There is a lot of glitz and glamour at the Monaco Yacht Show every year, not only because of the opulent superyachts which grace the event with their presence, but also because of the luxurious cars that are on display to give the super-rich of the world an idea of the kind of purchases they should be making this year.
However, in the past few years, the show has become extra special because, in addition to the usual display, the show also helps in improving the condition of the world’s oceans.
The Monaco Bike Ride
In the past two editions of the event, organizers of the Monaco Yacht Show have arranged a bike ride spanning several hundred miles from the city of London to the city of Monaco (about 700 miles), with the aim of raising funds to support the initiatives being undertaken by the BLUE Marine Foundation. Now that this event has become a regular thing with the show, it has been established that the yachting community is not only using the world’s oceans to cruise, but also care about preserving its natural habitat.
This is obviously costing them money, but it seems that the yachting community is willing to invest in the ocean. The founder of this initiative Winch Design, which is a yacht design firm based in the city of London, has been successful in raising around $750K for the BLUE Marine Foundation so far, all of which will contribute to the foundation’s initiatives of protecting at-risk oceanic ecosystems.
Other organizations are also playing their part in supporting this cause. Sunseeker, a company that builds some of the most beautiful and fast yachts (some spanning over 155 feet in length), has also entered into an agreement with BLUE, promising financial sponsorship for its initiatives in the long term.
Celebrities Are Helping Out
The support of organizations is obviously helpful, but when famous people become part of a cause, it automatically gains a lot more traction and hence becomes exponentially more successful in fulfilling its purpose.
Zara Tindall, who is the Queen’s granddaughter, along with Mike, her husband, has committed to be there when the bike ride will depart from London on the 19th of September. Organizers are hoping her presence will give a serious boost to the popularity of the cause.
But they are not the only ones participating this year. In Monaco, perhaps the most popular person who could’ve participated has become involved with the initiative as well, and it’s none other than the Prince of Monaco himself, Albert II.
Currently valued at more than $1 billion in net worth, the Prince obviously has a lot on his plate considering his primary job as the monarch of Monaco. However, he is also very committed about preserving the oceans, and that is why his foundation has been among the founders of the bike ride initiative.
The bike ride is expected to travel through many European countries, including England, Belgium, Germany, and Italy, to name a few, before ending in Monaco just in time for the yacht show.