Yacht Club de Monaco

70 years of history!

In 2023, Monaco Yacht Club celebrates 70 years since it was founded by Prince Rainier III.

By Milena Radoman

Prince Rainier III founded Monaco Yacht Club in 1953. At the time, the visionary prince wanted to give the Principality something that would attract yachtsmen from all over the world, and bring them back, again and again. He wanted it to be key to the development of Monaco port, the Principality’s prime tourist attraction. In 1954, Monaco Yacht Club re-launched the powerboat meetings, international regattas and many other water activities, while training generations of sailors at the Sailing School which was set up in 1970. In 1984, Prince Albert II was appointed President of the Club and introduced a series of new international events. These included the Primo Cup-Trophée Crédit Suisse, which went on to become the largest one-design meeting in the Mediterranean winter series, the Monaco-New York transatlantic race and the Formula 40’Grand Prix. Traditional yachting was not overlooked, with the first Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe in 1994. He was also the founder of the Prada Challenge for Classic Yachts, a one-of-a-kind circuit which he coordinated over a five-year period and, in 1995, bought Tuiga, which has become the club’s flagship. To mark its 70^th anniversary, the Yacht Club is holding the 16th edition of Monaco Classic Week – La Belle Classe from 13 to 16 September this year. The event will bring together the ultimate vintage sailing boats, classic motor yachts and old motorboats. This biennale will be followed by the 3rd Monaco Smart & Sustainable Rendezvous (24 to 25 September), a networking event organised by M3 which will see key players from all parts of the sector come together in a quest to find the most innovative solutions to promote the development of virtuous marinas. Innovation will also be at the forefront when new alternative energy firms meet at the 10^th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge from 3 to 8 July. The club has joined forces with Aqua superPower to stage the first e-Boat Rally. A record number of commercially available electric boats will test their potential in a race between Monaco and Ventimiglia, giving the public an insight into pleasure sailing of the future.