Tall Ships, Short Crew
Yacht Style|Issue 59
Zoë d’Ornano, the 12-year-old daughter of Malaysia-born Lay Koon Tan, is set to become the Rolex Fastnet Race’s youngest competitor in August when she competes with her parents on one of the Tall Ships Youth Trust’s two Challenger 72s in a record 450-plus entry list.
Tall Ships, Short Crew

Just 12 years of age, Zoë d’Ornano is so far the youngest competitor entered in this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race, with organisers stating she would become the youngest-ever entrant in the biennial race, first held in 1925 with seven boats. Zoë will sail with her parents in a 16-strong crew on one of the Tall Ships Youth Trust’s two Challenger 72s entered in this year’s race.

This year’s edition is set to break the record for entries, with over 450 boats already signed up for the 695nm race that will start from Cowes off England south coast on August 8, round the Fastnet Rock in Irish waters, and finish for the first time in Cherbourg on France’s north coast.

Zoë holds both British and French passports, but has Asian parentage on her mother’s side. Lay Koon Tan is the co-founder of Nature Squared, a London-based company founded in 2000 that specialises in bespoke luxury surfaces made with sustainable materials such as bamboo, mother of pearl, tobacco leaves and reeds. Superyachts and luxury car manufacturers are among her clients.

Tan was born and raised in Malaysia and educated in Singapore, moving to the UK at the age of 12 to attend boarding school before developing a career in the finance industry. She met Philippe d’Ornano in London while they were colleagues at Arthur Andersen and the pair married in 2000.

Philippe, now Partner, Global Financial Services at EY (Ernst & Young), is an experienced sailor and in late 2019 became a Trustee on the Tall Ships Youth Trust Board.

Zoë is now helping to raise funds for the Tall Ships Youth Trust after her father confirmed with race organiser Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) that his 12-year-old daughter would be allowed to join him as he competed on a 72ft Challenger this year.

Denne historien er fra Issue 59-utgaven av Yacht Style.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 59-utgaven av Yacht Style.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA YACHT STYLESe alt
Wong Tet Choong - Singapore's Most Famous Sailor
Yacht Style

Wong Tet Choong - Singapore's Most Famous Sailor

TC Wong made global headlines last year when the rapid spread of Covid left him stranded at sea in his Leopard 50 for months until he was eventually allowed into Fiji, where he has remained since. Now, the adventurous 60-year-old is waiting for borders to open so he can continue his journey around the South Pacific on his beloved Ximula III.

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 61
Burgess Marks New Milestone In Asia With 20th Superyacht Transaction
Yacht Style

Burgess Marks New Milestone In Asia With 20th Superyacht Transaction

Confirming its position as the regional leader in selling large yachts, Burgess’ recent sale of the 52m Amels Lind marked the 20th transaction by the brokerage house’s Asia team since it was formed in 2015.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 61
Premieres & Newcomers
Yacht Style

Premieres & Newcomers

Yacht Style provides an overview of this year’s exciting new models, with most on display at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and/or Monaco Yacht Show, some having shown earlier in the year and a couple making their debuts in other autumn shows around Europe.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 61
Déjà Vu In Denmark
Yacht Style

Déjà Vu In Denmark

Halfway into SailGP’s second season, a familiar pattern begins to emerge. Australia, runaway winners of the first series, again top the table, despite having to sit out one of the four events held so far with gear failure.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 61
Galeon Spreads Its Wings
Yacht Style

Galeon Spreads Its Wings

With Hong Kong welcoming its first Galeon 640 Fly and 325 GTO this year and Asia’s latest 500 Fly arriving in Singapore, Yacht Style looks at the builder’s 20-year relationship with Tony Castro that has resulted in some of the world’s most innovative production motor yachts.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 61
How To Build A ‘Scent Wardrobe'!
Yacht Style

How To Build A ‘Scent Wardrobe'!

Johanna Monange founded Maison 21G in Singapore to offer customised scents for all clients and all occasions. The personal approach is proving popular, with growing understanding of how to build a ‘scent wardrobe’ and more boutiques opening around the city.

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 61
Rolex Fastnet's “Coup De Cherbourg”
Yacht Style

Rolex Fastnet's “Coup De Cherbourg”

Fierce sou’west winds gusting 30 knots greeted 337 yachts starting the Rolex Fastnet Race, as the 49th edition of this famous offshore classic set off not for Plymouth as usual, but for Cherbourg in France, via Ireland’s Fastnet Rock.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 61
Stepping Out Of The Shadows
Yacht Style

Stepping Out Of The Shadows

As founder and Director of VP Yachts, Vivian Chan is quickly making a name for herself as the Hong Kong dealer for Italian builder Sessa, even if it appears a world away from her other role as General Manager of her family’s Sun Hing Shipyard.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 61
From Pollution To Purpose
Yacht Style

From Pollution To Purpose

Former Singapore Idol finalist and TV producer Mathilda D’silva explains how the Ocean Purpose Project evolved from what she saw on and around her hometown beach in Pasir Ris.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 61
TECH GIANT
Yacht Style

TECH GIANT

Camper & Nicholsons’ recent achievements include selling the 105m Lady Moura and adding the 126m Octopus to its charter and management fleets, but CEO Paolo Casani is most excited about the company’s focus on proprietary technology to engage clients in the new era.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 61