Monaco…Whatever Floats Your Boat

For the 28th time last September, Monaco hosted the Monaco Yacht Show which featured an eye watering display of some of the most luxurious vessels afloat. Once again in conjunction with the New Zealand pavilion Fiji’s Port Denarau Marina was there to fly the flag for the South Pacific maritime community supported by Tourism Fiji. Apart from offering the only kava tasting courtesy of a man in a grass skirt (exotic, even in this milieu) Port Denarau was talking up its ever expanding popularity among the owners of the world’s super yachts.

According to Nigel Skeggs, director of Port Denarau Marina, last year 65 boats greater than 80 foot LOA (along with a further 554 of lesser length) visited the glamorous port. These numbers demonstrate the amazing growth in both visitor numbers and revenue flowing into Fiji’s economy. The equivalent numbers in 2010 were 32 super yachts and 668 smaller boats but it’s the financial contribution that impresses most – the total contribution to the Fiji economy ballooned from FJ$33 million to FJ$42.6 million.

Among the MYS 2018 collection of luxury yachts, 40 were brand-new designs that were unveiled by leading shipyards to showcase their work, as is the case every year. While the final decision to exhibit a yacht always remains with the owners, their agents and representatives work closely with the organisers of the show to allow it to offer the finest showcase of super yachts available.

“The Monaco Yacht Show has a worldwide reputation for the exceptional quality of the collection of super yachts on display each year that average close to 50m overall. About sixty of the yachts exhibited are less than two years old,” explains Gaëlle Tallarida, General Manager of the Show, before stressing that “We work in co-ordination with participating yacht brokers and shipyards in the interest, first and foremost, of the individual visitor, whether owner or future owner and to help new clients discover the world of luxury offered only by the super yacht industry. The MYS has a duty to offer visitors the best possible experience, with the supreme quality of the yachts as one of the leading criteria.”

A tailor-made program of visits to specific yachts was available for private super yacht clients. Offering exclusive services enabling new guests to make the most of the show as they took their first steps in the confidential world of luxury yachting.

In addition to things afloat Monaco Yacht Show offers a few other upscale diversions for those that like to accessorise their super yachts with something equally lavish in the carpark. A visit to the ‘car deck’ introduced yacht owners to a selection of ‘dedicated tailor-made vehicles and hypercars or customised models. In limited editions or as unique prototypes’ some of which were available for test drives by potential buyers.