© EDM

“One Spirit, One Team, One Club” is the guiding principle of the renowned Yacht Club de Monaco, established in 1953 by Prince Rainier III. Since 1984, the club has been under the presidency of Prince Albert II, and currently boasts a membership of 2,500 individuals from 86 different nations.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Yacht Club de Monaco’s new building and the 40th anniversary of H.S.H. Prince Albert II’s presidency, we had the opportunity to meet with the Club’s Secretary General, Bernard d’Alessandri. During our meeting, he reflected on the significant milestones in the institution’s sporting, social, and environmental commitments.

How did you get involved in yachting?

I have always felt drawn to the sea. Sailing seemed to me to be the perfect way to experience it at close quarters. I was just a child when I discovered sailing. My very first time on the water was in an Optimist, and that gave me an incredible feeling of freedom! That was the beginning of everything and I have never looked back.

As a young person, I enjoyed repairing boats and taking them out on the water. Every time I left the harbour, I felt like I was discovering a whole new world of oceans and marine life. Sailing is also a great way to travel quickly and explore different parts of the world.

Tell us how you came to the YCM

I came to Monaco in 1976, rather by chance and I saw a lot of potential in this country. So, I started working for YCM. When it was founded in 1953, the club was still very small. In 1976, I started developing the club and proposing projects. Soon the YC was organising and taking part in regattas in Monaco and around the world, as well as a number of regattas that no longer exist. I’ve always been passionate about regattas.

Now I’ve been part of this institution for 48 years. I’m lucky to have a job that allows me to live, work and breathe my passion and that brings me into contact with all the players in the sector.

The Yacht Club de Monaco brings together yachting enthusiasts in Monaco and far beyond. What, in your opinion, makes it so exclusive?

The Yacht Club de Monaco’s greatest asset is its members, who have achieved remarkable feats, from winning regattas to securing world championship titles. The YCM is an international institution by nature. Another important strength of the YCM is its dedicated team, which epitomises the spirit of the club.

The YCM’s building and facilities are also a source of pride. Designed by world-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster, the building strikes a perfect balance between aesthetics and sustainability. The glass facades can be opened to allow natural ventilation from the sea, making the building an icon not only in Monaco, but around the world.

The YCM has two key missions: to preserve the unique spirit and relationship between its members and their federation and to help members choose the right boats for their needs, while maintaining links with the industry and prioritising environmental sustainability

| A UNIQUE POSITIONING

Monaco has long been a must-visit destination, not only as a crucial port of call but also as a hub for yachting enthusiasts. The first recorded regatta in Monaco dates back to 1863.

Today, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) organises major nautical events and strives to maintain close relationships with its members and boat builders to meet their evolving needs and provide optimal sailing conditions. However, becoming a member of the YCM is not easy. It requires two sponsorships and meeting certain criteria, as membership is limited to a specific number.

The YCM also serves the Principality of Monaco by enhancing the appeal of yachting and showcasing the beauty of its harbour.

What are the most significant changes that have occurred at the YCM since your arrival?

One of the first major changes occurred in 1985 when Prince Albert II of Monaco organised the inaugural “Monaco – New York” transatlantic race, in which I had the privilege of participating. I was skipper of a boat crewed exclusively by young people from Monaco, which demonstrated the club’s potential to compete in such events. It was a truly incredible experience.

Another significant change was the acquisition of Tuiga, which had a profound impact on the YCM. Tuiga’s arrival at the club enhanced its image, as the vessel embodies both tradition and the sporting aspect of racing with elegance. These elements reflect the overall concept of the club: its conservative style combined with a focus on tradition and performance. The evolution of the club was particularly notable in the 1980s when Tuiga became an icon representing the Yacht Club de Monaco and the Principality of Monaco. It enabled us to visit other yacht clubs every year, to travel several times to Ireland, the West Indies, Venice, and England and to organise numerous regattas.

Which events during your career have had the most significant impact on you?

There have been many. In the field of sport, the most memorable was undoubtedly the challenge we undertook with a team of young people in 1985, sailing to New York in the winter. I was the skipper of the Monaco boat. However, there were also some difficult moments that deeply affected me, such as the tragic offshore accident involving Stefano Casiraghi in 1990.

Another significant achievement was my involvement in creating the world’s first classic boat circuit. Lastly, the inauguration of our new building in 2014 was a milestone that gave us increased visibility both locally and internationally. This year, on 17 June, we celebrated the building’s 10th anniversary.

What are the primary missions of the YCM?

The YCM is currently pursuing two main goals. Firstly, we want to maintain our tradition as a club, and secondly, we are focussing on the needs of our 2,500 members. To achieve this, we offer a wide range of activities and events. Members can start their day with gymnastics or sports classes, and we have restaurants open daily. The YCM is a family-friendly destination and we organise activities for children and adults. For young people, the focus is on teaching the concept through our sailing school, which offers a wide range of activities. We offer numerous training courses, organise competitions and conferences and invite well-known sailors to share their experiences, discoveries, adventures and successes with our children and young members.

| PASSIONATE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS

For adults, we organise competitions, events and conferences throughout the year that attract a wide range of visitors. The YCM is a recognised sailing centre with exceptional weather conditions, and the stronger winds now make it possible to organise regattas. During the winter months, the YCM welcomes sailors from all over the world for the Sportboat Winter Series.

The YCM’s second priority is to sensitise sailors to the need to protect the oceans and promote environmental responsibility. To this end, the YCM has developed the ‘Sea Index’, the world’s first tool to measure marine pollution from yachts, which is currently being rolled out across the sector and the industry.

Finally, the YCM has created the Monaco Sport Academy (MSA), which offers various types of support to regatta sailors, including technical assistance and individual coaching for sailors (sports coaches) with customised nutrition programmes and concentration techniques to improve performance.

| PROMOTING MONACO AS A PREMIER YACHTING DESTINATION

The Yacht Club de Monaco is unique in that it is not just a typical yacht club. In addition to providing traditional club activities for its members, such as regattas and conferences, the YCM also has a mission to promote yachting in Monaco.

Like many other clubs in Monaco, we fulfill this mission by organising events throughout the year, averaging one event per month, as well as large-scale events. During the winter months, we host regattas such as the ‘Primo Cup Winter Series’ and the European J70 Championships, and we welcome IMOCA boats, in which well-known sailors such as Boris Hermann take part.

By hosting these events, we are able to promote Monaco as a premier yachting destination, both within the sporting world and beyond. The YCM’s reputation for exclusivity and luxury further enhances the Principality’s image as a top destination.

What are the biggest challenges facing the Club in 2024?

The most significant challenge we face is undoubtedly the realisation that we need to protect our planet. As we enter a new era of environmental sensitivity, it is crucial that we continue to take concrete actions on a daily basis, such as reusing water, saving energy and drastically reducing plastic usage.

At the Yacht Club, we are committed to being as environmentally conscious as possible in all our activities on and off the water. To achieve this, we have established a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department that provides extensive training to our staff to ensure that our club fulfils the latest environmental requirements.

| GROUNDBREAKING

The Yacht Club de Monaco has emerged as a pioneer in the field of marine environmental preservation. We organize events such as ‘Monaco Smart Marina’ and ‘Monaco Smart Yacht’, and collaborate with various companies worldwide to transform the yachting industry and integrate it successfully into environmental requirements.

Yachting is a vital tourist industry that generates numerous jobs, making it important for us to preserve both the sea and the economy. Our challenge is to protect the planet through our actions while sustaining the yachting industry. The YCM supports 250 families, and we believe that a reasoned transition can only be achieved by adapting human activity.

To achieve this, we focus on developing yachting, optimising sailing and motor boats, and promoting the best possible balance while being sensitive to the environment and reducing the impact of human activity on our planet. For too long, we have neglected our beautiful blue oceans.

One of the highlights of the year was ‘A Day of Exploration’, which focused on the future of yachting and its innovative aspects. We also presented the ‘Explorer Awards’, which recognised yacht owners in three categories: ‘Technology & Innovations’, ‘Environment & Adventure’ and ‘Science’.

‘A Day of Exploration’ emphasised the importance of exploring little-known places and pushing boundaries while respecting nature and designing boats with minimal environmental impact. We are working on mapping the oceans and using cutting-edge technology to adapt to the environment while minimising our impact on future choices.

One of the priorities of our Sovereign and the YCM is to protect all environmental aspects of our planet.

What are the most significant changes that the Yacht Club will face in 2024?

Undoubtedly, the biggest change that the Yacht Club de Monaco will face concerns environmental protection. It is an imperative that we cannot ignore, and we are committed to making progress in this area with the help of technology.

The second significant change that the YCM is currently facing is related to the first and concerns the integration of digital technology into the world of yachting. When I first started sailing, boats moved at the speed of the wind. Now, they can move four or five times faster, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. As a result, we must adapt to this progress and its impact on the marine environment.

What is your secret to preserving the soul of YCM despite its significant growth?

Now that the Yacht Club de Monaco has reached its maximum capacity of 2,500 members, the key to preserving its soul is passion. All our members share a deep love and devotion for the sea and the boats that bring us together.

How can the Yacht Club de Monaco cultivate the next generation of enthusiasts?

This is an important question as today’s young people are often influenced by various distractions such as screens and video games, which can cause them to lose appreciation for hard work and an active lifestyle. To attract and inspire young people, we need to be innovative and think outside the box.

One example of our efforts to encourage the next generation of enthusiasts is the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, an annual event that encourages engineering students to work with industry professionals to develop clean propulsion systems for boats.

Another challenge is the inevitable digitalisation of today’s world. However, the aim is to get people to see modernity as a tool and not as a means of enslavement. The danger is that people consume information without questioning its origin. In today’s world, it is essential to scrutinise information as there is no longer any upstream control, making it easy to be manipulated by our screens and influenced in our consumption and leisure choices.

I believe that individuals need to think critically and do their own analysis. For example, if young people are driven by social media, they need to understand that they are no longer independent thinkers but consumers of preconceived ideas, which is a threat to a society that no longer values physical or intellectual endeavour.

What are your long-term plans for the YCM?

It is not an easy time to plan for the long term, especially in sailing. However, one area where we expect to see significant development is in boat design and technology. We are already seeing experimental boats with less traditional buoyancy, such as foiling, which reduces water resistance and allows higher speeds than traditional surfing. We expect this to become more and more common as technology develops.

The computer has enabled us to design boats that we could not have imagined before, as we now have the means to carry out complex studies on structural strength and other factors. This means that we can design robust boats without having to rely on excessive weight. The Tuiga, for example, contains 25 tonnes of lead, which require a lot of energy to move. Nowadays, boat stability is ensured by more than just weight and shape, which allows us to make technological improvements.

Young people are interested in alternatives that allow them to renew their yachting experience, and we see this as a great opportunity for the YCM.