The 27th edition of the Monaco Yacht Show will be an exciting one: 125 superyachts will be officially exhibited, 40 vessels make their world premiere. By Nick Jeffery
It is hard to topple MYS as the world’s leading superyacht show, with 87% exhibitor return rate – but the organisers[ds_preview] are not taking any chances and hosted public relations events in London and New York to drum up new prospects this past year. For the second time MYS hosts the »Monaco Yacht Summit« (26 September) to brief UHNWI prospects on how to buy a superyacht, some signing up for the Sapphire hand-holding concierge service.
A natural harbour arena, fitting 125 of the newest and most interesting yachts built or for sale, surrounded by pontoons and air-conditioned tents with the best suppliers of equipment and services exhibiting and 1,000s of industry professionals working their way around, with 30,000 visitors. And that’s just in the official show.
Outside Port Hercule are more yachts at anchor and in Monaco itself are glamorous »by invitation only« events, awards ceremonies, seminars, shopping, the Only Watch charity auction (26 mill. € raised to date by Luc Pettavino), private meetings between prospective owners, designers, builders and project managers. Brokers are everywhere, with a smattering of bankers, hunting new clients in packs and poaching them, limousines lurking, ready to swoop and whisk them away (from the new »Starboard« lounge bar private meeting rooms – too public) to one of Monaco’s Michelin restaurants or Maya Bay’s new Indian for a curry. The Yacht Club de Monaco is in »all hands on deck« mode and struggles to prevent non-members confidently striding past smart hostesses into its library-cum-lounge bar and installing themselves for meetings. It is theatrical, »do you know who I am?«. Even YCM members find their cars clamped! MYS promotes its Car Deck (launched last year) on the dock opposite should you wish to buy a new Lamborghini.
For all the internet, apps, media coverage and viewings throughout the year, MYS is where it happens – in person. People like to buy from somebody they like (or their partner approves of) and share values with, whether it is a relatively modest Mulder ThirtySix (36m) »Delta One«, with Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF), or Feadship 92m »Aquarius«, designs from Bannenberg+Rowell or Michael Leach Design, insurance from Sturge Taylor or OnlyYacht, a build and management package from owners’ representatives MCM (Marine Construction Management) or fitting out an interior from Boutsen (Monaco), Sabrina (Monaco) or Glancy & Fawcett (Manchester). Lawyers are on hand to advise on purchase and sales contracts as well as claims.
Other new motor yachts at this year’s show include the 85m Lürssen »Areti«, 74m CRN »Cloud 9«, 67m Benetti »Seasense«, 52m Sanlorezo »Seven Sins«, 50m Heesen »Home« with hybrid and FDHF, 50m Tankoa »Vertige«, as well as the 47m »Razan« from Turquoise. Series production boats such as the 39m Sunseeker 131 and Azimut Grande 35m will be feeling like small fish in the MYS arena. Amels shows its 69m »Game Changer« supply vessel. Sailing yachts from the top brands include the 54m Baltic Yachts »Pink Gin«, 30m Wally Cento »Tango« and 29m Nautor »LOT99«. All three are fast stuff, adding adrenaline to a relatively sluggish large sail yacht market. All in all, everybody in the superyacht market – or hoping to be – will be at MYS. Including HSH Prince Albert II, whose Foundation supports marine protection areas.
Nick Jeffery
