
Classic sailing yachts: the crowning of Mariette of 1915
For anyone looking out over the bay, it was like stepping back in time as the classic sailing yacht fleet put on a show. Partridge (1885), celebrating her 140th anniversary, Viola (1908) with Marie Tabarly on board and Mariska (1908) proved age does not impact the performance of a hull designed for racing. A highlight of this eclectic fleet was the gaff schooner Mariette of 1915, a masterpiece by the “Wizard of Bristol” Nathanaël G. Herreshoff. With her 807m² of sail area upwind and 39.78m hull, she won over the jury to be crowned winner of the Monaco Classic Week Trophy 2025. The boat’s remarkable condition due to flawless maintenance; the owner’s loyalty over the last 20 years alongside the captain; the wealth of documentation devoted to the boat collected in a book; and willingness to regularly bring on and train sailors alongside permanent crew were all behind the decision to present Mariette of 1915 with this coveted award.
Among the winners were Olympian (1913) in the Vintage Gaff, Falcon (1930) in Vintage Marconi, One Wave (1948) in Marconi B, Mariska (1908) in the Big Boats, Argynne III (1955) of YCM in the Classic Marconi and Oliver in the Dinghy 12’ class. Results that confirm this eclectic fleet is as vibrant as ever, attracting international fans and delegations, like the Amaala Yacht Club on Black Swan (1899) and the Manhattan Yacht Club aboard Mariska (1908). “There is no event in the world like this one with its extraordinary spirit and camaraderie. The atmosphere here is truly exceptional,” says Michael Fortenbaugh, Commodore of the American club.