Jewels set to sail into Monaco

In the world of Formula 1, the Monaco Grand Prix is widely regarded as the jewel in the season’s crown. Admittedly the racing isn’t generally that great, but it’s the glitz and glamour, the vast number of celebrities and social elite and, of course, the huge yachts in the famous harbour that make it the event that it is.

The Monaco harbour is always busy, full of everything from small pleasure craft to sailing yachts, superyachts and even megayachts that are too big to even fit in the harbour. Why are we talking about this? Well, it’s nearly time for two of the jewels in the yachting calendar, the Monaco Yacht Show and the Cannes Yacht Show, just down the road on the French Riviera.

They both feature a wide range of the latest yachts, accessories, water toys and luxury goods that you associate with the world’s most wealthy, from watches to cars and even private jets. Not surprisingly there’s also a focus on sustainability, with both shows having dedicated areas to showcase everything from sustainable materials to alternative propulsion systems such as electric and hydrogen.

The main focus though will be the vessels themselves and the star attraction is likely to be the new Lurssen AHPO. At 115m long, it will be the largest vessel in Monaco but for many it will be the smaller boats that generate the real buying interest.

Gulf Craft will debut its new 37m Majesty 120, built from carbon fibre to reduce weight. It begins to tick the sustainability box too with plans for electrified propulsion. Pirelli, yes the same company that makes tyres, will debut the new Pirelli 50. Technically it’s not actually built by Pirelli though, it’s really a Technorib but the Italian name sounds cooler and the new model is a walk around, which means you can use it for fun on the dam or speed off across Table Bay.

Arcadia Yachts will display its new Sherpa 80 XL at Cannes, a 24m yacht that looks like it means business. It combines the design of luxury yachts with explorer vessels to give the impression that you could take it anywhere and go in search of new adventures.

Invictus Yachts will debut its new GT320S, a sports boat that is packed with luxury and power courtesy of two 300hp Yamaha engines, though it can cope with up to 900hp if you really want to increase those knots while passing Camps Bay or heading out of Eden Island in the Seychelles.

Shows like these aren’t always about the physical presence of boats either. Often yacht builders and designers will present new designs with the intention of attracting interest from buyers and investors. It’s a big part of any big yacht show and both Monaco and Cannes will provide an opportunity for many to show their latest visions.

One of these is the new Sanlorenzo SP110, which has emerged from the minds of designers Bernardo and Martina Zuccon. It’s designed to be a sports boat, one that looks very different to rivals in the market and still offers the kind of luxury an owner expects.

It’s also not all about the boats themselves because as with any product show, there are plenty of suppliers. Everyone from design houses to naval architects, materials suppliers to propulsion companies, and a whole load of business keen to show their latest innovations, will be present. It’s almost as though a yacht show is the same as any other show you might visit, but let’s be honest, it isn’t and if you think there’s glamour at the Monaco F1, it has nothing on the glamour of one of the biggest yacht shows on the calendar.