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Pure elegance on water

Having grown up feasting on Alexander Kent's naval novels, I was particularly delighted to witness the Monaco Classic Week, these past few days (Sept 12-16, 2007).

Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco and presided by HRH Prince Albert II, the event brought some 40 of those elegant traditional sailing ships into Monaco's waters. Joining them in the races was the Tuiga, a 1909 craft which is often wrongly referred to as Prince Albert's yacht, but which is in fact owned by the Yacht Club de Monaco.

With their triangular canvasses fluttering in the wind as they raced along the coast, these majestic vessels conjured up images of another age, when we humans were more vulnerable to Nature, and therefore, perhaps, more respectful towards her.

Also here for the eight edition of the Classic Week were numerous preserved motor yachts and the SS Delphine, a steam yacht built in the 1920s.
Among the personalities in Monaco for the event were American navigator Dennis Conner, marine painter and writer Titouan Lamazou, British swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh, French navigator Sébastien Josse, Spanish aristocrat Alvaro de Marichalar and Japanese artist Tsuji Hitonari. French explorer Jean-Louis Etienne, who is a member of the scientific and technical committee of the Prince Albert II Foundation, was named Sea Personality of the year.

How are people nominated for these awards? If it's an open deal, I'd like to suggest Alexander Kent for next year's prize. Since 1958, under this pen name and his real name, Douglas Reeman, this British author has been converting readers like me, who have had little opportunity to go out to sea, into lovers of the wind and waves — armchair sailors, really, who share as much respect for the oceans as the men and women lucky enough to enjoy sailing first-hand. Just a thought.

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Comments to date: 2. Page 1 of 1.

Kiki,  Canada

Posted at 2:01pm on Friday, November 2nd, 2007

These sailing ships are absolutely amazing and what a beautiful view.

Kyle,  Nova Scotia

Posted at 12:29pm on Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

Wow another female reader of Richard Bolitho's adventures. And I thought I was the only one.

 




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