There is no greater celebration and concentration of quality superyachts than the Monaco Yacht Show. Now in its 26th year, the Show, hosted under the patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, continues to host more yacht debuts, VIP owner experiences and on water sales than ever before.
Elite Traveler swept in for a whistle-stop tour and has selected the highlights (literally in some cases) of the yachts, toys and concepts presented at this year’s Show.
Bell 525 Relentless
The first port of call was the debut of the Bell 525 Relentless, an impressive and imposing helicopter that boasts an interior more akin to a private jet. Offering an incredible amount of space to guests who can sit back and converse in comfort without the restrictions of headsets and within relative quiet, this game changer is surely the next step in VIP travel and luxury.
FFC Choice
Dutch shipyard Feadship celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Future Concept presentation by unveiling arguably their most exciting and courageous design to date – the 244ft ‘Choice’. Boasting two detachable tenders that, at a roomy 80ft can accommodate guests in the utmost luxury, are designed to enable access to destinations that a larger yacht can’t reach. Choice also has a drone, a motion compensated pool and a detachable beach house for guests to enjoy.
Triton Submarines
Triton Submarines unveiled their 1650/3 lightweight ‘shallow’ submarine at the Show, specifically developed for the superyacht market. Capable of taking two passengers to depths of 1,650 feet within air conditioned luxury, this submarine presents a comfortable and safe way of exploring the deep without the typical rigmarole of heavier submarine deployment.
Ulysses
Even from her anchor position out in the bay of Monaco, Ulysses commanded the attention of Show visitors. The buzz surrounding this yacht was palpable – which can arguably be attributed to her size (352ft), the yard that built her (superyacht-specific relative newcomer Kleven Verft) and her imposing silhouette (military style rough lux). Elite Traveler was lucky enough to be invited on board and was given a rare glimpse of her chic modern interior.
Kohuba
Kohuba, one of Princess Yacht’s multi-award winning M-Class series launched earlier this year, is a magnificent showcase of the craftsmanship and originality of the Plymouth based yard. One of the first things you notice when boarding, if you happen to look up to the flybridge, is a custom-built motorcycle encased in a glass box on display, ready to be manoeuvred to shore and driven off by the owner.