monaco yacht club monaco

• Tapas and Dali with Ease: EasyJet’s Nice-Madrid Route Brings Spain Closer to Monaco
• Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series – Act I: Monegasques reign at home
• In a crazy end to the match, AS Monaco come back to beat Strasbourg!
• How Monaco’s Fontvieille Footbridge Brings Walkable Dreams Closer
• «Her Name Was Grace Kelly» Intimate Revelations Portray the True Humanity of Princess Grace

• Princely news

€ 25.00 Add to cart

Monaco Yacht Club: An Exclusive Oasis For Marine Lovers

Looking down on the Yacht Club from Monaco’s exclusive seawater Spa, “ Thermes Marins ”, the new club-house really is a magnificent icon of multi-decked architecture – inaugurated in 2014 and designed by internationally renowned architect Lord Norman Foster.

Only in the Principality’s marina could you confuse this giant structure for the yachts around it that it resembles – a yacht mirage with a gorgeous deck with luxurious swimming pool and terraces for dancing. Splendid enough for meetings of the most discerning yacht enthusiasts, including the glitterati and “Three Comma” billionaires that frequent it.

Yachts Beyond the Reach of Mere Mortals

Some of the largest and most expensive yachts in the world dock here to take in the city’s pleasures, particularly during the iconic Monaco Yacht Show. You can wander around marvelling at all of the gadgets designers can inlay on these boats like the 348-foot-long AMADEA one of the largest and most distinctive superyachts in the world with its six distinctive guest decks. Or perhaps gaze at the 365-foot-long TIS, one of the largest and most regal yachts to be launched this year.

These superyachts, like the Yacht Club itself are like private islands and wouldn’t look out of place in a James Bond movie. If billionaires Bernard Arnault or Larry Page or Larry Ellison come calling, Monaco Yacht Club sets the stage perfectly.

Home of the Grimaldi Dynasty

For over 600 years from the 12th century onwards, the Grimaldi stronghold at Port Hercule, including where the Yacht Club now preens itself, was one of the prized naval assets on the Mediterranean. Its strategic location served more than once to change the course of history.

It was around the time of the reign of Charles III of Monaco that the Principality’s reputation as an international haven of luxury and wealth took off. And Charles III had the vision to encourage the development of Monaco as a magnet for international regattas of renown to which the world flocked.

Historic Regatta Heaven

The first of these regattas were held in the bay of Monaco in 1862, so successful that in 1888 the “Société des Régates” was established by Prince Charles III and his son Prince Albert I , affectionately known as the “Oceanographer Prince”.

Almost a century of famous regattas preceded the founding in 1953 by Prince Rainier and presided over by Prince Albert II since 1984, the Yacht Club de Monaco. The Club brings together more than 2000 members from 66 nationalities. Many of the world’s most prestigious private yachts fly the Yacht Club de Monaco’s burgee, testimony to its unique position in the International yachting world.

Prince Albert’s Presidency

In April 1984, with Prince Albert’s Presidency, he developed new international events such as the Primo Cup, the biggest gathering of monotype yachts in the Mediterranean Sea. Prince Albert also put emphasis on classic Yachting with the organization from 1994 of the Monaco Classic Week for vintage and classic yachts, the Prada Challenge for Classic Yachts.

Notably, it was the first visit of Atlantic 2010 (replica of the 1903 three-mast schooner on which Charlie Barr in 1905 set the best time for an Atlantic crossing) to the Principality. Another icon, the SS Delphine (1921) steam-boat made a welcome return. It was aboard this beauty that three world leaders, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill, negotiated at least part of the 1945 Yalta Agreement.

Yacht Seasons are typically opened with ultra-private concerts at YCM with celebrities like Sir Elton John in 2016, Duran Duran in 2017, and Sting last year. It was yet another global star Lionel Richie singing “All Night Long” this September who delighted the many boat owners and YCM members. “All Night Long” was attended by YCM President, Prince Albert II and a host of international personalities including actor-producer Samuel L. Jackson, basketball legend Magic Johnson, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and fashion designer Domenico Dolce, one of the two behind the eponymous brand D&G.

Regatta and Sports Heaven with a Golden Future

The Monaco Yacht Club from its beginnings embraced and has nurtured a prestige Regatta program that has accelerated and taken on new dimensions under Prince Albert’s Presidency.

It is worth mentioning the Primo Cup again as it has quickly established itself as the big meeting that opens the season in the Mediterranean for Europe’s one-design elite. Just a few other examples of stand-out Regattas enjoyed by YCMmembers include:

Monaco Swan One Design,  (9th-13th April 2019) organized in conjunction with the Yacht Club de Monaco,  was the first event in the 2019 Nations Trophy Mediterranean League.

Monaco Globe Week with the IMOCA 60  – 60-foot monohulls being among the fastest modern racing monohulls have raced on a course totalling 1,300 nautical miles embracing some of the most emblematic marks in the Western Mediterranean.

Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series  offers a monthly programme alternating high level regattas and training weekends for onedesigns.

As well as the Primo Cup another innovation worth a double mention here is  Monaco Classic Week. Persuaded that the reading of the past holds keys for the future Prince Albert fostered the creation and coordination during five years of a unique circuit for vintage and classic yachts, the Prada Challenge for Classic Yachts, without forgetting the acquisition of Tuiga in 1995, since becoming the flagship of the YCM. More recently the wave continued with the launching in 2005 of the “La Belle Classe” label.

The whole yachting world continues to look to Monaco to organize its most prestigious events. Within the last 12 months, 200 guests from the America’s Cup community from around the world gathered at the Yacht Club de Monaco to celebrate the launch of  the Prada Cup – the Challenger Selection Series for the 36th America’s Cup  to be presented by Prada in January 2021 in Auckland – deemed as “ the quest for oldest trophy in sport ”, the America’s Cup. Not to forget  World Rowing with the  Prince Albert II Challenge , a 6000m coastal race organised by the Societe Nautique de Monaco.

The Enthusiasm and Promise of Monaco’s Youth at YCM

Looking to the future is the Monaco Sports Academy which provides support to gifted young Monaco sailors and sportsmen taking on the world. The Academy is a close collaboration between the Yacht Club de Monaco, presided by Prince Albert and its General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri, and Philippe Ghanem who is an active member of the Club. They share a common goal: to help young athletes living in Monaco reach the highest level in sport.

Also founded in 1970 by Prince Rainier III, the Sports Section of Y.C.M. adapts training to youngsters from as young as age six from initiation to competition and at every age.

Look out for the Monaco Optimist Team Race from 9-12 January 2020. The regatta is reserved for 20 teams of young sailors, all under 14. YCM invites the most competitive clubs with emphasis on tactics and above all team-work.

Full of youthful energy and promise is  the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge  next held on 30 June-4 July 2020. The Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with the International Powerboating Federation (UIM) and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation organises the Solar & Energy Boat Challenge which is unique in the world.

How to become a new member of the Yacht Club

Anyone wishing to become a member of the Yacht Club de Monaco needs to be introduced by two “sponsors” from YCM. The sponsor’s letter of introduction will explain the applicant’s motives for joining the Club. Prince Albert, President of the Yacht Club, presides over the meetings of the admissions’ committee. The role of the sponsor is essential. The latter, must integrate him into the life of the Yacht Club, accompany him, present him to the other members but also involve him in organized events, whether they be social or sports.

The sponsor also undertakes to ensure that his “protégé” embraces the YCM’s philosophy and values, will actively engage in the Club’s life and keep its reputation at the pinnacle.

A Regal Club and Natural Host of Prestigious Events

The Yacht club reaches well beyond being a club for owners of yachts and superyachts. It is actually an immense infrastructure akin to a multi-tiered island that organises not only events connected to the yachts and regattas but also all kind of sports and social events, dances and entertainment. High society balls, conferences, exclusive business gatherings and prestigious auctions are just part of the kaleidoscope of activity.

The members of the club and their guests have at their disposition restaurants with Michelin Star chefs (including the exclusive 1909) gyms and a library – and a spa-zone, not to mention the gorgeous pool and terraces overlooking the azure bay. There is a truly great bar, a hive of social contact, with an international reputation and winner of awards for its unique cocktails and the skills of its bar staff. Endless discovery is to be found in each private niche of this island-club.

Related Articles

How the Yacht Club de Monaco Became the World’s Most Exclusive Club—And What’s Next

• Rachel Ingram
• October 10, 2024

Yacht Club de Monaco © MC-Clic / Soirée d'intronisation Yacht Club de Monaco

As yacht club de monaco celebrates a decade in its new building and 40 years of hsh prince albert ii’s presidency, we discover what’s on the horizon for the fabled nautical hub..

The Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier and presided over by HSH Prince Sovereign Albert II since 1984, brings together more than 2,500 members from across the globe. Many of the world’s most prestigious private yachts fly the club’s burgee, which is testimony to its elite position on the international yachting scene.

In 2014, the club moved into its current location in a yacht-inspired clubhouse, designed by esteemed architect Sir Norman Foster. It’s since become not only a hub for the global yachting industry, but a centre for innovation and sustainability.

As YCM celebrates its 10-year anniversary in the building, the club’s general secretary Bernard d’Alessandri talks us through some of the key accomplishments of the last decade—and what we can expect in the coming years.

What does this key milestone signify for YCM?

Bernard d’Alessandri: The past 10 years reflect the diversity of actions undertaken by the Club, which has become a reference in the yachting world. The building designed by Lord Foster has proved to be an exceptional tool serving our dual missions: as a private yacht club dedicated to its 2,500 members, and through our public service remit to put Monaco on the global nautical map.

We offer many more services and activities to our members, who see the Club as a home from home for all the family, while also being a communication platform for professionals working in the sector. On both levels, YCM unites all those who love the sea, whether sailing, cruising or just messing about on boats, but crucially also those committed to protecting the environment, shaping yachting’s future and promoting the Principality and its influence internationally.

Monaco has always been a major yachting destination, and YCM plays a key role in preserving the “Art de Vivre la Mer”, encompassing naval etiquette, solidarity, fine cuisine, environmental protection and maritime heritage. These are values that drive YCM’s La Belle Classe label, which extends beyond the membership to unite owners and all yachting stakeholders.

Central to our vision for the future is a long-standing environmental policy that informed the design of the Clubhouse and the advanced facilities we have. YCM now hosts many more international regattas and hundreds of crews, enhancing the appeal of yachting. Through its La Belle Classe Academy training centre, it supports industry professionals in their careers. As a nautical hub, it strengthens relationships between key yachting players who freely exchange ideas on current topics at the many conferences we organise here.

What are your proudest moments from the last decade?

One of our defining accomplishments in this field is the annual Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (12th edition: July 1st-5th). Since its launch in 2014 it has gone from strength to strength to be a cornerstone for promoting alternative propulsion systems and sustainable yachting solutions. It attracts both young engineers and key industry players, fostering collaboration and pushing the boundaries of what’s technologically possible.

A notable example is the recent partnership between Vita and Evoy, who met at the YCM just one year prior to their announcement and together are now Europe’s leader in high-power electric marine propulsion for inboard and outboard applications. Synergies like this underscore the pivotal role YCM plays in driving innovation and shaping the yachting industry’s future. The sector is on the brink of a major transition and we are actively participating in it. We place great emphasis on building the future with the new generation. We also support yacht owners in this transition, a prime example being the development and roll-out of the SEA Index®, most recently into 15 marinas between Menton, Saint-Tropez and Bonifacio in Corsica and Monaco, including both YCM Marina and the Ports of Monaco (SEPM).

I’m also proud of our Club’s international influence. YCM is regularly cited as an example and sought after by other destinations who want to draw inspiration from our structures and values. This is how we set up and developed La Belle Classe Destinations, a label that allows us to establish a standard of excellence in terms of the quality of facilities, services and events offered. The ambition is to establish an exclusive network of yacht clubs and marinas that fully respects the unique character of each destination while promoting sustainable yachting on an international scale.

Why has it been so important for the club to drive innovation and sustainability?

In the past decade, the Yacht Club de Monaco has indeed evolved into more than just a hub for the global yachting industry; it has become a beacon for innovation and sustainability. This transformation was crucial because we recognise that the future of yachting and our planet hinges on our ability to innovate and adopt sustainable practices. The yachting industry is at a pivotal moment where cutting-edge technology and eco-awareness must go hand in hand.

This is where the annual Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous (4th edition, September 22nd-23rd) has a critical role to play. It’s another major YCM initiative, alongside the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, that fosters dialogue and synergies between the 250+ delegates that attend, all key stakeholders and experts in the marina, real estate and technology sectors. Discussions focus on promoting and progressing smart sustainable marinas, thereby advancing solutions that benefit not just the yachting community but the wider maritime industry.

It’s not just about keeping pace with change but about leading it. We believe that by championing innovation and sustainability, we are not only preserving the beauty of the oceans but also securing the future of yachting for generations to come. This commitment is reflected in every initiative we undertake, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact we are making.

What are your key aspirations for the next 10 years to come?

My wish is that the Club continues its momentum and remains a major player in the yachting world and the environmental transition. I hope the industry will continue its eco-responsible evolution and become a model to follow. I hope that at my level and with my means, I will have contributed to this change. Above all I want to share my passion for yachting with the new generation, who are the key to everything.

Regulations are changing rapidly, and we must be ready to adapt. For Monaco, yachting plays a crucial role. We want to continue to promote this activity, but not in its current form. It’s imperative to find ways to reduce fuel consumption, to embrace innovation and to focus on the significant contributions of the younger generation. We need to show that we are actively driving change.

I’m optimistic about the future. For too long we have neglected the oceans. Now it’s time to act. The process will be long and hard, but we are not alone. We are working with renowned proactive organisations such as the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Together we can make significant progress towards a sustainable future for yachting and marine conservation.

Thinking about the future also means inspiring vocations through transmission, particularly by encouraging young people to learn to race. We have two remarkable ambassadors: Tuiga, celebrating thirty years under the YCM pennant during Monaco Classic Week (September 10th-13th, 2025), and Malizia, the IMOCA yacht of Team Malizia initiated by YCM vice-president Pierre Casiraghi and skippered by Boris Herrmann, who will line up on the start on November 10th for his second consecutive Vendée Globe—the world’s greatest solo, non-stop and unassisted sailing race. YCM will also be proudly participating in the Admiral’s Cup in July 2025, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in sailing.

We want to inspire the new generation to ensure they enjoy going to sea. Our ultimate goal is to create momentum and a genuine project for the new generation. Young people need to know that they can build a career in yachting, and we are here to support them.

RECENT POSTS

Plates are Works of Art at Stockholm’s Newest Fine Seafood Restaurant

‘The White Lotus’ and the Four Seasons Are Teaming up to Offer—What Else—’White Lotus’ Experiences

6 Ways Technology Will Transform Your Private-Jet Experience in the Next Decade

Robbreportmonaco.com article, related posts.

How Fashion Houses and Jewellers Are Giving Swiss Watchmakers a Run for Their Money

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse on this website, you accept the use of cookies for the above purposes.

Yacht Club de Monaco: more than a yacht club

Home Environment Yacht Club de Monaco: more than a yacht club

Established by Prince Rainier III in 1953, the Yacht Club de Monaco is the emblem of Monegasque yachting. Since 2014, it has had its own emblematic building, a striking piece of architecture by Britain’s Norman Foster.

With its sleek lines and architecture reminiscent of an ocean liner, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s headquarters building never fails to provoke a reaction. Officially unveiled in 2014, it was designed by Pritzker Prize winner Norman Foster.

“This building has been designed like a miniature city, integrated into the existing urban landscape of Monaco,” explains the architect, who was also behind the Millennium Bridge (2000), Millau Viaduct (2004), Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona (2007) and Vieux Port in Marseille (2013).

Chaired since 1984 by Prince Albert II , the Yacht Club de Monaco, with its 2,000 members representing 60 nationalities and prestigious yachts , illustrates Monaco’s historic role in the world of yachting .

The first regattas organised in the Principality date back to 1862, while the first international motorboat races – which arrived with the development of the first combustion engines – were contested in Port Hercule in 1904.

Today, the Yacht Club de Monaco organises a number of regattas, such as Monaco Classic Week, the Primo Cup and, more recently, the Monaco Solar and Energy Boat Challenge One.

“As part of our ‘Monaco, capital of yachting’ project, through this event the Principality helps to bring together manufacturers, engineers, shipyards, students and ship owners to share their experiences and respond to the energy and environmental challenges facing the nautical sector,” says Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary General of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

The YCM has two influential ambassadors: Le Tuiga, considered by sailor Eric Tabarly to be “one of the most beautiful yachts in the world”, takes part in major classic yacht events, while the Seaexplorer (formerly Malizia II) , the eco-friendly vessel that took Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic in summer 2019 to attend the UN Climate Summit, finished fifth in the Vendée Globe 2020, the first time it has taken part in the race.

• Hispanoamérica
• Work at ArchDaily
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Hospitality Architecture

Yacht Club de Monaco / Foster + Partners

• Architects: Foster + Partners
• Area Area of this architecture project Area:  26550 m²
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2014
• Photographs Photographs: Nigel Young / Foster + Partners , YCM | Carlo Borlenghi
• Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:   Franken-Schotter , Basaltina
• Main Contractor : Engeco , SGTM , SOBEAM
• Structural Engineer : OGER International
• Mechanical & Electrical Engineer : OGER International

• Curated by ArchDaily
• Design Team:  Norman Foster, Spencer de Grey, David Nelson, Nigel Dancey, Patrick Campbell, Ivan Kaye, David Summerfield, James Barnes, Ulrich Hamann, Hugh Stewart, Annamaria Anderloni, Katy Roach
• Collaborating Architect:  Cabinet Alexandre Giraldi, Alexandri Giraldi, Thierry Aresi
• Cost Consultant:  Artelia
• Lighting Consultant:  Claude Engle
• Client:  Service des Travaux Publics, Principauté de Monaco
• Country:  Monaco

Text description provided by the architects. The yacht club is the symbolic centrepiece of the Monaco's remodelled harbour front. It celebrates the principality's spectacular coastline and its nautical heritage, creating a series of deck-like terraces that step up along the harbour to offer unrivalled views out to races at sea or inland over the course of the renowned Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. Located on an area of reclaimed land, the development extends the city's existing marina eastwards and can accommodate a range of craft, from sailing boats to 100-metre super yachts.

The club is entered via a glazed atrium that frames views out over the harbour to the palace. On the first floor are a clubroom, bar and restaurant

Above is a double-height function space, and above that an apartment for the club secretary and a series of 'cabins' for visiting guests. The uppermost floors accommodate a range of event spaces. The observation decks are shaded by retractable fabric screens supported by a mast and booms. The harbour elevations are fully glazed and shaded by louvres, and can be opened up to provide uninterrupted views. Photovoltaic cells, solar thermal panels and sea-water cooling systems have all been integrated to ensure the building sets new sustainability standards, in line with Monaco's environmental ambitions.

The scheme also introduces shops and other amenities at quay level to animate the harbour.

The lower floors accommodate a rowing club and sailing school, whose sliding doors encourage activities to spread out on to the quayside. Designed largely for children, the school provides classrooms, workshops and lofts for small boats. Inland, there is a landscaped park on the roof of the sailing school and nautical society. Bounded on one side by the club's restaurant terrace and leading on the other side to a new exhibition hall, it complements the sequence of green spaces in this densely populated city and forms a new link in the pedestrian route between the quayside and Casino Square.

Project gallery

Project location

Address: monte carlo, monaco.

Materials and Tags

• Sustainability

世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!

想浏览archdaily中国吗, you've started following your first account, did you know.

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.

Check the latest Drinks Cabinets

Check the latest Bistro Tables