The Yacht Club de Monaco is preparing for a busy season of international competition, innovation and environmental initiatives, with President His Serene Highness Prince Albert II unveiling a series of major projects during the Club’s annual summer reception for new members.
Around 30 new members were officially welcomed to the Club, which now brings together approximately 2,500 members from 82 countries. Addressing those in attendance, Prince Albert reaffirmed the Yacht Club’s dual identity as both a cornerstone of Monaco’s maritime heritage and an organisation with an increasingly global reach.
One of the highlights of the coming months will see the Yacht Club’s flagship classics, Tuiga (1909) and Viola (1908), embark on a prestigious tour of the United States’ East Coast. The vessels are scheduled to take part in the Sail4th 250 celebrations in New York, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, before continuing to renowned yacht clubs in Newport and Nantucket. The initiative is intended to showcase Monaco’s maritime traditions on the international stage.
Closer to home, attention now turns to the 13th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, which will take place from July 8 to 11. This year’s competition will welcome 52 teams representing 21 nations, bringing together university students, engineers, researchers and marine industry professionals to develop and test cleaner propulsion technologies for the future of yachting. Since its launch in 2014, the event has involved more than 6,500 students from around 50 universities worldwide, establishing itself as a leading laboratory for sustainable maritime innovation.
Education remains another key priority for the Club. Prince Albert highlighted the continued expansion of La Belle Classe Academy, whose internationally recognised training programmes are helping prepare the next generation of yachting professionals. Alongside specialist courses accredited by the Royal Yachting Association, the Academy also offers practical summer programmes introducing young people to navigation, safety at sea and marine careers. A new edition of the YCM Yachting Student Fair is also scheduled for March 2027, connecting students with employers across the industry.
Environmental responsibility continues to feature prominently in the Club’s strategy. Prince Albert announced further growth for the SEA Index, the environmental benchmarking system developed by the Yacht Club de Monaco to measure yacht emissions. The programme is set to expand its assessment criteria to include vessels from 10 metres in length as well as catamarans, significantly broadening its international scope while maintaining independent scientific standards. Additional ports are also expected to adopt the system as sustainable yachting gains momentum.
The Sovereign also paid tribute to Team Malizia, celebrating the offshore racing team’s tenth anniversary and recognising its contribution to combining elite sailing with climate research and environmental advocacy.
Concluding his address, Prince Albert encouraged members to continue working together to shape the future of yachting through innovation, education and environmental stewardship, reinforcing the Yacht Club de Monaco’s role as both an ambassador for the Principality and a driving force in the transformation of the global maritime sector.