Demand for Yachts is Better than Ever Post Pandemic
People learned more than ever that their yachts can yield even greater freedom, safety, isolation and luxury living during a pandemic. This catapulted the yachting industry to record breaking sales. The charter business is also through the roof with higher demand than before. When you are on your vessel, you make your own rules. You are not governed by governments or country rules. You are at sea in your own world where you are the boss. Albert Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group went so far as to say that during the pandemic, owners realized the value of their yacht as their own “private island”.
Arthur Brouwer, CEO of Heesen Dutch shipyard, said the superyacht industry is booming due to a strong global economy and 32 percent increase in the number of billionaires worldwide.
At this moment in time, there are 2,755 billionaires in the world. Stock markets are soaring, the GDP economy is expected to move up 6 percent this year and some of that wealth is being used in the superyacht industry, meaning in yachting, the demand supply curve has changed
remarked Brower at the Builder’s Press Conference.
The Monaco Yacht Show is the world’s leading superyacht show with the exhibition of superyachts available for purchase. Visitors come to meet up with industry experts and a curated group of luxury manufacturers to discuss their next yacht project or explore yachting trends. The show features a hand-picked selection of companies with ties to the yachting and luxury markets including superyacht builders and designers, yacht brokers and the providers of tenders, nautical gadgets and water toys, luxury brands, high-end cars and motorbikes, helicopters and private jets.
The location is ideal with Monaco being perfectly placed in the heart of the Mediterranean plus being one of the largest luxury yacht harbors worldwide. The event also has the privilege of being organized under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.
This year, the show organizers listened and provided a more vetted attendance of serious superyacht buyers. There was a euphoria in the air as participants and guests reunited at the quays of Port Hercule after a 1-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Monaco Yacht Show 2021 featured 440 exhibitors and 101 superyachts, half of which were launched in 2020 and 2021, reaching an estimated total worth of 3.6 billion euros. Featured yachts included 37 new launches and 14 superyachts measuring over 70 meters in length. With the increased vetting and pandemic travel restrictions, attendance capped at 19,000, but less proved to be more with qualified attendees.
The 5th Edition of the Monaco Yacht Summit commenced on the day before the show opened enabling potential buyers to glean essential information to embark on their yacht construction, chartering or purchasing projects. Day 1 of the show was for VIPS only, allowing a more intimate setting with less attendees walking the quays. Among new additions to the show, was the “Yacht Design & Innovation Hub” offering visitors a better understanding of a custom yacht’s construction process and future superyacht design trends in an interactive setting allowing guests to meet the experts. Also, new was the “Sailing Yacht Area” featuring 12 large sailing yachts, an appropriate number considering that sail boats represent 15% of the world’s sailing yachts. In all, the show’s new approach marks a key step in offering a tailor-made platform to promote superyachting for a new generation of customers. This seems ideal considering the cryptocurrency world is rapidly creating new high net worth individuals with the capital to buy superyachts.
Charter industry
The charter industry is also skyrocketing. Chartering a yacht is a perfect way to for a newcomer to get their feet wet in the superyacht industry. Today, there are approximately 2,900 yachts above 24 meters available for charter worldwide. A few of the standout charter superyachts on display at the show included Victorious managed by Burgess, Tatiana and Moskito managed by IYC, Tranquility and Elements managed by Camper & Nicholsons and K2 and Yersin managed by Fraser.
Sustainability
Sustainability was a key word on everyone’s lips from builders to buyers concerned about the future of our planet. Superyachts normally have a high impact on the environment with high fuel emissions so “hybrid” was the new “it” trend to talk about and deliver. Some builders are already making serious commitments to these efforts like Heesen Yachts that announced they will make an entire fleet with hybrid solutions. Benetti also made a promise to increase electric-diesel propulsion and offer hybrid options across its range. Baglietti announced their BZERO project that converts seawater into power with a propulsion system that uses hydrogen fuel technology that can be activated into zero-emissions mode. Their plan is to launch a hybrid seawater-powered yacht by 2025.
Aesthetics, space and wellness were other trends talked about and delivered in reality or concept form. Standouts included German builder, Nobiskrug’s Artefact which was the most whimsical yacht at the show with a major WOW factor. The artistic shaped glass on the exterior of Artefact made the vessel look more like an art installation ready to take off into space with its spaceship-like curved lines.
WHY200 from Wally offered 270-degree views from the owner’s cabin. Concept yachts were presented by several builders. Italian builder, Tankoa presented their new concept yacht, Apache, with a “flying pool” that has a transparent bottom that lights up the beach club and deck below and also includes a gym and wellness space on 2 levels. German shipyard, Lurssen unveiled their 98m emission-free concept, Alice, inspired by ‘Alice in Wonderland’, featuring 5 decks including a fully-open main deck with a dance floor and manicured garden, plus features a floating glass-bottomed pool suspended above the entrance area, and is powered by fuel cell technology and the tender and toys will all be electric. Dutch shipyard, Feadship presented their future concept design, Pure, 81.75m, a Feadship with the cleanest possible architecture, next-generation yacht control and clean propulsion.
BEST OF SHOW
Some of the best in show include Nobiskrug’s Artefact (80m), Bilgin Yacht’s Tatiana (80m), Sunreef Yacht’s Great White (24m), Wally’s WHY200 (27.05) and Benetti’s IJI (108m), Rossinavi’s Polaris (70.2m), Feadship’s Viva (94m) and AK’s Victorious (85m).
ARTEFACT by Nobiskrug, German Shipyard, 80m
The most WOW factor unique yacht in the show, Artefact is named after the man-made object/artefact that has enduring significance in a natural system. The goal in building this yacht was to make a beautiful man-made object that can complement and celebrate the natural environment with minimal impact.
It is one of the world’s first superyachts to meet IMO Tier iii emissions regulations. It has an unprecedented floor-to-ceiling glass central section complimenting 740 square meters of curved and expressive glasswork weighing almost 60 tons. It is no wonder this yacht won ‘Motoryacht of the Year 2021’ and ‘Triple Winner of the Design & Innovation Awards 2021’.
TATIANA by Bilgin, Turkey, 80m
The Monaco Yacht Show was the world premiere of Bilgin’s largest superyacht. This flagship was launched in February 2020 emphasizing eco-friendliness, featuring a special exhaust system that provides 100% clean air emissions, thus considered the most environmentally friendly yacht in her class. The styling is aggressive and sleek with many gorgeous textures and colors with generous living areas, a huge spa and a stunning beach club that is directly connected to the main salon with a dramatic staircase. The aim was for a more residential feel for a home away from home. It has a private owner’s apartment on the top deck and gym, sauna and large movie theater plus a stunning skylounge themed as a sport’s bar.
GREAT WHITE by Sunreef Yachts, Poland, 24m
Launched in 2020 at the Sunreef Yachts shipyard in Gdansk, Poland and delivered to tennis superstar, Rafael Nadal, the 80 Sunreef Power Great White is an ultramodern vessel created for long offshore cruising and featuring a large living area. This dynamic and elegant catamaran model combines comfort and exceptional seaworthiness.
WHY200 by Wally, Italy, 27.05m
This was Wally’s launch of their first full-wide body superyacht that combines design, space and speed, a true revolution in the history of yachting. Luca Bassani, founder and chief designer of Wally, had this to say about his new innovation, “Like all Wallys, which for 25 years have been ahead of their time and the setters of new standards in yachting design, the new compact, superyacht WHY200 carries the ‘Wow’ factor engraved in its DNA.
It has a master suite overlooking the sea with an uninterrupted 270-degree view of the horizon. The eye-catching upper deck has a futuristic glass and carbon dome, a distinctive Wally feature reminiscent of the angular look of the legendary Wallypower.
There is a spectacular one-piece laminated carbon staircase while open-pore teak was chosen for the furniture in a natural color palette of neutral and sandy tones. There is also folding beach club bulwarks that allow access to the sea on three sides and expands the living area, plus capable of accommodating a tender and toys.
IJI by Benetti, Italy, 108m
This striking superyacht was built in Benetti’s Livorno shipyard and delivered to its owner in July 2019. Interiors were done by Benetti Design and exteriors by RWD. This vessel can accommodate 22 guests in 11 suites complemented with onboard comforts including beach club, gym, sauna, beauty salon, fireplace and elevator. The yacht also has an electric Schottel stern SPJ pump jet to enable it to travel distances powered entirely by electric propulsion.
POLARIS by Rossinavi, Italy 70.2m
This is an explorer yacht in disguise with all its creature comforts and luxurious design elements like onyx, marble and high-gloss wood. It has a hull capable of handling the environmental elements like icy waters with a 6000nm range at 12 knots.
VIVA by Feadship, Holland, 94m
This superyacht may be built on a grand scale, but the feeling is more “open beach-house style” at the request of the owner. To keep it environmentally friendly, it has a hybrid propulsion system and other features like a waste treatment plant and heat recovery systems. It also has the longest hull doors ever on a Feadship to accommodate a huge tender.
VICTORIOUS by AK, Turkey, 85m
This dynamic superyacht, a brand-new explorer was delivered to its owner in 2021. In addition to all the usual superyacht amenities and luxuries (beach club, pool, spa, gym, hamman, massage/treatment rooms, beauty salon, bars etc…), it has a fun feature with all the guest suites named after Formula 1 Grand Prix race circuits. The owner seems to be a racing afficionado and hosted his first party during the Istanbul F1 race aboard Victorious. Just in case you need it, there is a helipad for easy access from anywhere.
STANDOUT SAILING YACHTS
Standout Sailing Yachts included: Path (44.6m) from Baltic Yachts, Grace III (39.34m) from SES Yachts, Swan 120(36.55) from Nautor’s Swan, Morgana (30.5) from Southern Wind Shipyard, Nahita (28.3m) from Wally, Ribelle(32.6m) from Vitters, Clan VIII (45m) from Perini Navi, Alexia (30.63m) from Wally, Shenandoah of Sark (54.35m) from Townsend & Downey.
APRES SHOW HOURS
As each day of the Monaco Yacht Show came to a close, the customary cocktails aboard yachts and at exhibition booths were not happening due to Covid precautions. And the nightly parties in the Monaco Yacht Club were also missing, especially the annual highly anticipated Luerssen Gala Closing Party. Thus, this year there was less opportunity to meet and mingle at the show site.
There was still the Upper Deck VIP Lounge. Belair Fine Art Monte-Carlo was clever enough to pick up the slack and host nightly cocktail events at their gallery at the Fairmont Hotel serving wonderful wine and champagne plus homemade pasta to a packed crowd both indoors and outside. And of course, Monte Carlo as a backdrop has endless happening hot spots and restaurants to gather with fellow yacht show attendees and exhibitors.
The American Bar in the Hotel de Paris is a fan favorite and the ever-popular Sass Café always draws a crowd as well as Buddha Bar. Plus, restaurants like Coya, Cipriani and Twiga which turns into a club in the wee hours were rocking. And we can’t of course forget the legendary nightclub, Jimmy’z to dance the night away under the stars in Monte Carlo.
FORT LAUDERDALE BOAT SHOW UP NEXT
Stay tuned stateside as the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show returns October 27th thru October 31st in Florida. It will be the 62nd Annual Show and is the largest in-water show of boats and marine exhibits in the world. In 2019, the show had a $1.3 billion statewide economic impact and $714 million in products were sold over the 5-day event. With the booming boating industry showing no signs of slowing down, this year’s show is certain to break all records.
