The Yacht Club de Monaco invites you to the 17th Monaco Classic Week, which takes place from 9 to 13 September. Organised every two years since 1994, the event is dedicated to maritime heritage and the "Art de Vivre la Mer" lifestyle embodied by classic yachts. The event brings together around 100 historic vessels, including around 50 classic sailing yachts, 15 motor yachts, more than 60 vintage motorboats and a dozen one-off class dinghies. Participation is by invitation only and offers an extensive programme both on the water and on land.
Historical treasures in Monaco
The participating sailing yachts include true contemporary witnesses of the art of boat building. The three-master "Créole" (1927) and the "Invader" (1905) are expected, as are the schooner "Zaca" (1929), "Puritan" (1930) and "Elena of London" (2009). The Bermuda ketch "Manitou" (1937) and the gaff ketches "Viola" (1908) and "Partridge" (1885), which is celebrating its 140th anniversary, will be among the other historic sailing ships represented. The 15M yacht "Tuiga", built in 1909, was also announced, but had to cancel its participation due to the demasting at the Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época off Menorca.
Maritime diversity with history
Among the historic motor yachts, the "Kalizma" (1906, 46m) stands out, one of the oldest classic motor yachts still in operation, which once belonged to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The American steamship "SS Delphine" (1921, 79m) is also expected to be on display. The vintage motorboat fleet includes the "Scolopendra" (1903), "Triton" (1908) and "Lady Isabelle" (1930) as well as several Riva models, including the Riva Aquarama, which was launched in 1962. The field is completed by a dozen Dinghy 12' unit classes, which were Olympic in 1920 and epitomise the spirit of small, elegant leisure boats.
In addition to the regattas and nautical events in the bay of Roquebrune, an exhibition village open to the public offers space for painters, sculptors, photographers, boat builders and maritime craftsmen. As night falls, owners and crews continue the festivities in an elegant and friendly atmosphere.
Not only the most beautiful win
One of the highlights of the event is the La Belle Classe Restoration Prize, whose jury, chaired by British yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, assesses the quality of the restoration work on the ships, some of which are over a hundred years old. The Elegance Contest, chaired by Allegra Gucci, will judge etiquette, style and adherence to the "Art de Vivre la Mer" lifestyle at sea. The results of both competitions will decide the winner of the coveted Monaco Classic Week Trophy, which recognises restoration, elegance and a certain "spirit of yachting".
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.
