Undisputed number one in the world, the 23rd MYS will have, as ever, 100 of the
finest new builds and brokerage superyachts on display. A preview by Nick Jeffery
Lürssen’s 86 m »Quattroelle« is one of the newer, voluminous boats on display at Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), which takes place[ds_preview] from 25–28 September this year. The 65 m »Galactica Star« from Heesen and the 73 m »Grace E« Vitruvius from Perini Navi are worth a visit too, each sporting innovation and being ultra efficient.
On the sailing yacht front, the 33 m Baltic 107 Custom »Inukshuk« by Frers, built of carbon-fibre under the watchful eye of MCM’s Nigel Ingram, is as sleek as they come. Ingram says: »This is not the largest yacht that Baltic has built but in detail and quality of build it is their best so far.«
As cross fertilization continues, between yachts and aircraft, Eurocopter will be bringing its EC135 with a custom paint job to MYS – parked on the foredeck of »Quattroelle«. Billed as the first »Concept-Art-Helicopter« it is a world premiere for designer Rita Weber. She states that the Zig-Zag design will mean »even if the helicopter is flying everybody knows that you – as the owner or charter guest – have a very, very special tender«. Lürssen will adopt the Zig-Zag design on the helipad, too.
Monaco Yacht Summit is a first this year (24 September, Grimaldi Forum) – a »by invitation only« event. It »aims to provide an annual forum for the yachting world, to address issues of importance to yacht owners and buyers and to create a space where the main players in yachting can meet, talk and build links«. The organisers will bring together a panel of experts, company heads and leading figures from the yachting world, but also business leaders and panel members from other spheres to enrich the debate and broaden perspectives for the future. »New Yachting. New Thinking« is the title of the inaugural summit which addresses customer issues, new expectations and opportunities.
Monaco Yacht Summit is one more event to stand Monaco in the position of »Capital of Yachting«. Partners of MYS include The Yacht Club de Monaco and The Monaco Harbours Management Commission – exclusive managers of the ports of Monaco since 2006 and successfully combining superyacht berthing with occasional cruise ship visits. Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the MYS, said: »The high concentration of industry professionals and clients here underlines the potential for the industry to continue to grow in the future and remain a long-term source of prestige for Monaco. It confirms, beyond doubt, that we remain the international hub for superyachts.«
Only Watch provides excitement at the Hermitage Hotel on 28 September, under the Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II. Forty of the world’s top watch brands’ one-off timepieces come under the hammer, the proceeds going towards the Association Monegasque contre les Myopathies (AMM), funding research into a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Philanthropy and doing good is ubiquitous in Monaco. Another example is the Wood Forever Pact (WFP), which promotes the use of wood from well-managed forests on superyachts. Once again under the Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II, now owners can make a single donation, which will be entirely directed towards one of the Foundation’s projects, and thus become WFP Ambassadors. The one-off »offset« contribution is calculated at 10 €/t displacement (i.e. a 500 t superyacht owner would donate 5,000 €). It is acknowledged that higher displacement yacht construction usually involves the use of more wood and any margins of relative overpayment go towards real action (rather than costly, detailed on-board audits of timbers used).
Yacht owner and former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan – a patron of CLIC Sargent, helping people with cancer – was interviewed in the Monaco Yacht Show Summer Magazine and commented on CLIC Sargent, Only Watch and Wood Forever Pact: »An old Irish proverb goes ›I have got more money than time‹. Everybody has more money than time if they are really honest. These young kids don’t have the money and are not sure what time they have got.«
Further Jordan said: »There is nothing quite like walking on a teak deck, knowing it has come from well-managed and legitimate sources. Forests and trees are important. I hope builders and owners sign up for Monaco’s Wood Forever Pact!«
Nick Jeffery
