He devoted all his energy to this new project

Impossible to imagine her in an Office from which he would not see the sea. On the seventh floor of the Palace Ermano, Mikael Krafft is probably the most beautiful view of the port of Monaco. A happiness that this bright blue eyes and sporty Swedish taste every day. The teint hâlé, a little buriné as all sailors, he travelled all the oceans since his early childhood. But it is not arrogance or the brutality of his Viking ancestors. Elegant, charming, romantic check, this aesthete built boats in his image, racy and user-friendly. These tall ships of exception, that combine nautical tradition and modern comfort, are the result of a well filled journey that began in 1946 in Saltsjobaden, in the Stockholm Archipelago. "I had the chance to grow up in a magnificent environment where children are introduced to sailing from 4-5 years". My father, who has paid his studies to Polytechnic, was the only member of the family do not work on a boat. In the heyday, I travelling eight kilometres separating me from the school on the small dinghy that he had offered me. Winter, I went there to ski.

At the time, the Krafft family live near the great shipyard of the Plyms, playground of the young Mikael. It is observed the work of the workers, sharing their sandwiches, learns to mix varnishes and spend hours listening to the stories of the old sea Wolf. End of June, when the days are endlessly, it hugs the archipelago on the hull of walnuts. 9 Years, despite parental prohibitions, he ventured to Mariehamn, small port of the Aland Islands, to climb into the rigging - in very poor condition - of the Pommern. This four-masted belonged to Gustaf Erikson, alandais owner who owned the largest merchant fleet sailing the world in the 1930s. This is where that was born his passion for the clippers, these fast the end of the 19th century ships intended for the carriage of goods who attempt, unsuccessfully, to counter the generalization of the steam Navy. Erikson quickly becomes his hero and feeds the dreams of its winter evenings used to build models such as the Santa Maria put on a shelf in his Office. "Although it has a few technical errors, I keep a special affection for this modest copy of the flagship of Christopher Columbus that I have built at the age of 12 years," he says in an almost perfect French. Surprising when we know that young person he hated the language of Molière... Student brilliant physics and mathematics, was deplorable notes in English, preferring water skiing competitions in its course. One day, to forgive, he brings roses to his teacher who offers him a deal: a minimum score for him to attend an examination if he promises to learn French. Encouraged by this mark of confidence, he buys a method. Six months later, he so well completed his contract that he discovered a penchant for the France.

Officer in the army of the air, a lawyer in maritime and air law diploma in hand, it is assigned a study on the damage caused by the supersonic flight by Sud Aviation, on the eve of the launch of the Concorde. He was involved for two years in a Parisian firm. "A very pleasant period: I worked much, I'd greatly, I liked the French." But in October 1974, I returned Stockholm to marry the best friend of my sister who shared my passion for sailing.

Propelled to the position of shipowner

Master Krafft then changed Cape. "one of the customers of the Swedish cabinet, the shipping company Jeanson was in bankruptcy." Receptive to my arguments, the banker has agreed to extend the appropriations for six months if I took the direction. "I was thus propelled to my first post of shipowner," remembers by showing a faded photo found in the archives of the society. It represents the deux-mâts Ella of Kalmar dating back to 1875 and sank in 1905 in a terrible storm North of the Denmark. "I like to say that it was my first sailboat," he added with humour. Little by little, Mikael diversifies its activities: marine brokerage, wheat, coal, steel, logging, interest in the oil sector. The cases are successful but his dream is to put to sea of square sails, as Erikson ships.

"In 1986, I sold all of my companies to settle in Brussels, francophone land where I had friends." I have built a beautiful House - now the Embassy of Syria - on a land of one hectare, where I built indoor and outdoor pools using tropical underwater vegetation. "I was certainly the only Brussels resident to practice scuba diving every morning before going to the Office", he says a fun tone. Its new businesses have names evoking the great navigators. He had even built a "clipper building" a little crazy it intends to provide masts and lifeboats.

Emeritus browser, Mikael is at the same time undertaking the construction of his own yacht. The Gloria is a magnificent 40-metre schooner virtually identical to the Panda in the 1930s the British Camper & Nicholson sites, the

more big competitor of the Plyms. "I have slightly modified the bow," he says, pointing to red hull model that hovers in a large Tan showcase of mahogany. If the business manager was not good in this interview, the objects that inhabit his Office almost sufficient to tell his story. But it would be difficult to invent this memorable evening of January 1988. Sipping a tonic Campari, his favorite cocktail, on the deck of the Gloria, with a resplendent sunset on the island of Saint-Martin, he has a flash: he would build four-two masted, similar to the old clippers. Therefore, nothing does it stop. He devoted all his energy to this new project. He drew the plans of the ship, in based on the ratings of ships from Donald Mac Kay in the 19th century as the father of the clippers. Mikael Krafft dedicated a deep admiration for this Scots emigrated to Boston in 1830, enthusiastic, faithful to his convictions, death ruined for refusing to progress and steel hulls.

Russian vessels to square sails

Swedish manager has a unique knowledge of the boating and marine environment. The participation of the Gloria in races such as the Tall Ship's Race brings including Russian vessels to square sails, the attendance of their officers and captains, the meetings on multiple sites will promote the launch of a different commercial line. "I wanted to create cruise ships for European ships to human size, fully rigged, on which we feel the same anguish that old sailors." Nothing to do with sailing ships managed by computer. "Investment is huge, starting difficult the financial equilibrium. But the bet is required. In 1991, Star Flyer, and a year later, his sister-ship, the Star Clipper, crowns his tenacity. Fast like the wind, graceful as a Swan, these 115 metre long vessels are each 170 passengers, seduced by the legendary charm of the Navy sailing, the intimate atmosphere and the refined decor where mingle teak, mahogany and copper. The first years, Mikael and his wife are in turn different functions on board. He said today know the usefulness of each bolt.

In 1995, the appeal of the sirens is the stronger. Captain Krafft blocks the bar in the direction of the Mediterranean, more exactly of Monaco with the boating industry is the second activity, behind the Bank. Objective: achieve its another old dream, the construction of a faster ship, the Royal Clipper, Hound of the sea and almost copy of the Preussen. The German merchant ship of five poles has dazzled the world as early as 1902. It will sink in 1910 after a collision with a steam ship in the English channel. Since 2000, the three Clippers crossing winter in the Indian Ocean or the Caribbean, the summer along the shores of the Mediterranean, between Corsica, Croatia and the Greek Islands. Offered by a German client, the third model, exposed in his Office, represents the Royal Clipper wetting before the monastery of the Lérins Islands. "It is one of my favourite places, some cables from the port of Cannes, where the"especially", my new private schooner is rooted," he said. Built in the Denmark in 1930, reduced to the State of wreckage after a fire, this deux-mâts has been restored in the naval of Villefranche and decorated site, as the clippers, by his London friend, Interior architect Donald Starkey.

At the top of the luxury cruise

His taste for adventure, sportsmanship, stamina to effort and his hard work led Mikael Krafft to the top of the luxury cruise. And if he regretted not having had time to see his children grow, it pleased passing them the virus from the sea. Marie, who traces his wake in a hotel chain in Munich, like navigating alongside his father. It was also chosen as the figurehead for the Royal Clipper. After studies in space technology in Russia and an MBA in London, his son Eric created his own company in Hong Kong. "Now, he is interested in the paternal society and negotiates with the Polynesian authorities the arrival of Star Flyer in Tahiti end of 2007." "An idyllic, romantic setting, perfect for lovers of sailing", adds the happy owner.

Monaco resident for eleven years, proud to have been admitted to the very closed circle of the Yacht Club of the Principality, Mikael exchange for nothing in the world his life on the rock. But it maintains, in addition to its family ties in Sweden, a small activity in Valdmo, near his native village. It just created a shipbuilding school where young apprentices will realize every year a wooden sailboat. History of maintaining his passion.

BOX .

ITS TWO RESTAURANTS PREFERRED

In addition to the Yacht Club of Monaco restaurant, reserved for members:

Dock of the artists, quai Antoine Ier, 98000 Monaco. Tel.: (00 377) 97 97 97 77. A Parisian type brewery which offers such a wide selection of fish, seafood and shellfish.

Polpetta, 2, rue Paradis, 98000 Monaco. Tel.: (00 377) 93 50 67 84. In a relaxed atmosphere, a quality Italian who knows prepare real pulp as been in Rome.