The organizers’ pre-show comments promised the biggest Monaco Yacht Show ever, against a background of ever growing optimism as well as positive developments for the superyacht building and services industry over the last couple of years.
Monaco Yacht Show 2014 - Photo credit to Peter Franklin
The buzz surrounding the first day, the numbers of visitors crowding around the stands in the air conditioned tents, and the sheer number of gleaming vessels, and ever more stylistically designed tenders, packed side by side along the dock certainly seemed to back up their claim.
And by way of a change, the temperature outside on the docks was pleasantly inviting, with a heavy cloud cover shielding the intensity of the sun.
Dick van Lent, boss of Superyacht Builders Feadship, said “Monaco with clouds and no rain, is the way I like it!”
2014 Monaco Yacht Show - Photo credit to Peter Franklin
Jim Acher yacht broker with Bluewater Yachting who was showing clients the new Swan 40 metre sailing yacht, echoed that view, saying that a south facing berth would normally be a like facing a furnace in the afternoons.
Simon Spong from Yachting World magazine was busy handing out his publication and also mentioned that a few friendly clouds make life easier for everyone to do business without getting scorched in the midday heat.
Possibly the highlight of the day, (although there are too many to cover all of them amongst nearly 700 exhibitors) was the launch presentation on the Royal Huisman stand of a new build project that the yard have termed ‘The Beast.’
Unveiling of the new 58m superyacht Beast by Royal Huisman - Photo credit to Peter Franklin
To a fairly large crowd of industry players and journalists the yard’s CEO Alice Huisman introduced the concept and the team behind it, with renowned naval architect Ed Dubois by her side, who later gave his view on the spectacular model of the 58 metre sailing yacht Beast as it was ceremoniously unveiled from behind a curtain.
It was explained that negotiations with the owner started back in 2007, and his overall brief was; “build me a beast. It has to be innovative and edgy, fast and furious!” Dubois said;“the owner is a highly experienced yachtsman and offshore racing sailor, and working with his vision and the enviable reputation of Royal Huisman is a great privilege.”
“He wanted a high performance, go-anywhere cruising yacht, that not only looks excitingly different, but is also beautifully built and luxuriously comfortable.”
Somewhat unusually the interior design contract has been handed to a team with no previous experience of working with yachts. But the owner has had first hand experience of working with the London based team of Rick Baker and Tom Morgan on land based projects, and Ed Dubois says, having seen their work he can see why they have been chosen!
Later in the day, the cocktail parties were in full swing, with the HISWA happy hour in the Dutch pavilion being well attended as always.
It’s manic, it’s hectic, it’s impossible to plan as you never know who you’re going to bump into and have your schedule changed..but hey, it gets bigger and busier every year, and when all is said and done, there is only one MYS!
The frenetic pace continues with even more cocktail parties planned for Thursday, and the show continues until Saturday 27 September.
Reported for BYM News by Peter Franklin
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