Every two years, the Yacht Club of Monaco honours historic sailing and motor boats with the “Monaco Classic Week – La belle classe”, which can be admired on Quai Hirondelle (directly in front of the Yacht Club) since 8th November.
First and foremost is the SS Delphine, which has almost become a Monaco landmark with its large yellow funnel. Exactly one hundred years ago, the 78.6m long steam-powered yacht saw the light of day and has since survived a fire, running aground, a wartime deployment (as “USS Dauntless” by the US Navy in World War II) and even a complete shipwreck.
One of the last fully restored steamships in the world: the SS Delphine.
She would probably have completely disappeared into oblivion if the Belgian Jacques Bruynooghe had not purchased her in 1997 at a scrap price, restored her for almost 40 million euros and renamed her to her original name Delphine in a ceremony with Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. Since 2017, she has graced Monaco’s harbour and is available for charter to connoisseurs of classic boats.
Vintage sailboat Emilia at the Monaco Classic Remise
Emilia can still be admired at the Monaco Classic Week until tomorrow, alongside many other elegant ladies.
Marco Marchesi is a sailor who prefers to do it himself instead of being helped by engine power. Together with his friends, he brought Emilia from Imperia in Italy, where she had just presented her skills at the Vintage Sailing Regatta – despite her 92 years!
“We need to be at least ten people to move the 12-metre Lady – the more the better,” explains Marco about the team sport. Originally, Emilia was built on behalf of Senator Giovanni Agnelli (Fiat co-founder) as a gift to his sailing enthusiast son-in-law Giovanni Nasi, who however had to leave unexpectedly for South America and therefore never got to enjoy the wooden sailboat.
Unlike the Italian entrepreneur, who has been a resident of Monaco for more than 30 years and is next heading for the “Voiles d’Antibes”, a week-long sailing event in Antibes.
Johns among themselves: Marco (left) aka John with his friends, whose nicknames are also all John.
“Emilia’s furthest journey was all the way to Barcelona, where she met her sister ‘La Spina’ a few years ago,” an emotional moment the passionate sailor will never forget. La Spina was built by the architect Attilio Costaguta at the same time and in the same construction; the two “sisters” had not seen each other again since then.
Under board, the sprightly pensioner offers an astonishing amount of space: a large room with kitchen and storage space as well as another room with two cosy single beds and an equipped bathroom.
If you want to see the many old treasures for yourself, you still have the opportunity to do so until tomorrow. And there is no entrance fee, everyone is welcome, photos are even expressly desired.