The 10 best features of the exclusive Monaco Yacht Club

Discover the 10 best features of the glamorous Monaco Yacht Club. Monaco yacht charters are among the most spectacular experiences in the Mediterranean.

The Monaco Yacht Club is one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, with an invite-only membership committee that was convened by Prince Albert II himself. In existence since 1952, this elite yacht club has undergone an astonishing transformation in the past few years, with the development of a spectacular new clubhouse and world-class marina facilities in one of the world’s great ports.

Yet for all its elite pedigree and its unparalleled sense of glamour, the Monaco Yacht Club has one core purpose that is altogether more modest: to celebrate all things yachting. The club’s passion for the water manifests as a welcoming atmosphere for seafarers, which helps to attract approximately 1,600 members from all corners of the world. For superyacht Owners, yacht Captains, and purveyors of indulgent luxury, membership to the MYC offers access to these 10 glamorous features.

1. The stunning Lord Norman Foster-designed clubhouse.
   How many people can claim membership to a yacht club that was designed by a world-leading architect and an English lord? The new Monaco Yacht Club opened in 2014 to great acclaim, with its five ‘decks’ rising up over the superyachts in Port Hercules like the profile of a great ship. The building now offers superb views across to the palace, inland to Monte Carlo’s F1 racetrack, and out to the open sea.
2. Superb amenities.
   From the glass atrium lobby with a spiral staircase to the members’ only deck, nautical library, restaurant, and swimming pool, the facilities at the YCM cannot fail to impress. There’s also a members’ only gym, as well as a ballroom, meeting room and various bars onsite. For those wanting to stay at the club overnight before embarking on their Monaco yacht charter, there are four luxurious staterooms on an upper deck. Iterating the Yacht Club’s primary focus, the lower levels are dedicated to the Société Nautique (rowing club) and the YCM Sailing School.
3. A superyacht marina right on the doorstep.
   The YCM marina offers the ideal place to moor your yacht while on a Monaco yacht charter. Opened in 2013, the marina has 26 berths for yachts from 25m to 60m, with a pontoon for yacht tenders. The marina also provides the perfect launching pad for the sailing and rowing school activities, and hosts several regattas throughout the year.
4. High-end boutiques and brand partnerships.
   The Monaco Yacht Club offers members every fashionable commodity needed for a yachting experience. The YCM shopping gallery incorporates many designer boutiques, such as Rolex and Brooks Brothers. The yacht club has also created partnerships with the world’s leading luxury brands, including Hermes, Credit Suisse, Riva, Fendi and Moet Hennessy. Club members and visiting superyacht Owners will also enjoy facilities offered by Maserati, the YCM’s official car supplier.
5. A long history of royal patronage.
   Prince Rainier, continuing the grand European tradition of royal patronage of the finest yachting clubs, founded the Yacht Club de Monaco in 1953. Since 1984, HSH Prince Albert II has presided over the club, getting involved in the institution’s events and everyday life.
6. An exclusive network of foreign clubs.
   Twinned with 10 yacht clubs around the world and enjoying reciprocal agreements with 40 more, a membership at Monaco Yacht Club opens privileged doors across the seas. From Manhattan Yacht Club to the Royal Thames Yacht Club, the Costa Smerelda Yacht Club, and the Singapore Yacht Club, your YCM membership grants entry to the world’s best institutions.
7. A splendid schedule of yachting events.
   Regattas have been taking place in the Bay of Monaco since 1862, and the Monaco Yacht Club continues this tradition with gusto, with an action-packed calendar of yachting events right through the year. From the Winter Series for diehard sailors through to the fun-filled summer Fete de la Mer festival and the iconic Monaco Classic Week, the YCM celebrates all things yachting. It’s not all about sailing though- there’s also the fantastic Monaco Solar Boat Challenge for speedboat enthusiasts.
8. The right to fly the flag.
   As a member, your yacht can fly the Monaco Yacht Club burgee: one of the most prestigious and recognisable flags on the planet. In yachting circles, that little burgee accords you serious bragging rights.
9. Two YCM flagship yachts.
   The Monaco Yacht Club is the proud owner of two yachts, signifying the old and the new of the sailing world. Tuiga is a gorgeous 1909 William Fyfe gaff cutter, which represents the YCM at classic regattas throughout the Mediterranean, while Malizia, a foiling catamaran, represents the incredible speeds and daring of modern sailing.
10. The spectacular terraces.
    The Monaco Yacht Club has an incredible 4,000 square metres of terrace space, shaded by sail canvas and boom mechanisms and providing jaw-dropping views in all directions. It provides a spectacular place to gather to watch the Monaco Grand Prix or the Monaco Optima Race.
    The Monaco Yacht Club combines exceptional class, superb facilities, and a rich and proud sailing heritage. As a result, YCM membership is coveted throughout the yachting world.