The Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show are highlights on the annual yachting calendar. The Relevance Yacht team has been attending these two yacht shows for more than a decade and 2023 was no different.
Our team of yacht marketing experts was delighted to meet with existing clients and potential new clients. We were also kept incredibly busy, managing social media feeds for our clients, handling yacht photography and videography, and even overseeing the global launch of one of the world’s most exciting yachts (more on this below!).
One of the most exciting aspects of attending both shows is the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in the yachting industry. In our 2023 Cannes Yacht Show & MYS recap we explore some of the most exciting trends that our team spotted at the shows.
Cannes Yachting Festival & Monaco Yacht Show Review 2023
Key trends our team spotted at the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show 2023 were futuristic yacht design, a focus on sustainability, an increased desire for more deck space, and luxury automotive collaborations. Let’s explore each in more detail.
1 – Futuristic Yacht Design
The Monaco Yacht Show is known for its global debuts that often push the boundaries of conventional yacht design, and this year was no different. The luxury catamaran THIS IS IT showcased how the yachting industry is willing to embrace radical design. Built by Tecnomar, part of the Italian Sea Group, THIS IS IT boasts a captivating asymmetrical design inspired by supercar automotive design. She boasts an aerodynamic profile complemented by fluid and organic lines and a sophisticated interior with a Champagne-infused colour palette and rare materials throughout.
THIS IS IT also demonstrated the increasing rise in multi-hull vessels as owners seek increased volume and comfort. This incredible 43.5-metre yacht boasts spectacular onboard amenities, including a swimming pool, a vertical garden, and incredible, multi-layered deck space.
Relevance Yacht was delighted to work with THIS IS IT on its global launch at the Monaco Yacht Show. We provided a full suite of creative services, including creating a unique website, content marketing, social media and Reels creation, and arranging a highly successful press conference with leading industry publications.
2 – Focus on Sustainability
As always, sustainability is now a significant focus at both the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show.
The Cannes Yachting Festival included a Green Route, an initiative that clearly identified sustainable and eco-friendly products and service providers. The festival also showcased several global debuts of eco-friendly yachts. These included:
- NYUMBA, a 29-metre sailboat and the first hybrid sailboat in the Southern Wind fleet
- Long Island 86 Power, a 26-metre hybrid catamaran
- Magellano 60, a highly fuel-efficient 18-metre yacht
A highlight of the show, however, was the Sialia 57 Deep Silence, a pioneering 17.6-metre electric vessel that has earned acclaim for its advanced technology and environmental consciousness.
Developed by Sialia Yachts, a Relevance Yacht client, in partnership with AMPROS, a leading electric battery provider, the 57 Deep Silence sets a new benchmark in electric vessels without any compromise on performance or style.
Sialia also gave a thought-provoking presentation on yacht sustainability at the MYS 2023. The presentation, entitled “Taking An Ecosystem Approach To Yacht And Tender Operations”, explored the importance of operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.
At the Monaco Yacht Show, the focus on a greener future was underpinned by the Sustainability Hub, an exhibition space that continues to grow, showcasing companies specialising in eco-friendly technologies. The Monaco Yacht Show also showcased multiple eco-friendly yachts, including:
- SAVANNAH, a 83.5-metre superyacht built by Feadship and the yard’s first eco-friendly motor yacht
- ART EXPLORER, a 46.5-metre eco-friendly sailing catamaran, built under the Perini Navi brand and reportedly the largest aluminium sailing catamaran in the world
- SUNREEF 80 ECO, a 24-metre sailing catamaran with an electric engine that uses revolutionary green technology for when the wind drops
3 – The Desire for Space
There’s no question that yachts are getting bigger, and there is a specific focus on outdoor space.
As part of our CYS & MYS review, one key trend we spotted across both yacht shows was the design trend for more open spaces, expansive sun decks, and large seating areas, reflecting how owners and charterers seek large convivial spaces in which to embrace the outdoors, whether for soaking up the sun in an exotic locale or enjoying panoramic sea views.
This trend could be seen on the Pershing GTX116, exhibited at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2023, with sundecks across three levels and large seating areas.
Azimut’s Magellano 60, also on show at the Cannes Yachting Festival, enables boat owners to maximise the outdoor space to their liking with transformable setups geared to the unique desires of each owner. The stern on the Magellano 60, for example, can be transformed into a terrace with a transparent parapet, fostering a greater connection with the ocean.
At the Monaco Yacht Show, superyacht FORCE BLUE was on show, fresh from a recent refit that saw her stern extended to create an incredible sea-level lounging and sunbathing area, complete with an extended swim platform that transforms into a spacious beach club. This aft extension was purposefully designed to ensure FORCE BLUE appeals to the charter market, where outdoor space is a key consideration when selecting a charter vessel.
4 – The Influx of the Automobile Industry
Luxury automobile brands, including BMW, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and Brabus, are entering the yachting industry. It’s no secret that boat designers have been taking inspiration from automotive design for years; however, luxury marques are now teaming up with shipyards to create a new breed of watercraft, from ultra-luxurious superyachts to tenders and water toys.
One boat on display at the MYS 2023 was the BMW X TYDE THE ICON, a 13.5-metre electric vessel that is the result of a collaboration between BMW and the new German tech start-up TYDE. The new foiling watercraft, named THE ICON, boasts a range of more than 50 nautical miles at 24 knots and a maximum speed of 30 knots. The boat’s ‘origami’ design offers elevated head height in the interior, while the BMW-designed helm station, made to look and feel like the BMW iDrive operation system, is a firm nod to the collaboration between the tech start-up and the luxury marque.
Relevance Yacht: harnessing the latest yachting trends to deliver impactful results
Relevance Yacht is a leading, full-service yacht marketing agency that works with global yachting brands and niche industry start-ups. Contact our team to learn more about our creative and marketing services and how we can help elevate your brand.