Lucie Gardiner takes her pick of the yachts not to miss at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show.
CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL
This year’s Cannes Yachting Festival is set to open the yacht show season in style. Celebrating its 45-year history, the festival will feature over 650 boats, ranging from innovative small craft to luxurious superyachts, with nearly 55,000 industry experts and yacht aficionados expected to attend.
The newly introduced in-water display in the Vieux Port showcases smaller boats, in a clear response to industry demands and reflects the festival’s dedication to exhibiting diverse maritime craft. The Super Yachts Extension (SYE), will present thirty large motor yachts over 24 metres.
From the Jetée showcasing prestigious yachts exceeding 45 metres to the expanded sea trial area for easier and safer sea trips, the festival encapsulates a wide range of nautical craft. The Quai Max Laubeuf will feature multihull motor catamarans, while areas like the Quai Saint-Pierre and Pantiero Quay focus on luxury day boats and medium-sized flybridge boats.
The 2023 edition reaffirms the status of Cannes Yachting Festival as a forward-thinking platform for industry leaders, one that continues to respond to market trends and demands while embracing technological advancements and sustainability. The comprehensive range of exhibits promises a multifaceted experience, enhancing professional connections and providing insights into the industry’s future.Â
WALLY WHY 150
Building on the success of the WHY200, Wally is unveiling the 24m WHY150 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival. Its striking design features floor-to-ceiling glass, best observed in the master cabin with 270-degree panoramic views. The collaboration between the Wally-Ferretti Group Engineering team and Studio Vallicelli Design ensures state-of-the-art construction, optimising both aesthetics and functionality. With an unusually high bow, the WHY150 promises to be an innovative addition to modern yachting, displaying meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to advancing industry standards.
Grand Soleil 72
The Grand Soleil 72 Performance by Cantiere del Pardo is a remarkable combination of innovation, sustainability, and sophisticated design. This 72-foot vessel has been crafted for owners who desire a bespoke approach, offering comfort, safety, and autonomy while firmly committing to environmental stewardship. Striving for minimal environmental impact and maximum recyclability, the yacht stands as a beacon of responsible sailing. In collaboration with Nauta, the interiors seamlessly blend elegant and functional spaces, like the cosy L-shaped sofa in the living room and the efficiently arranged side-galley. The Performance version uniquely balances dining and relaxation areas without disrupting crew operations. The Grand Soleil 72 Performance stands as a testament to the Forlì-based shipyard’s exceptional craftsmanship and relentless attention to detail.
Sunreef 80 Eco
The Sunreef 80 Eco exemplifies innovation and pleasing aesthetics with its integration of advanced solar technology. 1,720sq.ft of solar panels are seamlessly embedded into the hull, mast, and superstructure, powering the yacht’s two 180kW electric motors. Combined with five lithium units, this system provides an efficient and silent cruising experience. Sunreef’s custom-designed photovoltaic cells meet demanding specifications, ensuring flexibility, strength, and efficiency. The customisable layout, offering a comprehensive helm station and a 360-degree-view flybridge, feels expansive.
Majesty 111
The Majesty 111, by UAE-based shipyard Gulf Craft, is the only composite yacht design to appear in our ‘best of’ list and made its debut at this year’s Dubai show. With both the interior and exterior designed by the Dutch studio, Phathom, this 240GT superyacht offers a warm, modern atmosphere with six spacious cabins. Highlighted by the owner’s suite, with a glass-floored dip pool that floods the lower deck with light, the Majesty 111 represents the latest evolution between the Majesty 100 and 120 models, built for both charter and private use.
MONACO YACHT SHOW
Amels M/Y ENTOURAGE
Entourage is a 60m Amels masterpiece, combining Espen Øino International’s exterior brilliance with Damen Yachting’s engineering expertise, and setting new benchmarks in design. The unique interiors by Canadian design studio Burdifilek offer an extra-large owner’s suite and accommodation for up to 12 guests. The extended sun deck, featuring a Jacuzzi, BBQ area, and alfresco dining space, along with structural innovations like a reversed staircase, make Entourage a future classic.
Bilgin M/Y Leona
The second hull of the Bilgin 263 series, Leona, is one not to miss at this year’s MYS. The 80-metre sister ship to the wildly popular ‘Tatiana,’ Leona is distinguishable by her sleek, scarlet hull courtesy of Antalya-based Unique Yacht Design, and her interiors courtesy of British studio H2 Yacht Design. Leona places more emphasis on space, with cabin numbers reduced to provide larger accommodation. The expansive owner’s deck with a private pool, and tiger onyx fireplace in the main saloon, are stand out features.
Turquoise M/Y Jewels
M/Y Jewels, a 53m superyacht by Turquoise Yachts, exemplifies elegance with her sharp lines and geometric structure. Designed by DeBasto Designs and H2 Yacht Design, her interiors blend teak, gold inlays, and colourful textiles, providing space for 18 guests. The upper salon, with its French blue theme, and the spacious sun deck, equipped with a hot tub, define her identity. Jewels not only embodies sophistication but also represents an extraordinary collaboration between designers, shipyard, and owner.
Golden Yachts M/Y O’Rea
Golden Yachts’ 78-metre O’Rea is a real head-turner with a contemporary plumb bow and trapezium-shaped windows. Crafted in Athens with long-time Golden Yachts collaborator Stefano Vafiadis, and with help on the interior from Italy’s Massari Design, the vessel’s interior features more than 250 exquisite finishes, including precious stones and polished marble. Wellness amenities, including a sauna and massage room, as well as a stunning transverse swimming pool and beach house, lie below.
Lürssen M/Y Kismet
One of the world’s most talked-about charter yachts since her 2014 launch, Lürssen’s Kismet stands at 95.2 metres in length and is designed by Espen Øino. Now for sale and with a new CA in Cecil Wright, she is currently one of the largest vessels on the market. Accommodating 16 guests, the yacht’s interiors are by Reymond Langton Design and boast rare woods, marbles, and fabrics. The master suite, with a private deck and Jacuzzi, epitomises luxury, complemented by relaxation areas, a swimming pool, and a spa with a gym.
MULDER M/Y SEAFLOWER
Seaflower, the latest gem in the Mulder ThirtySix series, will make her debut at this edition of the Monaco Yacht Show. The exterior and interior design is from the renowned Vickers Studio. Seaflower’s five-stateroom layout is a fusion of elegance and innovation, with a full-beam master cabin offering panoramic views and luxurious ensuites for all cabins. Interior highlights include deep cut pile carpets, white-washed oak with brass trims, and vibrant fabric wall panels. Notably, Seaflower stands as the first ThirtySix built to tier 3 standards, reflecting a commendable commitment to environmental stewardship.
