On Saturday, October 3, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco inaugurated a pedestrian and bicycle path, partially funded by the Principality of Monaco, in Dolceacqua, Italy.  The sovereign prince also unveiled a plaque marking his visit to the lovely town.

Please click here and here to view photos.

On the morning of Monday, September 28, 2015, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover presided over the 2015 L’Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers (IFSI) graduation and promotions ceremony held at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace de Monaco in Monte-Carlo.

On Tuesday, September 22, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco witnessed the signature of convention between the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the Corsican Scandola Nature Reserve aboard the yacht, Yersin, off the coast of the island of Corsica.

The agreement sealed the deal for the financing of surveillance camera system on the Corsican Scandola Nature Reserve.

And, finally, on September 24, 2015, the sovereign prince received a check — to be donated to the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco — worth €46,000 from the Director General of the Monaco Yacht Show, Ms. Gaëlle Tallarida, and from the CEO of Informa Group, Mr. Stephan Carter.

The money will be used for:

“…its action to combat deforestation and its Wood Forever Pact program.  The Wood Forever Pact network has made a commitment to use and promote timber harvested from sustainably managed forests.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has been committed to fighting deforestation since its creation. The preservation of the tropical rain forests enables action to be taken in the Foundation’s three priority focus areas: fight against climate change, protection of biodiversity and access to water.

After an extensive study concerning the various environmental issues generated by the yachting sector, the Foundation chose to focus its action on wood, a key component in yacht construction. The various types of wood found aboard are selected for their technical, mechanical and aesthetic qualities. Teak, mahogany, ebony… these tropical woods are used for decks and exterior fittings, as well as for the interior decor and furniture.

In 2010, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation launched the Wood Forever Pact with the aim of helping yacht builders with an approach to use timber harvested from sustainably managed forests. The Monaco Yacht Show, due to its status as a key international yacht show and its objective to combine luxury with respect for the environment, quite naturally decided to team up with the Foundation.

Over the years, the program has developed and opened up to professions linked to the yachting world that use or advocate wood such as designers, furniture manufacturers and timber suppliers, with the aim of setting up a network. This union of professionals will have a leverage effect on the wood supply chain, which will result in a more environmentally friendly tropical wood offer and make super yachts the environmental flagship of the shipping industry.” 

On September 16, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCDM) to witness the announcement of British tetraplegic sailor, Mr. Geoff Holt, new Accessible Oceans sailing venture.  Mr. Holt hopes sail around the world solo beginning in the Spring of 2017.

According to a YCDM press release, Mr. Holt has been a:

“…champion for disabled sailing for more than 30 years and his round the world ambition is the next chapter in his vision to make our oceans accessible to all through his charity ‘Accessible Oceans’. Over the years, Geoff has inspired millions with his epic achievements which include being the first disabled person to sail solo round the UK and first tetraplegic to across the Atlantic which he did in 2009.

The voyage will take Geoff to 12 destinations around the world and take an estimated 15 months to complete. Learning from his Atlantic crossing, he will be accompanied by two personal assistants who will assist him with his daily living requirements but will play no part in the sailing. Other disabled sailors may join for different legs of the voyage and a selection process has already begun. A cameraman will also be aboard to document the journey but will play no part in the sailing.”