Monaco Classic Week - La Belle Classe

Maritime heritage

Monaco Classic Week is a voyage through time that tells the story of the Yacht Club de Monaco's tireless commitment to sailing maritime heritage.

This biennial event created in 1994 harks back to the very first motor boat 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

Amateurs and novices alike can admire these fantastic boats from a number of points overlooking Monegasque waters, including the Rainier III Auditorium, the Rainier III Solarium, the Jardins Saint Martins, or for a front row seat, from the Terraces of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Set sail for a unique experience.