Broadening the scope of the transatlantic maritime exchange between the United States and the Principality of Monaco, the Yacht Club de Monaco has officially deployed its premier classic vessels to participate in the American semi-quincentennial celebrations. Centering this summer's high-profile diplomatic campaign are the gaff cutters Tuiga, the club's 1909 William Fife-designed flagship, and Viola, a historic 1908 vessel owned by club member Kostia Belkin. Transported across the Atlantic via cargo carriers, both century-old hulls were relaunched in domestic waters to lead a specialized delegation representing the sovereign state along the American East Coast.
The deployment serves a distinct operational purpose within the framework of the "Sail4th 250" festival in New York Harbor. Assigned a prominent role in the official international parade, Tuiga and Viola served as the ceremonial escorts for La Belle Poule, the French Navy's historic 1932 topsail schooner, as the international fleet passed the Statue of Liberty and reviewed allied naval warships along the Hudson River. For Bernard d'Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco, the mission represents a poignant historical return. D'Alessandri previously crossed the Atlantic to New York in 1985 as part of the Biotonus-Monaco crew during the historic Monaco-New York transatlantic race.
Following the conclusion of the New York Harbor reviews, the Monégasque fleet began an extended regional deployment designed to foster institutional cooperation with the foundational organizations of American yachting. The vessels are currently advancing through a scheduled tour of elite Northeast nautical institutions, executing port calls at Larchmont, Indian Harbor, Seawanhaka, and the Montauk Yacht Club. The strategic tour will culminate at the New York Yacht Club's Race Week in Newport, Rhode Island, reinforcing a mutual commitment to preserving traditional rigging, classic naval architecture, and the geopolitical bonds of international sportsmanship.
Photo Credits: Yacht Club de Monaco Instagram