In between the reveal of AS Monaco’s Europa League opponent, and Sunday’s fixture against Reims, Gelson Martins and Philippe Clement addressed the media on Friday speaking about the challenge ahead.
At midday on Friday, the Europa League round of 16 draw took place, the Principality side drawing Portugese side Braga, with the fixtures to be played on 10th and 17th March. Portuguese midfielder Martins has high expectations for the clash. “It’s a team I know very well, that I’ve played against many times in Portugal.”
Martins continued, “They are a good team that has a lot of experience in the Europa League, and I think it’ll be a great match.” Clement admitted he isn’t as familiar with the side. “I watch lots of European matches, so I know lots of teams in the draw really well, but less so this Braga team. They are defensively strong and quick in attack. I know their results, but that doesn’t tell you much.”
Before that however, the side’s focus is firmly on Sunday’s match at the Stade Louis II against Stade de Reims where, according to Martins, a win is essential. “We have to chase after the points we have lost. It’s a difficult period of games, but we have shown that we can beat these teams. Clearly, there’s no more room for failure.”
Indeed, every match is vital, and the difficult matches are coming thick and fast, the Principality side set for mid-week matches every week until mid-March. Squad rotation will therefore be key in the coming weeks, and Clement told Monaco Life that there could be changes on Sunday. “On top of (Aurelien) Tchouameni and (Caio) Henrique, who are suspended, there could be other changes.” The Belgian coach added that it would be either Youssouf Fofana or Eliot Matazo who would replace Tchouameni.
Monaco Life attended Friday training at the La Turbie training centre and can confirm that, bar long-term absentee Krepin Diatta, all players were involved in group training. However, Clement revealed that many are still short on match fitness.
Despite a friendly against Brentford B on Wednesday, in which AS Monaco ran out 2-1 winners, Cesc Fabregas still hasn’t quite reached match fitness. Benoit Badiashile will also likely be absent, but Myron Boadu has the potential to perhaps play “10-15 minutes”. Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is doubtful having felt some discomfort during training.
Following consecutive draws in Ligue 1, against two low-blocks, Clement is hoping that this match won’t follow the same pattern. “It’s always difficult against low-blocks. We have had great difficulty against these teams. I think that this time it will be different.”
For the sake of Monaco’s chances of European qualification, fans will hope that this is the case, whilst a victory would allow the side to build some much needed momentum ahead of a crucial month of football.
Photo of Philippe Clement by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Ferrari’s challenger for the upcoming season, the F1-75, has been revealed in Maranello, its sleek, futuristic design catching the eye during a presentation with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
A new set of regulations, brought in for the upcoming season, has revolutionised the appearance of the F1 car. The changes are, however, far from purely aesthetic. The aim is to create a car that follows better in the slipstream of other cars, hopefully providing more exciting, wheel-to-wheel racing. Laurent Mekies, Ferrari’s racing director, stated in a press release, “Our race team is gearing up for possibly one of the most surprising seasons of the last decade.”
The F1-75, whose name pays homage to the 75-year history of the Prancing Horse brand, is fitted with a slightly darker red livery. Commenting on the livery, Leclerc said during the presentation that, “It looks a bit more aggressive, and for a car like this, it fits perfectly.”
On its appearance in general, the Monegasque driver added, “I love it. I really, really like it, and I think I’ll love it even more if it’s fast on the track, but I absolutely love the look.”
This season’s car is the product of almost two whole years of work, and although the 2021 season was an improvement on the previous one, it was always clear that the team’s focus was on the development of the 2022 car with the new regulations in mind. It can be no surprise then that many are expecting a title challenge from Ferrari this season.
“This season is going to be very important for the team. The expectations are very, very high. We are making sure that all of the work that we’ve done behind the scenes will achieve good results during the season,” said Leclerc.
The 24-year-old will be hoping that the car, which he described as a “beast” on Twitter, will propel him towards a title-challenge which, given the regulation changes, is poised to be one of the closest and most exciting in recent history.
Click on the video below for more from Charles Leclerc….
New York-based multinational investment firm Goldman Sachs is setting up shop again in Monaco, expanding operations for HNWIs as part of its European strategy.
The American financial services company reportedly received approval last month and will re-establish a private wealth unit branch here, six years after it closed a former location.
Two Barclay’s veterans, Arnaud Caussin and Thibaut Lambert, will be in charge of the new office, and wealth advisor Serge Olive will also be joining them from the British bank.
The move is a shrewd one considering that a full third of Monaco’s 39,000 residents are millionaires.
Goldman’s private wealth unit has added a considerable number of advisers across Europe, Africa and the Middle East in the past few years as part of the company’s strategy. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon’s plan is to make Goldman less reliant on trading.
“The opening of our presence in Monaco is critical to delivering on our regionalisation strategy and overall growth plan,” said Chris French, co-head of private wealth management for EMEA, in a statement. “Monaco represents a significant jurisdiction for our private wealth business in Europe.”
The return of Goldman Sachs to Monaco puts them in good company, joining other global institutions such as UBS Group and Citigroup.
According to Bloomberg, Goldman’s wealth management and consumer unit revenue grew 25% in 2021 to $7.5 billion (€6.6 billion) over the previous year. At the end of last year, they had roughly $751 billion (€661 billion) in assets under their supervision.
The Princess Grace Academy stood out during the finale of the International Competition for Young Dancers at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne, with three students taking out prizes.
Of the 70 dancers and 20 finalists who took part in the competition oon 5th February, three students from the school involved with the Ballets de Monte-Carlo stood out. Young American Darrion Sellman won the Oak Foundation Gold Medal and Scholarship, while Frenchman Dorian Plasse won the Coromandel Foundation grant and the Contemporary Prize. The scholarships will give these young talents the opportunity to choose the Company they will join, among the prestigious partner institutions of the Prix de Lausanne.
A third student of the Princess Grace Academy, Italian Luca Branca, stood out with his version of ‘Les ombres du temps’, interpreted by Yo Nakajima from the same school, and won one of two Young Creation Awards. His original creation will be added to the contemporary repertoire of the Prix de Lausanne 2023.
Each year, a partner school or company is invited to present a piece during the Prix de Lausanne, and this year, it was the Princess Grace Academy’s turn to show off its know-how. 10 students performed ‘Back on Track 61’ by Jean-Christophe Maillot.
The Covid-19 pandemic presented the world with unprecedented challenges to nearly every aspect of life. Throughout the past two years, we’ve witnessed the dynamics of society halt, twist, and transform; economies plummet, rise and equalize; and the personal lives of billions metamorphosize beyond our wildest imaginations. Within the context of the luxury brokerage and travel market, Covid-19 continues to represent unconventional hurdles, yet also unique opportunities – particularly for luxury yacht sales and charters.
As the virus continued to show no signs of submission or weakness in 2019, governments globally took their own unique approach to maintain life as they knew it while adapting to the uncertainties of a novel virus. Consequently, international travel restrictions increased and domestic requirements and health guidelines saw a shift in fluidity and intensity. As a result, work, education, retail and even healthcare began to shift into the digital realm, bringing forth feelings of constriction, claustrophobia, anxiety and discomfort across the globe.
Hence, the real estate market experienced a boom. People’s residential consumerism began to shift and change. Some ultra-high net worth individuals sought shelter away from being cooped up in the cities. In essence, people were looking for ways to help manage the new aspects of life presented by the impending impact of the virus.
Given that need, yacht brokerages around the globe mobilized and began implementing ways in which people could adhere to the law at hand while setting sights on new terrains, or waterways, without sacrificing their health. Luckily, luxury yachts present the perfect alternative to being confined at home. They offer an escape. Whether you’re looking to purchase a superyacht for a multitude of adventures, or take a yacht charter to an unfamiliar place, luxury yachts are appealing across the board during a time when the “near future” seems as unpredictable as the past two years were.
With that being said, 2021 was truly a remarkable year, and an impressively successful year specifically in the luxury yacht brokerage sector for purchase, sale, charter and virtually every aspect of the business.
The genesis
When the pandemic hit in 2019, the yachting sector was at the beginning of its shift. For the entire marine industry, business slowed in March – selling 25 yachts despite impending market turbulence. However, as the year continued, yacht sales began to increase throughout the year – rising to 64 closings in May and 59 in December. This matched the overarching trend of society at the time, having initially experienced discomfort and turbulence at the virus’s start yet demonstrating adaptation and resilience about the physical restrictions at hand.
Northrop & Johnson’s Blue Moon
The Fall
Despite this success, the year 2020 brought forth entirely new challenges. The conclusion and recovery of Covid-19 seemed more distant than ever, and the wellbeing of citizens was seemingly insecure.
During this time, yacht brokerages far and wide worked hard to support their employees and maintain their services wherever possible. However, despite the determination, the economic decline was breaching all aspects of the business. Industry-wide, the average for yachts sold in 2020 was 35.42 closings per month, the most significant success occurring in December with 59 yachts sold.
The yacht brokerage industry is adaptable. It was inclined to bounce back, getting clients on the water aboard the luxury yachts perfectly fitted for them.
Shifting gears
In December, brokerage firms recognised the shift in momentum, pushing their sights to the promises of a new year and hitting the ground running – a trial that certainly paid off. On average, yacht brokerage listed 48.25 yachts per broker across the top 12 firms and maintained an average inventory value of €381,189,160 across the top 20 firms.
“Northrop & Johnson enjoyed a banner year in 2021,” says Northrop & Johnson’s European Director Patrick Coote. “We sold 141 yachts in total in 2021, with 66 of those yachts larger than 24 meters. Furthermore, we managed to sell the most CA listings of any yacht brokerage in 2021, 41 in total. And this was 41% more CA listings than any other brokerage in the world.” Coote continues. “Furthermore, Northrop & Johnson was able to sell these yachts faster than ever before, ensuring some of the shortest times on the market we’ve seen in recent history.”
The average number of luxury yachts listed per brokerage firm in 2021 was 59, with a maximum of 75 yachts for a total value of $792,485,094 and a minimum of 16 yachts for a total value of $49,885,560.
“Northrop & Johnson had 73 yachts larger than 24 metres listed for sale in 2021 for a total value of €638,797,299, one of the top two highest values of any sales fleet,” explains Coote. “Our clients entrusted us with their prized possessions and we do not take that responsibility lightly. When selling a yacht, our focus is solely on the client. Ensuring a timely sale at the best price is the number one priority.”
When breaking down these impressive statistics, it’s important to note what was hot in the 2021 yacht market. This year’s sales included yachts from 34 different builders, with total sales of 47 Sanlorenzo yachts being sold. The year’s top three builders listed were Sanlorenzo with an impressive 47 yachts, Sunseeker with 39 yachts, and Benetti with 37 yachts. These yachts are known for branding the market with the modern ‘sleek and sexy’ look considered highly desirable for today’s owners and charterers.
It’s also interesting to note length variance regarding the types of yachts sold in 2021. For yachts 29.9 meters and under, 271 yachts were sold, 39.9 metres and under, 246 yachts were sold, 49.9 metres and under, 126 yachts were sold, 64.9 metres and under, 50 yachts were sold, and for yachts 65 meters and over, 25 yachts were sold.
This data suggests that yacht appeal across the ranges has increased overall. However, the appeal of smaller, more personal yachts has taken a firm hold. This makes sense given the fluidity of Covid-19 restrictions, for both activities and personal interaction. With limited party numbers, minimal spaces allowed for the congregation, and consequently less public activity available, smaller sailing, motor and sportfishing yachts are becoming popularised to ensure on-water activities with adherence to local law. Albeit yachts larger than 100’ remain highly desirable.
Northrop & Johnson’s Solo 1
Major success
Despite economic and market barriers, the yachting industry flourished in 2021, paralleled only by a few years prior. When compared to the past five years specifically, the 2021 luxury yacht brokerage industry skyrocketed and transcended sales from previous successes: having sold 61 yachts in March, 56 yachts in April, 81 yachts in May, 90 yachts in June, 47 yachts in September, 49 yachts in October, 59 yachts in November and 82 yachts in December. In total, 718 yachts were sold across the top 12 firms, with an average of 59.83 yachts sold per month. This number is striking, given that the previous averages were 35 yachts sold per month in 2020 and 41 yachts sold per month in 2019.
“One of our proudest achievements at Northrop & Johnson in 2021 was the growth and successes in our European offices,” says Coote. “I am thrilled to say we are the fastest-growing brokerage in Europe and our extraordinary teams in our Monaco, Antibes, Palma and Barcelona offices rose to the challenges they faced.”
After the low of 425 yachts sold in 2020 with the economic decline and the previously highest number of 583 yachts sold in 2017, 2021’s industry success of 718 yachts is even more relevant. In parallel, Bloomberg analysis reported that asubtle correlation of two shifts within the U.S. economy and the luxury yacht market supports the notion that as the economy improves, so does the luxury yacht brokerage market, despite Covid-19 limitations. As such, it can be concluded that luxury yachts pose an appealing alternative to residency, vacation, and wellness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Looking ahead, there is more success on the horizon in 2022,” predicts Coote. “The trajectory is decidedly up and there seems to be no evidence of the market slowing in the sales and charter sectors. We are already reporting 50% of the 2021 charter booked for summer 2022. As people become more comfortable navigating our collective ‘new normal’ they are making plans and taking the trips they had long put off. As such, the charter market is likely to see high demand this summer, so the advice is to book early. In a similar vein on the sales side of the business, now is the time for sellers to put their yachts on the market and for buyers, if you see something you like, make that offer as its likely to move fast.”
Monaco’s very own manga series, Blitz, is set to launch its sixth volume in just two years, finding huge success with an unlikely topic and putting author Cédric Biscay firmly on the map.
In a short 24 months, manga Blitz has gone from risky endeavour to bona fide hit.
The series, which combines the worlds of manga and chess, is the first manga produced between Monaco, France and Japan and has sold 50,000 copies to date in France alone.
The success is such that at Blitz’s recent focus week at Dubai World Expo, they were joined by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the current Blitz World Champion, and Sophie Milliet, European champ and six-time French champion. During this visit, the author disclosed a bit of insider news about the upcoming edition, a boon for fans gasping to see the next instalment.
“I have just returned from the Dubai World Expo,” Biscay said, “where I was able to see the installations dedicated to Blitz in the Monaco Pavilion. It was really great to play chess with the visitors and participate in such a great international event. I would like to take this opportunity to also announce that two great personalities from outside the world of chess will appear in Volume Six.”
The new story will be released on 25th February and follows the main characters to Kyoto, where they are involved in a national tournament. Some characters will reveal their true colours, and the main antagonist becomes clearer.
Blitz has gone from simple manga to sensation and even boasts an app, produced by Shibuya Productions, the manga’s publishers, which allows players to compete in matches with other fans or against the computer.
Blitz is special in that it also has world famous chess champion Gary Kasparov on board to help keep the chess match scenes relevant and true-to-life. Adding thrilling chess play to manga excitement, Volume Six is sure to become an instant success when it hits the shelves later this month.
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