NAVIS Oct/Nov'25

Each September, Monaco transforms into the epicenter of the yachting world, where heritage, glamour, and innovation converge against the dazzling backdrop of Port Hercule. The Monaco Yacht Show has long been the stage where the finest expressions of design and engineering meet the art of luxury living, and the 2025 edition was no exception.

From the moment we stepped into the Principality, the scale of the event was unmistakable: an unrivaled collection of motor and sailing yachts, shipyards unveiling their latest visions, and brands from across the luxury spectrum presenting creations that push boundaries. This year carried both the grandeur one expects from Monaco and a sense of discovery, with extraordinary premieres like Feadship’s M/Y Valor commanding attention in the motor yacht sector, while the striking Wallywind 110 set a new benchmark for sailing yacht design.

Driven by a passion for nature and discovery, Columbus Yachts’ Atlantique models display precisely sculpted hull lines echoing the streamlined shapes of marine fauna, similar to one of the fastest fish in the sea, the sailfish. Slipping through the water with a stern design usually reserved for modern sailing yachts, the 47-meter Atlantique Acqua Chiara allows guests an intimate connection with the sea, hovering just 50 cm above the waterline. It simply doesn’t get better than that.

Private Previews of Wallywind 110 Sequel at Phi Beach, Yacht Club de Monaco, and Cannes.

It is said that one will never mistake a Wally for anything else. Dozens of details prove that statement true. Wally founder Luca Bassani continues to set expectations higher with every build, finding ways to advance each facet of his sleek yachts with incredible innovations. In the wake of Galma, Wallywind’s first hull of the 110 series, Bassani feels this new second 110 build, in many regards, just may be the best one yet.

At a private Wally event at the exclusive open-air club Phi Beach, near Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, on August 30, 2025, guests previewed the newest 110 in proper Ferretti fashion while enjoying festive glasses of bubbles, delicious fare, and a popular DJ. A brand of the Ferretti Group, Wally is the only Ferretti marque that builds sailing yachts. Wally also builds a collection of power yachts, from the Wallytender 43 to the Wallywhy 200, all testimony to the mantra, “Our only rule is that there are no rules.”

For a century, the Rolex Fastnet Race has been a formidable rite of passage in the world of offshore sailing. It is a contest where raw power often collides with the unforgiving forces of the Celtic Sea. Yet, the 51st edition, marking the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1925, unfolded differently. This legendary race became less a test of physical endurance and more a profound mental examination, rewarding tactical brilliance, strategic patience, and unwavering tenacity above all else.

Organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and supported by Rolex since 2001, the race has always been a pillar of the international yachting calendar. The centenary edition saw a record fleet of 444 yachts start from Cowes, England, on July 26th, ready to tackle the iconic 695-nautical-mile course to the Fastnet Rock and back to Cherbourg, France. While past editions have been defined by ravaging winds, the 2025 forecast promised a more nuanced challenge, demanding constant focus from crews as they navigated complex tides and pressure systems.

Nestled against the dramatic backdrop of the Kitzbühel Alps at 900 meters, the Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol is an alpine paradise combining traditional charm with modern décor and very sophisticated service levels. Located at the entrance to the charming town of Jochberg, in the middle of the Tyrolean Alps, it rests just 8 km from the allure of Kitzbühel. It’s also easily reachable in an hour from Salzburg and an hour and forty minutes from Munich. But this five-star property, under the seasoned leadership of General Manager Axel Bethke, offers guests an experience that transcends even elevated mountain hospitality. Since joining the prestigious Kempinski brand portfolio in 2011, the hotel has established itself as the region’s only ski-in, ski-out luxury property.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, with its willow-lined canals and traditional, white-walled buildings, transports visitors back to Japan’s Edo period when the city was an important regional trade hub for rice. While some call Kurashiki the “Venice of Japan,” this historic quarter infuses warmth, charm, and refinement to an otherwise bustling modern city.

Ryokan Kurashiki rises here, a singular minimalist sanctuary amidst shadows from weeping willows cast across stone-bridged canals and centuries-old warehouses now converted to cafes, boutiques, and museums. Far more than accommodation, the ryokan is a masterclass in the refined art of less becoming more, an extraordinary testament to Japanese minimalism.

Arriving at Soneva Jani feels like stepping into a dream that lingers long after you’ve woken. The seaplane glides to a halt on a turquoise canvas, and as you walk along the boardwalk, the lagoon stretches into infinity, framed by villas that rise like sculptures of light and wood. Paradise reveals with its extraordinary beauty, but the true essence lies deeper.

At Soneva Jani, perfection extends beyond architecture and landscapes; it embraces the way every sense is nourished. Gastronomy becomes a language of care, translating the island’s philosophy into taste, texture, and ritual. Meals evolve into experiences, seamlessly woven into the rhythm of each day, crafted with the same devotion that defines every corner of the resort. From the first sip to the first bite, clarity emerges. Food is emotion, a philosophy lived and shared with every guest.

There’s a strange kind of silence that follows a car like this. Not because it’s electric— it isn’t —but because Brouillard doesn’t need noise to get your attention. It just is.

Sitting low against a gravel courtyard, still warm from a short morning idle, the coupe looks like someone sculpted a wisp of green mist and stretched it across four meters of carbon fiber. Even the name, Brouillard, French for “fog”, feels more atmospheric than automotive.

This is the first creation under Bugatti’s new Programme Solitaire, a coach-building initiative that goes beyond Sur Mesure and lands somewhere between sculpture, obsession, and ancestry. Two cars a year. One-of-ones only. Each built not just to the client’s specification, but around an idea, a story, a memory.