The Monaco Yacht Show 2023: A Round Up of the Top Stories

The Monaco Yacht Show 2023 undoubtedly saw a range of exciting updates for the industry; we take a look at six of the top news that was unveiled during the show. We delve into the announcement of the launch of the first Amels 80, the unveiling of two concept designs from Feadship and Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, the reveal of Benetti's 85m project and Rossinavi’s 66m diesel electric ALCHEMY, as well as taking a look at Lürssen's 97m CARINTHIA VII following her 10-month refit. 

The First Amels 80 Launched

On schedule to be delivered in 2025, the first Amels 80’s new hull and superstructure were spotted outside of her build shed. Described by Sean Bianchi, Partner and Head of New Construction at Burgess, and Naval Architect, as a yacht which will ‘stand out amongst her peers and set the benchmark for future yachts’, her launch was highly exciting news announced by the shipyard on the first morning of the yacht show.

Designed by Espen Øino, Amels 80 features a holistic and modern exterior design, in keeping with the Amels DNA. She also features sustainable materials and innovative hybrid technology, a key factor of the next-generation Amels' design. 

‘The Amels 80 is a design that will not age. Her modern strong lines will look as good in 10 years as the day she is delivered. She is a big ship, full of features, with an impressive interior volume. She is everything and more that you would expect from an 80-metre yacht. There is a sense of scale, and nothing is wasted,’ commented Espen Øino.

Her interiors are custom-built, penned by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, with a neutral and natural palette, allowing for the owner to add their own personal style. She can accommodate up to 14 guests, who can enjoy a 200 square metres sun deck, a waterside beach club which opens on three sides and a wellness area and spa, to name a few of the fantastic amenities on board. 

Benetti’s Full-Custom Espen Øino-Designed 85m Project Announced 

PROJECT LIFE, Benetti’s new full-custom 85m, is a welcome addition to the Italian yard’s megayacht fleet. Her exteriors have also been penned by Espen Øino, who has injected Benetti’s distinctive characteristics into PROJECT LIFE’s design: the capacity to invent new lifestyles, offering varied interpretations of this concept across the decks. All spaces onboard are designed with sociability in mind, for instance, the large revolving lounge that changes its focal point depending on the time of day. 

Her interiors have been designed by Francois Zuretti, who has chosen a beautiful balance between the colours and the surrounding environment, with an expanded opening that allows natural light to enhance the spaces. 

PROJECT LIFE is built with all the available technologies to help reduce consumption, including diesel-electric propulsion and integrated hybrid solar panels that collect solar and thermal energy to power appliances onboard.

A Look Inside Lürssen’s 97m CARINTHIA VII Following Refit 

Following a 10-month refit by Lürssen at its Hamburg facilities, the results of CARINTHIA VII’s extensive refit were revealed at this year's Monaco Yacht Show, where she was presented to the charter market for the first time, represented by Fraser.  

She was designed by Tim Heywood, regarded by many as one of the world’s first true mega yachts. Kept largely hidden from industry over the last 21 years, with her interior rarely seen, her introduction to the charter market has been eagerly awaited, as has the results of her refit. 

Her new work includes redesigned exterior decks, new lounge and living areas and a new 12m/39’ pool and 90sqm air-conditioned gymnasium. Her interiors are sophisticated and elegant, with beautiful wooden flooring pervading the design and neutral beige and browns contrasted with cool-tone hues of blues and stunningly clean white stylings. She is a true masterpiece and an unmissable offering to the charter market. 

Embracing Sustainability: Feadship Debuts Project DUNES

DUNE takes a significant step towards Feadship’s goal of Net-Zero superyachts, combining features that reduce energy demand with technology that eliminates emissions and increases efficiency. Each individual element of the design assists in reducing environmental impact, for instance, shading windows to reduce cooling requirements, however, when implemented together, they slash a superyacht’s environmental impact dramatically.  

Inspired by the aesthetics of sand dunes, this vessel reflects the onboard lifestyle that today’s owners desire, with flexible, multi-purpose spaces, endless views, and a combination of sociable open-plan areas with cosy, intimate spaces. She has an asymmetrical superstructure with almost no straight lines, meaning that spaces drift into one another, furthering the notion of flow throughout the yacht, and the heavy use of glass seamlessly blends the interiors with the surroundings. 

Her design, along with all Feadship concepts, is a true joint effort between Feadship, Studio de Voogt and the yard's Knowledge and Innovation department. With a wealth of expertise and experience across all collaborators, the shipyard’s concept designs are able to be of the highest possible quality. 

AWARE, The Essence of Luxury, Presented by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design

Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design presented the 79.9m yacht concept AWARE at the Monaco Yacht Show, a ready-to-build, fully operational concept with a 1600 mm scale model. Her design combines proven technology with innovation and the use of the most precious and durable materials. At the forefront of this design is space optimisation, with an abundance of space on board, vast exterior decks and an unparalleled inside-outside connection, 

AWARE has been described as the ‘Essence of Luxury’: a logical step in yacht design in which all space is optimised to give guests on board the best possible experience. Sander Sinot, Designer at the firm commented:

‘For the design of AWARE the focus is on maximising the space on board within the yacht’s limited structure. We designed open plan layouts for the beach club, lounges and exterior decks that offer inherent flexibility and ample space while reducing the number of decks.’

With exceptional features to optimise the outside areas, including a beach club with a three-metre high ceiling, the interiors have similarly been designed to provide ultimate functionality and a spectacular inside-out experience. She is a tri-deck design with an open plan pavilion on the bridge deck, allowing for unrestricted views of the ocean on all sides. 

Rossinavi’s 66m Diesel Electric Motor Yacht ALCHEMY

Unveiled at Port Hercules was Rossinavi’s 66m M/Y ALCHEMY, a fully custom design by Vitruvius Yachts with interior and exterior styling by Enrico Gobbi. She features diesel-electric propulsion, propelled by rods to reduce the loss of energy between the engines and navigation speed. 

ALCHEMY is an elegant tri-deck design with a focus on the outdoor areas and wellness aspects of the yacht. With a spacious central corridor, the forward owner’s cabin offers a clear view of the sea, creating a sense of openness in the design alongside a strong connection to the surroundings. A special emphasis has been placed on ensuring comfort on board, in particular the minimisation of vibrations, meaning that every technical and material choice has been considered to reduce noise and vibrations. 

The atmosphere throughout this vessel is calm and elegant, with every single piece of furniture being bespoke. Enrico Gobbi commented:

‘Spa mood was the keyword for the interior design and exterior decor of this yacht; natural materials, soft colours, and essential shapes for the interiors. Soft indirect lights to 'wet' the simplicity of the forms, where the detail and construction quality had to emerge and characterize the space: 'detail makes the differences' this is the motto that we have followed more than ever in this project together with the owners.’

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The 32nd edition of the Monaco Yacht Show was as spectacular as ever, we can only begin to imagine the wonders that the 2024 event will hold.