Reflections on Monaco Yacht Show 2023

Moravia Yachting’s team of brokers share their observations and highlights from this year’s Monaco Yacht Show.

The Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) is the ultimate superyacht gathering, providing the best opportunity for shipyards and designers to showcase their latest launches and motivated clients to assess the best brokerage opportunities available. The Moravia Yachting brokerage team were out in force during the show to survey the latest additions on the sales and charter markets and help clients strategically navigate the plethora of opportunities. 

For Sales and Charter Broker Rob Lander, this year’s MYS was a huge success, with healthy levels of client interest and attendance, plus an excellent variety and quality of yachts on display. “While the market is not quite as fast moving or inflated as we have seen in periods over the last 12 to 18 months, we are still seeing a lot of activity and interest in quality sales opportunities is still high,” he explains.  

 “The market has also seen a slight positive correction in supply and demand within the new-build sector, which had been experiencing delays in production post-pandemic and was not able to keep up with the high levels of demand. Consequently, we are still seeing very healthy – but no longer frenzied – levels of activity within the brokerage sector, making it more attractive again for potential buyers.” 

“We are still seeing very healthy – but no longer frenzied – levels of activity within the brokerage sector, making it more attractive again for potential buyers.” 

Sales Broker Roy Posthuma acknowledges a recent uptick in yachts coming onto the brokerage market, which contributed towards the quality fleet at the show. “There was a flurry in yacht purchases during the pandemic and, after two or three years, those owners are now looking for something new,” he adds. 

As such, MYS 2023 was perfectly poised to capitalise on healthy market conditions and showcase the best stock on the market. Sales Broker Sam Tucker believes the show certainly delivered in terms of turnout. “The show was a success overall with impressive attendance, and the number of yachts at anchor seemed higher than ever before,” he reports. 

Charter and Sales Broker Alastair Callender agrees; “It was the most positive Monaco Yacht Show I’ve had personally after 15 years of attending. I welcomed lots of clients from USA and UK to view various yachts on the sales and charter markets – they are always drawn to the show because it is the premier showcase of the largest and highest quality yachts on the market.” 

Throughout the show, Moravia brokers were able to inspect the stellar line up of yachts, giving them a fresh perspective on the popular and emerging trends from a design and technological perspective. One notable trend was the evolution of designs to incorporate functional exterior spaces and increased interior volumes featuring plenty of natural light. 

“One notable trend was the evolution of designs to incorporate functional exterior spaces and increased interior volumes featuring plenty of natural light.”

The 57Steel Sanlorenzo VIRTUOSITY, was a particular standout yacht for Rob. “At 57 metres, she has an interior volume of over 1,000gt, which was previously only typical of significantly larger yachts,” he notes. “The 55m2 owner’s suite and 110m2 beach club are spectacular. The owner’s suite has direct forward access to a hugely expansive private exterior deck space with pool. The beach club opens aft, port, and starboard to create a truly open space with a real connection to the water. It also features a gym, hammam, sauna, and a wet bar for refreshments. The glass bottomed pool above is another standout feature, adding yet more ‘wow factor’ and letting even more natural light into this expansive space.” 

The futuristic design of The Italian Sea Group’s 43.5m catamaran THIS IS IT also caught the team’s attention. “There is an enormous amount of space on board in full connection with the sea,” comments Charter Broker Lea Tintaud. Sam also added; “Despite the design being polarising, it’s great to see projects that push the boundaries of yacht building and engineering actually being built and delivered.” 

“It’s great to see projects that push the boundaries of yacht building and engineering actually being built and delivered.” 

The drive towards a more sustainable future in yachting was also evident at the show. “The industry is investing in alternative sources of energy, better power management systems, and greener products and protocols,” Lea advises. “Solar panel technology is being used across different shipyards to power batteries on board, and hydrogen-fuelled vessels are becoming a reality.” 

Sam observes that this year’s show proved that hybrid propulsion is becoming more prevalent. “I went on board many yachts that had progressed from conventional propulsion,” he says. This included Moravia sales listing BARTALI, which features a diesel-electric propulsion system powered by a large battery bank and four 350kw generators. 

Another yacht at the show that impressed in terms of the progress being made with hybrid propulsion was the 49.9m Rossinavi NO STRESS TWO. Powered by twin MTU engines and two electric motors powered via the battery pack, the yacht has five different operating modes to maximise energy efficiency.  

“NO STRESS TWO has a top speed of over 20 knots on main engines, or she can retain an extended cruising range at 10 knots with an outstanding efficiency of 90 litres per hour using only her generators in conjunction with the battery, which is impressive for a 50-metre yacht,” advises Rob. “Electric-only cruising at nine knots is also possible for limited range. After some years of development, it is great to see hybrid propulsion systems in yachting moving forward and become truly efficient and relevant.” 

“After some years of development, it is great to see hybrid propulsion systems in yachting moving forward and become truly efficient and relevant.” 

Other standout yachts at the show included the 90.1m (295’7”) PHOENIX 2. “I have been on board numerous times since her launch and my client interested in purchase agreed that she is looking exceptional,” shares Alastair. From a charter perspective, the 97m (318′) CARINTHIA VII was a particular highlight. “She’s recently completed a fantastic refit at Lürssen, returning to where she was built and thereby maintaining the same pedigree with a complete transformation,” adds Alastair. CARINTHIA VII is available to charter in the Caribbean this winter from €1.4 million per week plus expenses. 

Representing the 32.28m (105’9″) SL106A VISSOTTA during the show, Giuseppe Carosso reports a very satisfying MYS. “We hosted over 60 visits on board including several seriously interested clients,” he reflects. “The work carried out by the Moravia team was impeccable and it was a commercial and reputational success for the company!” 

The Moravia team enjoyed a busy show meeting clients and surveying the latest opportunities on the brokerage market. The team looks forward to consolidating all the information and intelligence garnered and using it in the months to come to match discerning owners and charterers with their perfect vessel. 

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