Monaco Yacht Club’s racing members were present and correct for the Club’s annual awards ceremony, held during the traditional winter cocktail welcoming new members on December 18. HSH Prince Albert paid tribute to the results and team spirit of sailors. It was also an opportunity for the Club’s President to outline some of his convictions for the coming decade.

In the YCM Youth Awards 2019, which encourage talented youngsters, tributes were paid in the following categories:

Optimists: Noah Garcia, aged 13, for the progress he has made since he started sailing at Summer Camp in 2016, and finishing 2nd in the Monaco Optimist Team Race in 2019.

Laser: Jérémy Moutout, the 21-year-old Monegasque who leads the YCM competition team and is in the Monaco Sport Academy. He is involved in high-level Laser Standard competitions and has his sights set on the Olympics.

Nacra 15: Logan Viciana & Mathieu Choquet, both under-17, cut their teeth on Optimists and have only been competing in the Nacra 15 class for two years.

Kiteboarding: Alexander Ehlen who showed remarkable consistency throughout the year and finished 4th in the under-19s on the IKA Gold Cup World Series circuit.

YCM Awards 2019 for adult members, sailors recognised for best defending their Club are:

Smeralda 888: Prince Charles de Bourbon-Siciles who won the Smeralda 888 International Championship 2019.

J/70: Ludovico Fassitelli for his consistency and results in this highly competitive one-design class.

This year’s big winner of the Credit Suisse Trophy is Kostia Belkin, owner of the beautiful 1908 Fife-design gaff cutter Viola who has had an outstanding season.

In his speech to new members, HSH Prince Albert said: “As a new decade dawns, one that will be decisive for the future of our planet, this evening is also a precious moment to share with you some of my convictions.

“I believe that one of the key challenges over the next decade is addressing concerns over our climate. In accordance with the United Nations sustainable development programme to 2030, the next ten years should focus on ocean sciences to increase our knowledge and encourage technical innovation to – hopefully – reverse this decline in the health of our oceans.”

ORIGINAL SOURCE & PHOTOS: Monaco Yacht Club