François Fiat's 77-metre explorer yacht Yersin was christened over the weekend in Monaco, in a ceremony attended by HSH Prince Albert II. The yacht was blessed by René Giuliano, vicar general of Monaco.

The ceremony was attended by key public figures from Monaco, including ministers, HE Bernard Fautrier, vice-president of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation; Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Museum; professor Patrick Rampal, president of CSM (Monaco Scientific Centre); and Bernard d’Alessandri, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s general secretary.

HSH Prince Albert II commented, “The Yersin is an exceptional vessel, a boat for cruising also designed for research purposes and an impressive autonomy of several days or even several months. She keeps alive the tradition of Prince Albert firsts and Captain Cousteau’s boats and other explorers who left from Monaco. It is quite moving and extraordinary to think that thanks to Mr Fiat and his family, and his attachment to the Yacht Club de Monaco, this great adventure, where science and education take centre stage, can be revived.”

An emotional François Fiat commented, “It has been a dream of mine since childhood - inspired by Tintin, Prince Albert 1’s Hirondelle and captain Cousteau’s Calypso - which within three years has become a reality. I wanted a boat that could sail anywhere, in any weather, with a reinforced hull for the ice. As her vocation is exploration we wanted to set aside 70% of the space to communal and technical areas.”

After a family cruise in the eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic, the yacht will be a major attraction at the Monaco Yacht Show, which takes place 23rd to 26th September 2015.