HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II officially opened the new Yacht Club de Monaco yesterday, alongside other royals and chief architect Lord Norman Foster.
The launch of Monaco’s new landmark was attended by over 4,000 VIP guests from around the world.
The slickly designed yacht club is 200 metres long and houses a spiral staircase to connect the club’s new spaces, which include an exhibition hall, ballroom, swimming pool, terrace, library, fitness room and five spacious ‘cabins’ to sleep guests on stopovers.
“The flag I have just raised today flies proudly on the mast at the top of our new premises,” said Prince Albert.
“It marks an important phase in the life of our Club, for Port Hercule and for the Principality. With this architectural masterpiece we wished to affirm Monaco’s yachting identity, our ambition being to continue to orient our country’s future prosperity towards the sea,” he added.
Renowned British architect, Lord Foster, was commissioned by the Monaco Government in 2003 to design the facility, located on Quai Louis II, next to the Société Nautique.
“When designing this building which is open to the sea, at the centre of the harbour and embracing the city, we wanted to preserve the traditional spirit so dear to the Principality,” commented Lord Foster.