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Honouring forward-looking owners

  • 23 March 2023
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3rd YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts | Thursday 23rd March 2023

Reflections on conserving and protecting the marine environment took centre stage during Monaco Ocean Week, organised on the initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation alongside the Monaco Government, Monaco Oceanographic Institute and Monaco Scientific Centre. At this year’s event, Yacht Club de Monaco ran the debates again for the superyacht sector, on Thursday 23rd March, a highlight of which is the YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts, held under the collective Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting brand.

This year, in paying tribute to a long tradition of exploration and innovation initiated by Prince Albert I and the strong links he had with music, the meeting opened with pianist Vincent Forestier and violinist Fabrizio Von Arx playing a 1720 Stradivarius, ‘The Angel’, an exceptional, rare instrument reflecting the unique-of-its-kind 3rd YCM Explorer Awards.

Recognising eco-committed owners

“In this 70th anniversary year of the Yacht Club de Monaco, it is a pleasure to be here among so many passionate owners who stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment,” said HSH Prince Albert II at the opening of the awards ceremony. The meeting recognises men and women who are true explorers, by making their onboard laboratories and data collected available to research and science, perpetuating the YCM’s fundamental Art de Vivre la Mer values.

“It is your passion that leads to your investment in innovation and contributes to yachting’s development,” continued the Sovereign. Since 2019, YCM has paid tribute to those who honour the long tradition initiated by Prince Albert I and contribute most to protecting the marine environment, be it in the design of their yacht or how they use it.

Awarded by a Jury of experts, there are three awards: Technology & Innovation, Mediation & Science, Adventure & Environmental Ethics. It is another initiative by which YCM is establishing itself as a key player in the environmental transition by positioning itself as a platform of communication for all those building the future of yachting.

Winners of the 3rd YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts 2023

  • S/Y MARIE JOSEPH (24m) was the candidate that surprised the Jury the most by the sheer number of eco-targeted innovations, including solar panels with “solar skin” system, a hydro generation system and high performance batteries, to win the Technology & Innovation
  • M/Y OCEAN EXPLORER (87m) is well known to the Jury as the owner’s father won one of the YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts in 2019. M/Y Ocean Explorer is totally dedicated to science under the umbrella of a non-profit association and won the Mediation & Science
  • S/Y SEAHAWK (59m) was presented as a yacht not built for science but with a strong desire to help science and the oceans. It has carried out numerous missions that have helped better understand migration patterns, fishing impact, etc. The yacht is also associated with projects such as the set-up of a sailing school in the Galapagos Islands with Yacht Aid Global, funding an instructor and converting a building for the school. It has also supplied educational materials to schools in the Tuamotos & Fiji archipelagos in 2022, all of which won it the award in the Adventure & Environmental Ethics
  • As every year, one yacht is voted by the Jury as their Coup de Cœur (favourite) and this year’s big winner was M/V PLASTIC ODYSSEY (39m).

 

The Principality maintains its course towards a sustainable future with YCM spearheading this ambition. And as HSH Prince Albert II concluded: “We must continue working together to protect the planet and guarantee its future for the generations to come”.

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