Solo sailor Enda O'Coineen was honoured by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the weekend in recognition of the Galway man's successful circumnavigation.
Ireland had a strong presence in the principality on Saturday as the first Monaco Globe Series for the IMOCA 60 class got underway there.
O'Coineen is in Monaco to support his compatriot Joan Mulloy paired with Thomas Ruyant at the helm of Kilcullen Team Ireland.
Earlier that day, the Yacht Club de Monaco President greeted skippers at a brunch in honour of O’Coineen, who competed in the last Vendée Globe.
Nine 60-footers including County Mayo's Joan Mulloy are off on a double-hander, unassisted non-stop race, the first stage of the new IMOCA 2018-2020 world championship.
Organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the new race is a chance for participants to gain the maximum number of points towards qualifying for the Vendée Globe 2020.
The start gun was fired for the first Monaco Globe Series by Yacht Club de Monaco President, HSH Prince Albert II, from the elegant motor-yacht M/Y Pacha III (1936), on which were members of the royal family there to support Pierre Casiraghi competing with Boris Herrmann on Malizia II.
Prince Albert II of Monaco has strong connections to Ireland with Royal Cork Yacht Club. The Prince and RCYC's Gavin Deane signed a twinning agreement at YCM three years ago.
List of competing boats:
Malizia-Yacht Club de Monaco – Pierre Casiraghi / Boris Herrmann
SMA – Paul Meilhat / Gwénolé Gahinet
Newrest Art & Fenêtres – Fabrice Amedeo / Eric Peron
Bureau Vallée 2 – Louis Burton / Arthur Hubert
Monin – Isabelle Joschke / Alain Gautier
4myplanet2 – Alexia Barrier / Pierre Quirogea
Groupe Setin – Manuel Cousin / Alan Roura
Kilcullen Team Ireland – Joan Mulloy / Thomas Ruyant
Boulogne Billancourt – Stéphane Le Diraison / Stan Maslard
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