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15 March 2024

Yacht Club de Monaco: L’Art de Vivre la Mer

Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting

Elena GIolai/SLAM

background

It was back in the early 1990s when SLAM began its partnership with the Yacht Club de Monaco. We first supported them during the historic‘Primo Cup’ regatta, an event that has always featured the most popular and fashionable one-design boats. Ever since, we have shared the commitment of the club chaired since 1984 by H.S.H. Prince Albert II to promoting activities aimed at the next generation of sailors and education regarding sustainability.

The Primo Cup and the One Design Sailing Tradition 

The Primo Cup Trophée UBS, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024, marks the opening of the one-design season on the Mediterranean as winter leaves the helm to Spring: while the J/70, Cape 31, Longtze Premier and Smeralda 888 crews competed in Monaco's waters, the Yacht Club de Monaco hosted SLAM’s pop-up store, featuring customized regatta merchandise and the exclusive PRO line created for the most demanding sailors and boating enthusiasts.

Educating the Next Generation of Sailors 

Over the course of these years, the Yacht Club de Monaco and SLAM have shared a vision centered around the education of young sailors, with the Optimist Academy  and sporting events organized for Optimist children and younger sailors, with a particular focus on team racing and team events that develop those fundamental technical, tactical and social skills that will be of key importance as they grow up. Also scheduled for 2024 was the Optimist European Team Race Championship, which saw the very best in the class competing against one another as they tack, mock tack, gybe and race back again.

Promoting Inclusion in Women’s Sailing 

The club's attention is also focused on inclusion in the world of women's sailing, a theme also addressed by Olympic and Ocean (and now America's Cup) sailors including Francesca Clapcich. In March 2024, Monaco hosted a regatta held on the J70 monotype, reserved exclusively for women, to redouble efforts to promote the more social aspects of the sport, shining a spotlight on the world of female sailors.

Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

The Yacht Club de Monaco's commitment to eco-sustainability is also fully shared by SLAM: in 2024 the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge saw its 11th edition taking place, a unique powerboat event dedicated to inspiring a sustainable future of alternative energy. The club will transform into a research and development hub for yachting, driving the creativity of tomorrow’s engineers and professionals specializing in all propulsion systems that use clean energy. 

 

SLAM and the Yacht Club de Monaco have sailed many miles together, renewing their commitment year after year towards new goals, all while upholding their passion for the sea as a shared core value. A passion that unites all yachting enthusiasts under the Yacht Club de Monaco's claim, 'L’Art de Vivre la Mer'. 

Want to find out how activities for young sailors are organized at the Yacht Club de Monaco?

Read our interview with Paolo Ghione, Yacht Club de Monaco’s Competitive Performance Teams Manager
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