Monaco Classic Week - La Belle Classe

The 17th Monaco Classic Week - La Belle Classe promises to be a real high point of the yachting calendar, celebrating the unique marriage of nautical heritage and Mediterranean lifestyle.

More than just a yacht meeting, the event carries on maritime traditions by preserving age-old craftsmanship and the art of sailing. True to the “art of living the maritime life”, a philosophy espoused by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the event encourages vessel owners and crews to come together in a spirit of friendship, embodying the elegance and refinement that are the Monegasque way.

Maritime heritage

This biennial event created in 1994 harks back to the very first motorboat meetings of 1904, and is the only gathering of its kind to bring together the most beautiful traditional sailing boats, with vintage motor-yachts and old motorboats. The last four editions have also featured a fleet of 20′ Dinghies, a catboat-rigged Olympic monohull with a lug sail.

An exceptional fleet

Uniquely among Mediterrean traditional yacht meetings, Monaco Classic Week brings together a highly exclusive line-up of classic sailing and motor yachts, selected and invited by the Yacht Club de Monaco.

For owners, delighted to be together and sharing their passion, it was a more intimate format with only sailing yachts built before 1950 with a wooden mast being able to drop anchor in the YCM Marina.

The wind of competition

Faithful to the unique spirit of the event, as popular as ever, the Yacht Club de Monaco will once again be hosting both parades and competitions, including:

Regattas, races, and manœuvrability competitions, for the different categories. In 2021, the event included a round trip to Ventimiglia and the new Cala del Forte marina, around 8 nautical miles from the port of Monaco.

The Prix de la Restauration rewards the quality of catering aboard these vessels, some of which are more than a century old.

The Concours des Chefs is a modest competition for the chefs aboard each of the yachts taking part, who are provided with a basket of ingredients. Importantly, no two boats have the same galley layout or equipment.

The Concours d’Elégance judges the style, class, and harmony of the crews and their boats.  Sailing yachts, motor yachts, and canots sail past the pier where the jury sits, their crews using all their imagination to harmonise their outfits and movements with their vessel's standing.

The Trophée Monaco Classic Week is the crowning accolade presented to the boat and crew that best meet all of the criteria, from catering to elegance.

Where to see them

Whether you know your bowline from your cleat hitch or are a novice in all things nautical, you can admire these fantastic boats from a number of points overlooking Monegasque waters, including the Rainier III Auditorium, the Rainier III Solarium, the Saint Martin Gardens, or for a front row seat, the Terraces of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

For the full programme, visit the official Monaco Classic Week website.

Set sail for a unique experience.