Sporty In The Med
From the Paris Olympics to the Monaco Grand Prix and the Côte d’Azur’s Tour de France, chartering a yacht in the Mediterranean this summer will guarantee sun, sea, and sport.
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The French Riviera is a vibrant playground for sporting enthusiasts who seek the ultimate luxury experience. Furthermore, it promises a plethora of opportunities to combine yachting and sports into one golden summer experience in 2024.
“The Monaco Grand Prix — the crown jewel event in Formula 1 — kicks off the sporting calendar in May,” says IYC Charter Consultant, Abigail Davies. “It’s a highlight of the yachting summer season, as guests watch the action with Champagne in hand from the aft deck of a superyacht.”
The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix takes place between May 23rd and 26th. The narrow, winding Monte Carlo circuit remains the most coveted, where 78 laps stretched just over 2 miles (3km) test drivers to their limits. Few events capture the spirit of the Principality as articulately as the Grand Prix, which is why trackside berths are hotly contested in a nail-biting lottery. Yet while the adrenaline-pumping hairpin turns make for spectacular spectating, those in the know head out to sea for a more laidback affair.
“The secret that many people don’t know is that Port Hercules is not the only place to be located on race days,”
“The secret that many people don’t know is that Port Hercules is not the only place to be located on race days,” says Davies. “Many charters take place at anchor amid panoramic views of the dramatic Monaco landscape. It gives the option to swap the roaring engines for a more private and intimate Grand Prix experience.”
And for those who appreciate a more classic ambiance, the biennial Historic Grand Prix takes place two weeks before. The race circuit may be the same, but the cars are of a different era. From pre-war Voiturettes to front-engine sport racing cars from the 1950s, the event, organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), injects some vintage spirit into a modern-day game.
It's not only sports car racing that will be setting the Mediterranean alight in 2024. Nice, a hotspot on any Côte d’Azur yacht itinerary, will be the place to hop from water to land to be immersed in the spectacle of the Tour de France finish line. The 111th edition of the world's most prestigious and difficult bicycle race will start in Florence, Italy, on 29 June, and finish in Nice on the 21 July. The grueling route is expected to feature gravel roads, Alpe d'Huez twice, and Europe's highest paved road, if the reports hold true. It also serves as inspiration for guests who like to cycle when on charter.
“With the red carpet stretch of the Mediterranean featuring a cycle path that loops from Cannes to Nice, there are many opportunities during a charter to jump ashore and explore by bike,” says IYC Charter Consultant Katy Carter. “Not quite matching the hills of the Tour de France, it’s a flat ride that can be cycled at guests’ own pace with the crew from the yacht ready to pamper them at the end of a long ride.”
“For those looking to tackle something even more challenging,” she adds, “our IYC Charter Consultants can arrange for a local cycling guide to take guests off the beaten track.”
“With the red carpet stretch of the Mediterranean featuring a cycle path that loops from Cannes to Nice, there are many opportunities during a charter to jump ashore and explore by bike,”
This year marks the first time since the Tour de France’s inception in 1903 that it won’t finish in (or near) Paris, owing to preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The capital city has spent the past four years preparing to host the world’s leading sporting event, happening between 26 July to 11 August. Landmark areas have been earmarked for key events, with the Eiffel Tower delivering a dramatic backdrop to the beach volleyball tournaments, the Champ-de-Mars hosting judo and wrestling, and the Pont Alexandre III providing an exceptional setting for the triathlon and marathon swimming events.
Breaking with tradition, the Opening Ceremony will not be held in a stadium but will instead unfold on the Seine River and Paris' quays and bridges – both locations offering views from aboard a boat. Four hours sail away in the port city of Marseille, the Olympic sailing events will see 330 competitors battle it out on the water. The Roucas-Blanc Marina, to be known as the Marseille Marina during the Paris Olympics, is usually a point of departure for boats, but has been suitably adapted to stage the large-scale competition. That includes the viability of a fan zone around the field of play that will allow thousands of spectators to watch the racing from the comfort of their yacht.
Likewise, a 193-nautical mile sail from Marseilles will bring guests to the port city of Barcelona, the 2024 host of the 37th America’s Cup. The event makes Barcelona the first venue in the world to host both an Olympic Games and an America’s Cup event. Teams from the United States, UK, Italy, Switzerland, and France will compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series in August to determine who goes through to the final round against the current title holder and Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, in the America’s Cup Match in October.
With the average length of yacht charters stretching up to eight days, the need to make every day of an itinerary count is undeniable. After witnessing the America’s Cup victors claim the trophy this year, guests can set sail from Barcelona to Marbella where the Andalusian city is set to host the 2024 Ironman in October. Flanked by the ocean and the mountains, Marbella is one of the most beautiful locations in Spain. It promises a dynamic course paired with a perfect climate and Mediterranean seafront promenade views.
The one-loop 1.2 miles (1.9 km) swim course in the Mediterranean Sea starts and finishes on the amazing Levante beach of Puerto Banús. It’s followed by a one-loop 56 miles (90 km) bike course that crosses from the famous “Gold Mile” through the city of Marbella and culminates with a three-loop 13 miles (21.1 km) run course that leads along the promenade, finishing by the sea.
From the French Riviera and Monaco to the Amalfi Coast and Balearics, the western Mediterranean yachting hotspots are synonymous with glitz and glamour. While not all guests will be keen to feature in the heart of sporting action, the chance to soak up the electric atmosphere throughout the Mediterranean this summer aboard a charter yacht is unrivaled. That includes the inaugural UIM E1 World Championship season — the world’s first and only all-electric race boat championship.
Following the event’s debut, which took place in the Middle East in February, the championship schedule includes races in Venice in May, Puerto Banús and Geneva in June, Monaco in July, and Rotterdam in September. The event was established to create a new, exciting, and competitive on-water racing platform based on electric technologies to protect and restore urban waters and coastal areas.
An increasing number of yacht owners now look for ways to ensure that their yacht is as operationally green as possible, with minimal impact on the environments they cruise. A motor yacht with hybrid propulsion is an appealing option. Whether electric, sail, or a sporty family yacht, chartering in the heart of the Mediterranean this summer will guarantee exhilaration in every direction.
HORIZONS Magazine
This article was a feature in the Spring/Summer Issue of HORIZONS Magazine. Curious to read more and discover the best sales and charter opportunities? The digital version of the magazine is available HERE .
