NAVIS Oct/Nov'24

Arriving in Monte Carlo is always a moment of awe, but arriving at sunset on September 24th for the Monaco Yacht Show 2024 elevated that feeling to something truly unforgettable. From my vantage point high above Port Hercules, the golden light bathed the principality’s iconic skyline, the historic Monaco Rock standing tall as a centuries-old sentinel overlooking the harbor. Below, nestled against the deep blue waters, a dazzling fleet of the world’s most exceptional yachts were docked, their sleek hulls gleaming in the fading sunlight.

As I made my way toward the harbor, my eyes were immediately drawn to some of the most remarkable vessels on display. In a commanding position at the cruise line dock was Lürssen’s 112-meter Renaissance, a symbol of pure opulence. Just ahead of her sat Oceanco’s striking 90-meter DAR, a yacht that effortlessly married contemporary elegance with groundbreaking design. Yet it was the newly launched Lürssen 122-meter Kismet that truly stole the show, her majestic presence and cutting-edge features making her the undisputed star of this year’s event.

The atmosphere in Monte Carlo that evening was a perfect balance of calm anticipation and understated elegance. A gentle breeze stirred the Mediterranean air as I prepared for the show’s opening festivities. After a quick refresh, I made my way to Équivoque Rooftop Bar, where Lusben hosted an exclusive sunset cocktail reception. As live music drifted across the terrace, the setting sun reflected off the superyachts below, and the mood was one of quiet sophistication. This was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from the industry, enjoying fine food and conversation as we looked ahead to the days of luxury and innovation that awaited us.

Bilgin Yachts Eternal Spark Charms the Charter Market Ahead of Monaco Premiere

Basking in the glow of a glorious Mediterranean summer, Bilgin Yachts new launch Eternal Spark is wrapping up a classic inaugural itinerary with an essential debut at The Monaco Yacht Show. The first of Bilgin’s 50-meter series, Eternal Spark proved quite the social influencer in her initial season, sporting a full dance card of charter groups, cruising to fashionable ports in the south of France and along the Italian coast.

Designed expressly with the charter market in mind, Eternal Spark’s secret stash of convertible, dual-duty, versatile features come from the brilliant pairing of exceptional exterior hull lines from Unique Yacht Design with status-setting interiors from Milan’s Hot Lab. The result is a comfortable, highly sociable, people-pleasing charter yacht that feels like home, but with the significant upgrade of a seagoing location.

JFA Yachts Mousetrap Catamaran is a Big, Beautiful Beast

Inspecting this 33.5-meter carbon fiber catamaran closely, one might come away with the impression that there are but a few seasons under its belt. Everything looks top of industry, contemporary, and fresh. The JFA yacht known as Mousetrap, by most acclaimed to be the largest carbon fiber catamaran ever built, looks to be but a few years old. It may be rather surprising to find she is a proven, experienced, performance cruiser with a birthday reaching back more than a decade, defying her age against all measure.

According to Mousetrap’s designer, Marc Van Peteghem, “The yacht must go fast, but also be manageable for crew,” noting that the width and the weight of the yacht provide the counterbalance for the sails. Founder of VPLP Design, Van Peteghem’s firm basks in the glow of many successful large builds. In addition to the design of Mousetrap in 2012, VPLP also designed the 42-meter aluminum supersailer catamaran Douce France, built in 1998 by Chantier Naval Alumnarine.

The Baglietto Akula International Premiere

Akula means many different things to many different cultures. In the world of yachting, it is all about Baglietto’s June 2024 launch of their third T52 hull which recently enjoyed a Monaco Yacht Show premiere.

The Baglietto Akula employs elegant design strategies to create a civilized escape on the sea. Understated and casual, Akula welcomes guests with spacious layouts that dovetail aesthetics with comfort in clean style.

Uncharted Luxury with Nyumba’s Artful Dance Between Precision and Passion

There is a quiet, profound beauty in gazing at the SW96 Nyumba, where minimalistic elegance flows effortlessly into the warmth of her interiors, and sleek practicality whispers of her potential. Though launched only this year, she has already tasted the vastness of the seas, journeying from the shipyard in Cape Town to the Monaco Yacht Show—a passage spanning more than 4,702 nautical miles. Nyumba is the fourth in the renowned SW96 series, and like her predecessors, she carries the soul of adventure. Her owners, seasoned voyagers on their third newly constructed sailing yacht, once considered a custom build. But in the end, it was the wisdom gleaned from years of travel that led them to this smart, 96-foot creation—one that balances bespoke craftsmanship with the expertise of both the yard and design team. Nyumba is the culmination of a life spent at sea, finely tuned to the desires of those who understand what it means to journey across the world’s oceans.

Defending the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup is one of the toughest accomplishments in the world of sport. The only thing more difficult would be a successful Challenger taking the cup from the Defender. There is no second place. Either you win, or you lose.

With 173 years of racing history behind the event, this year’s Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, will face off with Challenger INEOS Brittania in one of the most riveting matchups in recent memory. While the impressive cup weighs in at just 14 kilograms of sterling silver, many sailing aficionados considers the value immeasurable. In that 173-year history, just four countries have brought the Auld Mug home: The New York Yacht Club in the USA, The Royal Perth Yacht Club in Sydney, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup, the oldest international sporting trophy in the world, takes place from October 12th to the 27th in Barcelona. The location, chosen by the Defender, saw teams arrive back in August for the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series, bringing their boats and crews along with their skills and passion, to win the opportunity to challenge New Zealand in the 37th America’s Cup.

Since its 1858 debut, the icon known today as the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich, has been a beacon of elegance and sophistication, designed to host both royalty and distinguished guests. Since King Maximilian II of Bavaria first commissioned the gothic building, this magnificent “guest palace” has evolved into a Five Star property that continues to attract VIPs, offering guests unparalleled luxury and privacy on Munich’s renowned Maximilianstrasse. Here it resides in excellent company with the Bavarian State Opera House, the State Ballet, and a bevy of luxury boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

Today’s Vier Jahreszeiten (“Four Seasons” in German) is managed by Kempinski Hotel & Resorts brand, itself a bastion of luxury European hospitality since 1897, carrying the spirit of European luxury as it grew over the decades, embellishing each of its hotels with the soul of its home destination. The hotel is Munich’s premier urban retreat, offering guests a unique blend of contemporary luxury and royal heritage with its 245 luxurious rooms and 60 majestic suites. The atmospheric lobby, with its glass ceiling symbolizing the four seasons, has been dubbed Munich’s “most beautiful living room.” Beneath the golden light filtering through the cupola, guests and visitors can relax or revive in a setting that befits the timeless grandeur preserved throughout this hotel.

The Ferrari KC23 is a breathtaking fusion of art and engineering, a one-off masterpiece to fierce track

Ferrari’s latest one-off, the KC23, is a paradox wrapped in 21st-century aerodynamics. It’s a car engineered to dominate the world’s racetracks, built on the bones of the wildly successful 488 GT3 Evo 2020. Yet, it will never compete. You might find yourself asking: what’s the point? What’s the point of creating a futuristic racing machine for one person, one collector, that will likely never feel the full fury of its own engineering?

That’s the genius—and the absurdity—of the Ferrari KC23. It’s a $3-million-plus masterpiece designed to do one thing: tantalize us with possibilities while staying gloriously out of reach. A car this pure, this sculptural, seems destined for the type of person who’s more likely to display it than drive it. But beneath the smooth, monolithic form lies a beast. One that, if ever let loose, could tear through corners with all the savage elegance Ferrari’s Special Projects team can summon.