At the end of a busy year, with YCM sailors competing all over the world, the Yacht Club de Monaco, under the aegis of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, paid tribute to the Club’s best sailors at the annual YCM Awards – Trophée Credit Suisse.
“Our Yacht Club is resolutely turned towards the sea; you are the proud representatives. In the yachting world, sailing is our showcase, and your performances are a reflection of that.” With these words, the YCM’s President opened the ceremony which rewards youngsters in the Sports Section in the Optimist and Laser categories, and full members, owners/helmsmen, who have best represented the Club during the past year. It is also an opportunity to present the Club’s major events for the 2018 sailing season.
Pierre Casiraghi voted YCM Sailor of the Year
The Club’s 2,000 members voted Pierre Casiraghi YCM Sailor of the Year for 2017. After two years on the GC32 circuit, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s Vice-President launched into offshore racing aboard Malizia II, an IMOCA 60’ which joined the Monegasque fleet in June 2017. It proved to be a highly successful year, including 3rd place in the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race.
Proof of how dynamic the Monegasque fleet is, the Vice-President was competing for votes with other YCM owners/helmsmen who also graced the podiums in 2017: Lord Laidlaw, Vladimir Prosikhin, Vincenzo Onorato (title holder), Orel Kalomeni, Kostia Belkin and Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio.
YCM Young sailors in the spotlight
In line with the Yacht Club de Monaco’s sailing policy, this ceremony celebrates the upcoming young generation’s achievements. It was an opportunity to salute the season of Logan Viciana, who leads the 23-strong Monegasque Optimist team. He won the YCM Youth Awards Trophée Credit Suisse for the sum of his results, which included qualifying the Club for the World Championships in Thailand.
For the second year running, Jérémy Moutout was recognised for his performances during 2017, his first year in the Olympic Laser Standard class. Third in the French Internationals at Quiberon, he also won the seven-stage Mediterranean Championship.
It was an evening that brought families together at the Club and welcomed 40 new full members, an ideal opportunity to present the 2018 race calendar. New this year:
The first Monaco Swan One Design (27-31 March 2018) which opens the Nations Trophy Mediterranean League 2018. Teams will be competing over four days in the ClubSwan 42, Swan 45 and ClubSwan 50 one-design classes. “Sharing timeless values with the Swan series, a subtle essence of elegance and performance, the YCM is pleased to open its doors to this prestigious class,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM General Secretary. The regatta marks the start of the 2018 Mediterranean circuit before Sail Racing Palmavela, the Giraglia Rolex Cup and the Copa del Rey.
The first Monaco Globe Series (1-8 June 2018) will bring together a fleet of IMOCA 60-foots for a 1,400nm offshore race. Teams will start in Monaco and head down Corsica’s west coast, before being propelled through the Strait of Bonifacio to Palermo in Sicily, returning to the Principality via the Balearics. A new race for double-handers it will also count as a qualifier for the Vendée Globe, the Everest of offshore racing.
HSH Prince Albert II concluded: “These two events give a whole new dimension to our ambitions while also positioning our Club at the forefront of the international sailing scene.”
2018 already has its heels in the starting blocks with the 9th Monaco Optimist Team Race regatta from 11-14 January for youngsters from foreign clubs, and a few days later (19-21 January) Act IV of the monthly Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series for one-designs.
