Monaco Yacht Club

From Rainier I (raised to the rank of Admiral of France in 1304), through Prince Honoré II (owner of four ships for the King of France), Prince Albert I (the oceanographer prince), Prince Rainier III (a great yachting enthusiast and founder of the Yacht Club de Monaco) and Prince Albert II, President of the YCM since 1984, the passion and practice of yachting have been perpetuated within the princely dynasty.

The first regattas were organised in the Principality in 1862 and, in 1888, Prince Albert I founded the Société des Régates with twelve Monegasque members to organise races and "promote, encourage and develop the water sports of sailing and rowing". Monaco then became one of the top winter resorts for the great international fortunes that ensured the success of the sport.

In 1953, Prince Rainier III founded the Yacht Club de Monaco, an offshoot of the Société des Régates, which organised a number of annual international events: the International Snipes Tournament, the Golden Losange Trophy, the International Mediterranean Star Class Championship, the Monaco International Motorboat Meetings and Big Game Fishing.

In 1984, Hereditary Prince Albert was appointed President of the Club by his father. In 1995, the Yacht Club de Monaco acquired and refurbished Tuiga, a 28-metre schooner built in 1909 in Scotland, which became its flagship yacht.

Since 1994, the Club has organised the biennial "Monaco Classic Week" to welcome and race old racing yachts.