There is no vessel more associated with prestige and luxury than the yacht, and there is no place on Earth more associated with opulence and excess than Monaco. The Monaco Yacht Show has certainly earned its reputation as one of the grandest showcases of maritime engineering and craftsmanship, the very best the yachting world has to offer. Even with such a stellar reputation to live up to, the multi-day showcasing exceeded even our expectations.
Surrounded by the lush, rolling hills of the south of France and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, Monaco has always had an almost surreal allure, filled with grandiosity and unbounded ambition. Even before the formal presentations began, the air was buzzing with rumors about this year’s newest fleet of yachts. Both industry titans and yachting enthusiasts gathered in anticipation of viewing some of the most impressive vessels ever to set sea.
Over the course of our stay in Monaco, we were able to witness dozens of yachts, each with its own fair share of credentials. Some yachts challenged conventional design and presented dynamically new ideas. Others stuck with traditional elements, harkening back on the yachting community’s rich and captivating history. Regardless, every craft we saw had its own unique story to tell, adding yet another chapter in the timeless tale of humanity’s passion for the sea.
With yacht shows such as these, it is seemingly impossible to record and recall all of the truly extraordinary features we were able to sense and enjoy. However, three shipyards—Lürssen, Feadship, and Perini Navi—introduced truly impressive vessels. Two fantastic dinners, both specially prepared for the NAVIS guests, will also remain in our vivid memories for many years to come. Only one place on Earth, the always fabulous Monaco, could provide such a breathtaking and illuminating experience.
While all shipbuilders featured in Monaco this year were incredibly impressive, Lürssen was perhaps in a league of their own. On the first day of the show, Lürssen unveiled a 111 meter superyacht, M/Y TIS. Complete with an operating helipad in the bow, ample outdoor deck space, and countless luxury features, this yacht is one that will be remembered for ages.
The most impressive feature of TIS is that, beyond her magnificence and splendor, she is the largest yacht ever presented in Monaco. Despite her size, she can navigate the high seas with grace and ease, carrying along both the wide-eyed and the self-indulgent everywhere she cruises.
We were fortunate enough to be among a select group of media invited to witness TIS’s exquisite interior. From the moment we stepped on board, it was as if we were transported into another world, where luxury and aesthetics reign supreme. Despite her size, the layout of TIS is surprisingly intimate. Surrounded by marble, gold, and other materials typically reserved for royalty, we reveled in a state of pure bliss as we walked her majestic halls.
TIS is the perfect blend of power and prestige; while her sturdy hull is capable of breaking through ice, her interior is committed to preserving refinement and sophistication. It is clear that—with more than 1 kilometer of space to work with—nothing was sacrificed in the crafting of this architectural and engineering masterpiece. Perfectly curved, painted, delivered, and designed, TIS is an eternal testimony to what the design team at Winch Design and Lürssen are capable of achieving. There is seemingly nothing on Earth that can be compared to the grandeur of this ship; she has set a new paradigm in the world of yachting, expressing a physical harmony between man and the Sea.
As we continued our journey through Monaco and the surrounding areas, we came across one of Feadship’s most impressive ships. Their newest launch is the fantastic SYZYGY 818. SYZYGY is a term used in astronomy to denote a rare event, such as when three heavenly bodies align perfectly, with a lunar eclipse and new moon being prime examples, and 818 truly represented the dynamism of this vessel. An experienced owner shared with NAVIS in an off-the-record conversation that SYZYGY 818 represent the future of superyachts. NAVIS looks forward to publishing a complete review of this superyacht in an upcoming issue.
During the annual Feadship Breakfast briefing, the company presented the 87-meter superyacht, affectionately named Lonian, a perfect blend of aesthetic excellence, sophistication, and an unabashed commitment to the good life.
While her sleek design, color scheme, and general layout were inspired by some of the most memorable yachts of years past, Lonian still maintains a sort of futuristic allure about her with her very distinctive appearance. She is the sort of yacht that makes a statement by simply existing. There were more than 13 years of superyacht building experience injected into Lonian’s design—and it shows. The perfect juxtaposition of light and dark, glass and wood, and countless fine details have forged an appearance that is truly timeless. The Feadship team has continued to propel the yachting industry forward, with a demand for perfection and the absolute avoidance of shortcuts. As we can see in every square inch of Lonian’s perfect body: the art of fine shipbuilding is alive and thriving.
While we have discussed, at length, the importance of tradition throughout the yachting community, we cannot ignore the need to constantly keep innovating. This year, one of the most innovative and futuristic designs was produced by Perini Navi. Rightly named The Falcon Rig Gallery, this collaborative project produced a collection of five sleek sailing yachts — measuring between 56m and 92m— ripped straight from the visionaries of the 23rd century.
From above, The Falcon Rig design has an absolutely lust-inducing geometry. Her sleek, narrow triangular frame presents the perfect blend of straight and curved lines. It is the physical manifestation of the works of Perini Navi Design Team, known for constantly challenging industry orthodoxy and demanding progress. The company also announced the formation of a join venture with Dykstra and Magma to make the Dyna rigs available to the yachting industry.
Leveraging the use of today’s latest technologies, the Falcon Rig Gallery refuses to compromise on anything. The combination of futuristic design features, easy handling, and measurable performance will launch the design into flight and cause them to become a mainstay name throughout the yachting industry. While Lürssen’s exceptional mega yacht may have stolen the show with its exceptional size, the debut of Perini Navi’s Falcon Rig line has already reinvented the way we look at sailing yachts. We heard that a letter of intend was signed for a new 92m Falcon Rig. Once again, Monaco has stood out as one of the most exceptional yacht shows we have ever encountered.
Other Yachts and Upcoming Attractions
Seemingly every yacht that was able to grace the majestic harbors of Monaco this year is worthy of recognition. At a special presentation in the Fairmont Hotel Monte-Carlo, Sunseeker announced the debut of a new superyacht division. The company, which has produced 137 yachts over 33m since 2000, is excited to enter what is perhaps one of the most competitive spaces in the world, launching a new distinctive range of superyachts from 101’ up to 161’, built in collaboration with Pendennis and Icon Yachts.
We were also quite impressed with Alia Yachts’ astounding 60m Samurai. The yacht presents a perfect arrangement of decks allowing for high performance and functionality. The Baglietto 65m superyacht, which was introduced on the second day of the yacht show, presents a modern twist on the classic style that Baglietto is well-known for.
Regarding new superyacht marinas, we were able to witness Porto Montenegro’s plans for a 500 million Euro superyacht marina expansion. The investment, which will take place over the course of the next ten years, will help Porto Montenegro further maximize its potential and also establish itself as an industry innovator.
Many of our favorite yachts made an appearance on the very first day of the show. The Oceanco 90m DreamBoat presented a stunning aesthetic that received nearly universal approval. Nearby, we also marveled at an additional multi-layered ship, which was manifested in Abeking Rasmusen’s sleek and stylish boat known as excellence. One quick examination of her form and functionality will reveal that this ship, without a doubt, is one that was indeed able to live up to her ambitious name.
Our venture through the extensive array of ships, exhibits, and showcases was undeniably one that proved to be quite fruitful. We absolutely adored the Benetti 63-meter custom superyacht, which had just made its debut this year. Complete with a personalized gym on the Fly Deck along with extensive deck spaces on Owner and Bridge Deck, this was yet another example of the engineering perfection that only Benetti can provide. While slightly bigger, the CRN 79m superyacht, code name 135, who also made her debut to the world this year—was built with confidence and is able to perfectly capture the aesthetic preferences of the owners.
Overall, the many yachts we were able to see each challenged conventional design schemes and tried to offer something new to the community as a whole. We were thoroughly impressed with how Baltic was able to create interior spaces that enabled us to connect with nature in the 39m S/Y Liara. The wood, ample window space, and use of natural color schemes helped further the bond between humankind and the universe that governs our being. Elsewhere, Tankoa’s Bintador (50m) and Columbus’ 80m DRAGON were able to show off their geometrically perfect frames. We were able to also witness 48m M/Y Lilium, from Bilgin Yachts, float peacefully with the Mediterranean sun gently setting in the background.
The universal commitment to quality and aesthetic perfection could not be denied. As could be clearly seen with every vessel we had the good fortune to lay eyes upon, the yachting community keeps pushing itself to generate new ideas. Evolution, as Darwin would agree, is a constant process. Royal Huisman impressed us with their Dina-Rig 88m super sailing yacht project, named Lotus. Rossinavi, with their 50m project Alfa, Wally with their Wallypower 165, Heesen with their 57m project Akira, and Pershing with their project 140 proved that the supersport superyacht sector is active and full of innovative designs. Whether one is looking for a simple form of transportation or one of the most elegant superyachts in the world, excellence is undoubtedly well within reach. Beyond these companies, nearly every major European yacht builder made some sort of appearance in Monaco this year. We were pleased to learn about the industry’s broader developments and see this dynamic community come together.
Dining in Paradise
Of course, no trip to Monaco could be complete without some culinary indulgence. As is our custom, the NAVIS team was able to arrange two spectacular meals for a select group of guests, with some of the world’s most renowned chefs. At the Vistamar Restaurant at Hotel Hermitage, we enjoyed Chef Witz’s world-renowned commitment to gastronomic perfection. Vistamar is a restaurant that is able to truly capture the eclectic flavors of the Mediterranean while creating an intimate and thought-provoking dining experience. The menu—which included celery cream, sea bream, rack of lamb, various cheeses, and crowned with an elegant chocolate flower for dessert—was one worthy of praise and admiration. The annual NAVIS dinner, which convened at a new restaurant from Alain Ducasse called Ômer, at Hotel de Paris, allowed us to celebrate yet another year of yachting enthusiasm and excellence. Overlooking Port Hercules, the five-course meal was filled with rich flavors, thought-provoking conversation, was the perfect way to bid farewell to Monaco.
The Magic of Monaco
As we departed Monaco, it seemed as if we were stepping out of a dream and returning back to reality. Monaco is much more than a place; Monaco is a state of mind and something we can take with us everywhere we go. As we experience the majesty of a finely-crafted yacht and as we mingle with fine food and drink in hand, it becomes abundantly apparent that the magical allure of Monaco continues on. The 2019 Monaco Yacht Show presented an unprecedented world of wonder and majesty. We don’t know what next year’s show will have in store, but we know one thing for sure: we must return.
It is a pleasure to thank those who made this article possible:
Monte-Carlo SBM
Website: https://www.montecarlosbm.com
Ômer Retaurant - Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris
Website: www.alain-ducasse.com
Immeuble Bords de Seine 1 - 3 Esplanade du Foncet
92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Le Vistamar Restaurant at Hotel Hermitage
Website: https://www.montecarlosbm.com
ASPIS
Website: www.aspis-superyachts.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ASD
Website: www.asd-superyachts.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
