Lulworth, 1920, is owned by Johan Van Den Bruele and has recently undergone a 15 million euro restoration at La Spezia in Italy. It took five years and was only begun after two years of research. She had been absent from the seas for 70 years and yet restorers managed to keep nearly 50 per cent of her structure as original. “La Belle Classe” was created last year on the initiative of Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco which owns the 21m gaff-rig “Tuiga”. The purpose is to celebrate the world’s maritime heritage and to encourage and reward classic yacht owners in their endeavors to preserve that heritage. . By the way, there are seven new owners in La Belle Classe Club. The evening was also a chance to bring on board seven owners of classic yachts to “La Belle Classe” which now has around 50 in the club. The owners welcomed were: Dennis Conner, four-times winner of the America’s Cup, and owner of the Q Class Cotton Blossom II (1924); Spaniard Mariano Garcia Montes with Ivanhoe (1938); the Scotsman Dennis Multon with the motor-yacht Romola (1903); American Kimberley Meredith with Rowdy (1916); Englishman Peter Saxby with the Mediterranean’s oldest racing gaff-rig cutter, Partridge (1885); Eric Night for Keep Trust (1947); and Johan Van Den Bruele of Lulworth (1920).You must be logged in to post a comment.