A perfect day was in store for the Classic Sailing Yacht Race with more than sixty vessels of which 12 were Big Boats of more than 25m, including Belem (1896), French three-mast awarded historic monument status; Alcyon 1871, an exact replica of a Marseille race boat which won in Monaco in 1882; Over the Rainbow (35m, 1930), completely restored by Jean-Michel Folon when he was the owner; and the four 15M IR yachts: Mariska (1908), Hispania (1909) and The Lady Anne (1912), eternal rivals of the Monaco Yacht Club flagship Tuiga (1909).

The races see gaff rigs, sloops, yawls and schooners competing together, and a fine spectacle is guaranteed as the Race Committee alternates starts according to the type of rig and not by the rating…

Photos by: Celina Lafuente de Lavotha