not much you can do about that kind of incident.”

Vandoorne’s struggles

With Hughes out, the team’s hopes rested on Vandoorne. Starting from ninth, he quickly climbed to third, but a red flag caused by Jake Dennis’ stranded car disrupted his strategy. Vandoorne lost the final two minutes of his Attack Mode boost, leaving him vulnerable to rivals who still had energy reserves.

“It was a dynamic race; anything is possible in Formula E,” Vandoorne said in his post-race comments. “We decided to attack early and spend energy because of battery concerns, which got us into third place. But from then on, our race started to spiral downwards.”

Following the restart, Vandoorne dropped to seventh and struggled with energy management and defending his position.

He held on to P10—within the points—until a second red flag was brought out after an incident involving DS PENSKE’s Max Guenther, Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy, and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. On the restart, Envision’s Sébastien Buemi stormed through, leaving Vandoorne to finish in P11, just outside the points.

“Red flags hurt us a lot in terms of energy targets,” Vandoorne reflected. “In the end, it was just about surviving and bringing the car home.”

The São Paulo E-Prix was won by Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, with Antonio Felix da Costa of Porsche in second and Taylor Barnard of NEOM McLaren completing the podium.

The next E-Prix will take place on 11th January 2025 in Mexico City.

Read related:

Cyril Blais appointed as Maserati MSG Racing’s new Team Principal ahead of Season 11

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo source: Maserati MSG Racing

Monaco’s Fiat 500 Christmas Parade returning for its sixth year

by: Niki Borisova
10/12/2024

The Club Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo is bringing a vintage twist to Monaco’s Christmas celebrations with its sixth annual Fiat 500 parade.

On Friday 20th December, the Club Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo will host its ever-popular parade, an event that transforms dozens of beautifully restored Fiat 500s into festive-themed works of art.

The procession will begin at 6pm, winding through the Principality’s famous streets before culminating at the Place du Casino around 7.30pm.

Along the route, passengers in the brightly lit cars will hand out sweets and chocolates to the crowds, adding a festive touch to the joyful atmosphere.

A prize for the Best-Decorated Fiat 500 of the Evening will be awarded, with attendees at the Place du Casino invited to vote for their favourite festive design. The winner will be announced before the event concludes.

Founded to celebrate the Fiat 500’s cultural and automotive legacy, the Club Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo has turned this parade into a highlight of Monaco’s holiday season. The event is free and open to all.

For more information, click here.

Read related:

Les Roues de Noël: Monaco’s supercar parade to raise support for Princess Grace Foundation

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo source: Club Fiat 500 Monte-Carlo