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the Monaco Yacht Show 2025

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Published 26 September 2025

Digital Marketing Executive

Cordelia specialises in luxury travel storytelling, drawing on experience across sectors from private gardens to superyachting. With a passion for the ocean and environment, she combines creativity and marketing expertise to craft narratives that resonate with UHNW audiences.

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Expedition and innovation at Monaco Yacht Show 2025

Pelorus co-founders Jimmy Carroll and Geordie Mackay-Lewis, along with Director of Pelorus Yachting, Gayle Patterson, and our dedicated brokerage teams, and I spent four full days at the Monaco Yacht Show, immersed in everything the world’s premier superyacht event had to offer. With over 120 yachts on display, we explored the latest launches, cutting-edge explorer yachts, and innovative tenders, while seeing first-hand the growing focus on sustainability and the environmental innovations shaping the future of yachting.

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The sun shone on Port Hercule as the Monaco Yacht Show 2025 opened with an atmosphere that captured the essence of the yachting lifestyle (as BOAT International reported), glamour set against groundbreaking design and a clear shift towards adventure-led innovation. From explorer yachts equipped for the North West Passage to interiors that blur the line between art and engineering, the show revealed how the future of superyachting is being redefined. Among the highlights were expedition-ready launches, dramatic wellness spaces, and the 89-metre HERE COMES THE SUN, relaunched after a six-metre extension and major rebuild. Sustainability ran through it all, with shipyards showcasing pioneering solutions that align with Pelorus’ own vision of responsible exploration and the wider shift championed by the Water Revolution Foundation.

Pelorus Perspectives

“We’re seeing yachts evolve to host more than just guests, from scientists to wellness teams, enabling deeper, more meaningful expeditions for our clients.”

Charlie Comport

"Every conversation we had revolved around experience, not just ownership."

Gayle Patterson

"I was impressed by the yachts with vast wellness spaces and beach clubs that felt like true extensions of the sea, redefining onboard living."

Cordelia Cooper

"By getting onboard we can truly understand the depth of a yacht's capabilities.”

Geordie Mackay-Lewis

“We’re hearing more yachts preparing for high-latitude routes like the Northwest Passage, with upgraded ice class and endurance features to match.”

Alexandra Groom

"It’s exciting to see sustainability move from concept to construction, it’s now embedded in every serious new build."

Jimmy Carroll

"The Monaco Yacht Show also highlights something important, which is that a superyacht doesn't have to be a traditional explorer yacht to be able to explore. Many of the boats and captains we spoke to were planning on venturing further afield than they ever have before, and with the right guidance and preparation it is actually possible for any superyacht to go almost anywhere. We were able to offer our expedition services to a number of interested yachts, more than last year, and that is a trend we are very excited about!"

Alexandra Groom, Charter Broker

Explorer yachts

Explorer yachts were a clear highlight. KING BENJI (47M) stood out with a dedicated dive room, while other vessels showcased direct water access from the lazarette, features that reinforce the growing shift towards adventure-led design. This evolution was underscored by expansive wellness spaces and next-generation beach clubs are redefining onboard living, transforming yachts into floating sanctuaries connected to the sea.

Several announcements at this year’s show reflected this evolution. Oceanco revealed its largest build to date, a 130-metre flagship project, while Xplorer Yachts and Norse Shipyard announced Project MG, the world’s first wind-assisted hybrid expedition yacht. These projects, alongside Sinot’s 141-metre Aura concept, highlight a design direction that prioritises exploration and environmental responsibility.

Innovation extended far beyond function. Interiors reflected bold design choices, from Armani-inspired spaces to memorable details such as sculptural sinks and door handles shaped like hands, peace signs and swearing fingers included, complete with rings. Dramatic dark interiors, multiple self-playing pianos, and playful, high-concept design elements underlined the creativity driving today’s superyacht scene.

"Some of my favourites have been AFTER YOU and her support vessel EMOTIONAL, built by Damen and a true explorer. I’m also really looking forward to getting on HERE COMES THE SUN to see the refit and what’s been done with her. Designed interiors by Winch Design with a Tim Heywood exteriors, HERE COMES THE SUN exemplifies the harmony between heritage and contemporary creativity.

Jimmy Carroll, Pelorus Co-Founder

For Pelorus, these developments, from the rise of explorer yachts and hybrid propulsion systems to the growing emphasis on sustainability, wellness, and intelligent design, are more than aesthetic. They represent a clear evolution in how yachts are conceived: as platforms for adventure, discovery, and impact, not just luxury. The conversations we had at the show confirmed that clients are increasingly looking for yachts that are platforms for exploration, research, and regeneration, vessels that offer both indulgence and impact.

Heritage icons like MARALA (59M), with her original John Roby Ltd portholes (crafted by the same makers as those for the Titanic), her distinctive copper hot tub designed to retain heat, and her engine room quirks, still requiring crew to call up to the captain to switch the engines into reverse, offer a rare blend of authenticity and living history. Alongside this, performance-driven motor yachts such as RAJA 2 (55M) highlight the breadth of possibilities. Our role is to bring these yachts to life for our clients, whether through bespoke expeditions, curated charters, or transformative experiences at sea.

"AFTER YOU and her support vessel EMOTIONAL highlight the growing trend for expedition-ready yachts that are increasingly self-sufficient, enabling extended travel to remote and untouched destinations. Together they provide a comprehensive toy inventory and, when chartered in tandem, can each accommodate a helicopter, significantly expanding access and exploration opportunities. The additional guest cabins aboard the support yacht also reflect the rising demand for space to host not only extra guests but also specialist staff such as scientists, nannies, or nutritionists, ensuring a tailored and enriching experience for Pelorus guests."

Charlie Comport, Charter Broker

Sustainable Sailing and Beach Club Living

Beyond the explorers, yachts such as Feadship’s classic DAYBREAK (52M) and the striking LIFESAGA (65M) reflected the breadth of innovation on display. DAYBREAK's refit showed how heritage vessels can be reimagined for today’s charter market, while LIFESAGA demonstrated performance and style at the cutting edge of modern design. Both highlighted the evolution of onboard living, with expansive beach clubs offering seamless access to the sea and a social focal point for life at anchor.

“Seeing yachts like DAYBREAK refitted for lower emissions shows that even heritage vessels can evolve responsibly.”

Geordie Mackay-Lewis, Pelorus Co-Founder

What stood out most wasn’t just the scale of the yachts, but the intent behind them. The launch of the Blue Wake programme placed sustainability firmly at the heart of the show, spotlighting 59 pioneers in eco-responsible innovation. From hydrogen propulsion systems to recyclable aluminium builds, and with Sanlorenzo and SilverYachts among the award winners, it was a clear message that the industry is designing with the future in mind.

The resurgence of sailing yachts this year spoke volumes about the industry’s growing commitment to sustainability. One that particularly struck me was SEVEN (60M), not only for her sleek lines and performance but also for the way her design blends comfort with a lighter environmental footprint. At Pelorus, sustainability is always key, as a certified B Corp we are committed to reducing our impact wherever possible, which can be challenging in this industry. That’s why we continue to champion responsible exploration and support meaningful initiatives through the Pelorus Foundation.

The Monaco Yacht Show 2025 Redefines the Future of Superyachting

The Monaco Yacht Show 2025 is a defining moment in the superyacht world. Beyond the 120 yachts and 50 world premieres, the focus had clearly shifted towards innovation with intent, from Blue Wake’s showcase of sustainable technologies to new launches that prioritised exploration, wellness, and intelligent design. Projects such as Oceanco’s 130m flagship and Project MG’s hybrid wind-assisted build reflected an industry moving towards purpose-driven progress rather than excess.

For Pelorus, that shift aligns perfectly with how we see the future of yachting, one built around experience, impact, and authenticity. As a B Corp, our focus remains on creating opportunities for responsible exploration and meaningful connection to the ocean. The conversations and collaborations in Monaco confirmed it: the next era of superyachting will be defined not just by where you can go, but by what you contribute along the way.

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