Monaco Classic Week: Race and look good - classic car biennial in Monegasque

For the 17th Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe, Port Hercule was transformed into an open-air maritime museum from 11 to 14 September 2025. Over 150 historic boats travelled to the Principality, including 40 classic sailing yachts, half of which are over a hundred years old, a dozen historic motor yachts, 70 vintage motorboats - including a record number of 50 Rivas - and a 20-boat fleet of 12-foot dinghies. The event, which has been held every two years since 1994, is a regatta and a gathering of classic boat enthusiasts who preserve maritime heritage.

Classic sailed hard off Monaco

On the first of two days, a steady westerly wind of 15 to 18 knots provided a good stage for the fleet of over forty yachts, many of which are over a hundred years old, to show that they have lost none of their performance or their will to win. With hard-fought starts, tacking duels and fast spinning manoeuvres, the "sailing pieces of furniture" proved that they are still perfectly suited to serious racing.

The following day the wind was a little gentler, which made for even tighter fields. The winners included "Olympian" (1913) - one of four P-Class yachts - in the Vintage Gaff class, "Falcon" (1930) in the Vintage Marconi class, "One Wave" (1948) in the Marconi B class, "Mariska" (1908) in the Big Boats class, "Argynne III" (1955) in the Classic Marconi class and "Oliver" in the 12' Dinghy class.

For anyone looking across the bay, it was like travelling back in time. "Partridge" (1885), which was celebrating its 140th birthday, "Viola" (1908) with Marie Tabarly on board and "Mariska" (1908) proved that age has no influence on performance. "It's not a traditional regatta as all the boats are historic. They take part in the races, but they also come together and have a great time together. These boats have stories to tell and I think we must continue to share this passion," emphasised Bernard d'Alessandri, Secretary General of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Elegance and etiquette in show driving

Part of the Monaco Classic Week-La Belle Classe is also the "Concours d'Élégance", a kind of beauty contest known as a gathering of classic automobiles. At the "Concours d'Élégance", yachts and their crews presented themselves to the judges positioned on the Quai Lucciana. They were judged on the beauty of their lines, the clothing of the crew and their adherence to maritime etiquette.

"It's very important that we continue to show young people what was done in the past. We want to find out what condition these boats are in, not only how they have been maintained over the years, but also how they are maintained today. At the time they were built, they represented the pinnacle of technology for harnessing wind to power boats," said Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, chairman of the judging panel for the La Belle Classe Restoration Prize, which was won by GL Watson's 36-foot cutter Peggy Bawn.

"Mariette of 1915" was convincing all along the line

The gaff schooner "Mariette of 1915" of the "Wizard of Bristol" Nathanaël G. Herreshoff, was crowned the grand winner. With her sail area of 807 square metres on the wind and her 39.78-metre hull, she impressed the jury and won the Monaco Classic Week Trophy 2025. The excellent state of preservation thanks to impeccable maintenance, the owner's loyalty to the captain over the last 20 years, the extensive documentation about the boat in book form and the willingness to regularly bring sailors on board and train them alongside the permanent crew were decisive factors in the decision.

Results Monaco Classic Week 2025

Big Boat Group:

• 1st Mariska (1908)
• 2 Hallowe'en (1926)
• 3. Mariella (1938)

Classic Marconi:

• 1st Argynne III (1955)
• 2. Brynhilde (1958)
• 3. sardonyx (1957)

Vintage Marconi:

• 1st Falcon (1930)
• 2 Anne Sophie (1938)
• 3rd Carron II (1934)

Vintage Marconi B:

• 1. one wave (1948)
• 2nd Suzette (1930)
• 3 Irene VIII (1935)

Vintage Gaff:

• 1st Olympian (1913)
• 2. chips (1913)
• 3rd Viola (1908)

Dinghy 12':

• 1st Oliver - Antonio Iacometti (ITA)
• 2nd Blu Amnesia - Federico Pilo Pais (ITA)
• 3rd No Way - Alessandro Pedone (MON)

Monaco Classic Week Trophy - Rolex:

• 1st Mariette of 1915

Mairie de Monaco Prize:

• 1st Partridge (1885) - Jean-Raymond Boule

La Belle Classe Original Price:

• 1 Peggy Bawn (1894)

Elegance competition - BMW:

• Classic sailing yacht: Mariska (1908)
• Coup de cœur elegance competition: Anne-Sophie (1938)