Two of the world’s biggest yacht shows are coming to an end, the Monaco Yacht Show and the Cannes Yachting Festival 2022, giving attendees a fascinating look at the latest yacht trends.
The Cannes Yachting Festival took place from 6 to 11 September in Vieux Port and Port Canto, with the Monaco Yacht Show following swiftly from 28 September to 1 October around the spectacular Port Hercules.
Both shows offer yachting enthusiasts the opportunity to view the latest yachts for sale and charter and meet with specialist yacht service providers. For those in the yachting industry, it’s an opportunity to market their boats and services to existing and new clients. It’s also an opportunity to network with like-minded industry professionals and learn about new and emerging yacht trends in the superyacht industry.
The marketing and content team at Relevance Yacht – the yacht marketing experts – attended both shows to learn about the latest superyacht trends, from sustainable vessels to high-performance yachts.
Let’s look at the five top yacht trends we identified from the two shows.
The top yacht trends
1 – Neo-retro
Neo-retro design is a cross between traditional and contemporary design. Just like in the automotive industry, there has been a revival in vintage and luxury nostalgia, with naval architects taking inspiration from classic boats from the 1960s and 70s. These luxury vessels boast a more traditional, timeless look yet feature cutting-edge technology and craftsmanship.
Several vessels at the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show perfectly encapsulated the neo-retro yacht trend. Just some examples included:
– Motor Yacht GB85, which boasts classic good looks and pioneering technology. At 26.58-metres, it is the largest boat built by Grand Banks, an iconic shipbuilding brand known for building vessels that combine elegance, speed, efficiency, and comfort.
– Sailing yacht SPIRIT 72 DH features traditional sailing naval architecture fused with high-performance and modern fittings. Built by Spirit Yachts – known for creating the ‘ultimate modern classic’ – SPIRIT 72 DH personifies the ethos of this UK shipbuilder. Her traditional styling is married with superb levels of comfort and the latest sailing technology, including a carbon mast and boom, electric winches, and a recyclable sail wardrobe.
– Finally, we loved FARO 5, a luxury vintage-inspired 2-metre boat that enables yachting enthusiasts to sail with elegance and respect for the environment. Its wooden construction from cryptomeria wood harks back to the glory days of boatbuilding, while its autonomous charging station powered by solar energy brings it right up to date.
2 – Sustainability
Following the eco-friendly credentials of FARO 5, sustainable yachting was a hot topic at both shows. Yacht service providers were keen to demonstrate how owners and charterers can combine the pleasure of cruising with environmental awareness.
The Cannes Yachting Festival hosted a nautical zone exclusively dedicated to electric and hybrid boats, while the Monaco Yacht’s Show’s Sustainability Hub showcased eco-friendly superyacht projects and sustainable solutions.
The yachting industry is evolving to play its part in reducing its carbon output. Among the many green solutions the yachting industry is embracing include eco-friendly propulsion systems, sustainable design features, green materials, and Earth-friendly onboard initiatives, such as garden kitchens and green cleaning products.
Both shows boasted a selection of fully electric and hybrid vessels of various sizes.
Some of our favourites include:
- Shipbuilder Sanlorenzo’s SP110 was featured at both shows. The 33-metre jet-powered superyacht harnesses the power of the sun thanks to its deckhouse designed to accommodate solar panels. The vessel offers maximum performance at the lowest fuel consumption.
- The all-electric Sunreef 80 Eco by Sunreef Yachts turned heads at the Monaco Yacht Show, showcasing how sustainable yachts can be both elegant and luxurious. This 23.9-metre sailing yacht features revolutionary integrated solar panels within the hull sides, mast, superstructure and bimini, delivering up to 36kWp and the ability to cruise in total silence.
- The elegant WINDELO 54, on show at the Cannes Yachting Festival, also embraced the sustainability yacht trend. Designed for long-distance cruising, she boasts lengthened hulls, solar panels, a large battery pack, and a spacious living space ideal for relaxation or entertaining.
3 – Power and performance
An additional trend in yachts we noted was the growing number of sporty vessels with powerful engines, including day boats. These Formula 1 vessels of the sea provide unlimited fun on the water and the option for yachting enthusiasts to zip between destinations quickly, effortlessly, and in the utmost comfort.
Just some of the high-performance yachts we spotted at both shows that encapsulated this superyacht trend included:
– The fast and powerful OTAM 58 GTS, which made her debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival and is a fresh restyle of an iconic classic from the Otam shipyard in Genoa. Restyled by Giuseppe Bagnardi of BH Design Firm in Rome, the OTAM 58 GTS is built for speed, with an incredible top speed of 55 plus knots and a cruising speed of 48 knots.
– Another incredibly powerful vessel at the Cannes Yachting Festival was the 17.6-metre 58 WALLYPOWER, an open sports cruiser boasting sporty lines and superb performance. Boasting a top speed of 40 knots and an oversized swim platform, she is perfectly designed for making the most of time on the water.
– Shipbuilder AB Yachts showcased one of their latest yachts, the 30.5-metre AB 100 at the Monaco Yacht Show. The AB 100 offers her guests the opportunity to enjoy the pure adrenaline of speeding beyond 50 knots, all while enjoying maximum comfort and unmatched efficiency. This spectacular vessel boasts cutting-edge technological solutions in stabilisation, propulsion, and seakeeping.
4 – Technology
Technology is constantly evolving, and both shows featured a significant spotlight on pioneering yacht technology and digitalisation. For several years yachting enthusiasts have expected onboard connectivity to browse the internet; however, yacht owners and charterers now seek digitally immersive and authentic experiences, and the yachting sector is responding. Just some of the exciting yacht trend innovations we saw included:
- Pixelight LED Screen Designs, which designs and installs custom indoor and outdoor HD LED video screens of breathtaking quality for an unmissable cinema experience.
- Quantum – the leading supplier of marine stabilizers – showcased their Remote Access, which harnesses the latest technology, enabling onboard yacht engineers to receive remote service and support from Quantum’s engineers, eliminating wait times for the arrival of a service technician and minimising a yacht’s downtime. Future plans include enhancing the system with virtual and augmented reality goggles.
- Stableonboard also showcased its advanced stabiliser technology, allowing yacht owners to secure their most delicate items onboard. From beds, billiard tables, screens, wine cabinets and sports equipment, Stableonboard incorporates stabilised technology into existing furniture onboard without bolting or “glueing” the item to the yacht. They work with interior vessel suppliers to boost the uniqueness and comfort onboard.
5 – Cool yacht toys and tenders
The latest yacht toys and tenders are always a highlight of the show. Who doesn’t want their superyacht loaded with the latest toys! Each year the Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show pull out all the stops to showcase some of the most exciting James Bond-like yacht toys and tenders. We also noted a rise in the number of yacht toys and tenders that are sustainable, too, tapping into the trend for sustainable yachting. Just some included:
- Iguana Yachts’ amphibious boat provides high performance on land and sea. Designed to conquer all terrains and overcome tides and shallow waters, it puts even the remotest areas at yacht owners’ fingertips.
- SeaBubbles showcased their urban hydrogen flying boat, which stays true to the company’s motto of ‘zero wave, zero noise, zero emission’. The SeaBubble H2 offers a sustainable mobility alternative to exploring waterways. The craft is powered by a hybrid hydrogen-electric propulsion system, while its retractable foils enable it to glide on the water.
- U-Boat Worx displayed their Super Sub, the ultimate high-performance sports sub. The hydrodynamic sub boasts a best-in-class propulsion system with four powerful thrusters delivering 60 kW allowing for steep 30-degree climbs and dives. As a result, the water toy offers the smoothest and most exciting underwater experience, capable of diving to depths of 300-metres while maintaining a 360-degree view.
Relevance Yacht stays abreast of the latest industry yacht trends, enabling us to deliver highly tailored marketing campaigns that deliver results. We work with some of the biggest and most exciting brands in the yachting industry, delivering custom marketing strategies. Our 360-degree services include content marketing, social media, PR, paid media, CRM, branding, SEO, and website design and development. Contact our team to learn more.