Report from the 2007 Primo Cup
Day
3 - Saturday, Smeralda Christening, Jimmy'z
(L to r): Jean Yves Noblet, Donald Manasse, Commodore Fortenbaugh, unknown sailor, Mary Ann Eddy all smile for the camera. Donald helped our team secure rooms at the Fairmont Hotel. He was also one of the sailors from Monaco who raced in New York City in 1988.
Seaway was the beautiful flagship!
Our Mumm 30 team skippered by TJ Dalton.
Our Smeralda team skippered by Commodore Fortenbaugh.
After racing on Saturday, Commodore Fortenbaugh, Mary Ann Eddy, Bernard d'Alessandri, Jean Yves Noblet, TJ Dalton and Sarah Alford smile in front of Yacht Club de Monaco.
Walking from the Yacht Club to the Fairmont Hotel brought you by the slip for Seaway. What a beautiful yacht.
Just back from a shopping excursion in Monaco, Michael Trese, Sharon Fortenbaugh and Monica Connelly smile before changing and heading over to the Yacht Club for a party.
Most of the team gathered at the yacht club bar for an impromptu team picture with Bernard d'Alessandri in the center. Pictured are (l to r standing) David Yu, Whitney Ames, Janice Payne, Nancy Rosenthal, Pablo Opazo, Kelly Wilson, Nicholas Meer, John Fryer, Amy Elliott, Bernard d'Alessandri, Mary Ann Eddy, Karun Philip, Kent Covington, Michael Trese, John Elliott, Monica Connelly, TJ Dalton, Christophe Fresson, Debra Valenti, Doug Rhiel; (l to r sitting or kneeling) Jessica Jamieson, Laura Migliozzi, Sharon Fortenbaugh, James Sinclair, Margot de France, Frank Jouvin, Commodore Michael Fortenbaugh, Susan Schindehette, Jean Yves Noblet. Missing from the picture were: Matthew Shafer, Mary Liken Shafer, Lina Liken, Sarah Alford, Jim Walsh, Ron La Neve, Craig Kayaian & Alie Shaper.
Margot and Amy preparing for the Smeralda commissioning by sampling the latest bottle of champagne opened. They are both wearing the glamorous Manhattan Yacht Club silk scarves.
Great vacation so far, Sweetie!
Back at Yacht Club de Monaco, the fleet of boats was lit up in magical fashion.
The Smeralda which Manhattan Yacht Club was racing belongs to the Yacht Club de Monaco. She was recently refurbished and was just being christened into the Yacht Club de Monaco fleet during this regatta weekend. Our club owes a great amount of thanks to Bernard d'Alessandri for giving us the honor to race this boat. After racing on Saturday, she was brought to a special slip alongside the yacht club and hoisted halfway from the water.
Before the commissioning, lively disco music was being played and spotlights lit up the sky. It was a happening and Jean Yves Noblet and Commodore Fortenbaugh were duly impressed that this was the boat they were privileged to race. Perhaps they were caught up in the spirit or moved by the music as they did a little dance in front of the boat.
The actual Commissioning was accomplished by Princess Camilla de Bourbon-Siciles (at right) who smashed the bottle of champagne open with a saber and the assistance of Bernard. Commodore and Sharon Fortenbaugh were invited into the official picture along with Prince Charles Bourbon-Siciles, President of the Smeralda class.
Jean was one of the racing teams from Monaco which raced in New York City in 1988, 1989 and 1992. In 1992, he finished second in the International Yacht Club Challenge. After the party at the yacht club, a champagne reunion took place at a wine bar over near the casino.
Anne (second from right) was also one of the crew from the early International Yacht Club Challenges. This regatta, she and Jean were racing on Smeraldas. The third crew was Claude who was also at the reunion drinking champagne! Maybe they will all come to Manhattan for the next International Yacht Club Challenge.
From the champagne reunion, it was on to Jimmy'z, the super famous and exclusive night club in Monaco. Preparing to walk down the steps to the door are (l to r): Sarah Alford, Kent Covington, Sharon Fortenbaugh, Margot De France, Nancy Rosenthal and Susan Schindehette.
John & Amy were among the first to arrive at Jimmy'z along with TJ & Monica.
Inside Jimmy'z, high spirits were plentiful. Franck Jouvin arranged for our club members to get in and also sit in the VIP section next to the dance floor. A large bowl of ice arrived plus bottles of champagne and vodka. The evening was just getting started and it was already near midnight.
David Yu and Nancy Rosenthal dance with a sailor from the H22 class. Lots of other sailors became part of our traveling party as the days progressed.
Alie Shaper is not calling for more bottle service. Instead, she is standing on the banquettes at Jimmy'z and encouraging the crowd around the room to do the same. Commodore Fortenbaugh, always trying to be the gentlemen, joins her so she would not be alone.
Then Sharon joins the Commodore on the chairs.
And soon everyone is up on the chairs dancing to the hot beat. And by everyone, we mean EVERYONE. All across the club, people began standing up on the chairs and the place went to high voltage. The DJs responded with a super beat, the lights suddenly went on to full blast for a second and the DJs and crowd together all shouted "JIMMY'Z!!!!!!" What a night!
Of course, the famous "Royal Order of the Caribbean Regatta" medal came out. from Willie T's to Jimmy'z, these medals travel the world around the necks of ambassadors who appreciate life and know how to celebrate the great gift we are given. Franck Jouvin was inducted in this secret society during De 2007 Caribbean Regatta.
All New Yorkers on the banquettes again! By this point, the clock had turned past 3:30 a.m. and the Commodore and Sharon Fortenbaugh left the club. He had to race a boat the next morning!
With the Commodore gone, the party was able to kick into even higher gear.
I know I've seen what happened, but I am not telling.
I'm not writing about it either.
Just remember, 1 life to live.
Dream bigger than before.
Adventure to the adventurous!