In the world of boat shows there is one event that, since 1991, stands out for its unique blend of technical innovation, luxury, elegance and international glamour.

We’re referring to the Monaco Yacht Show-MYS that is opening today and will continue to the end of this week at the Port Hercules in Monte-Carlo, which motoring enthusiasts remember being the backdrop to the Formula One racing.

After a year’s stop caused by the pandemic emergency, during 2021 MYS the public will find both the must-haves for super yachts, the vessels between twenty and ninety metres long, and also what they have always wished could be, as witnessed by Car Deck, the exhibition of prestige cars that by 2016 has been held in conjunction with the Monaco Yacht Show, and that in 2021 includes world famous brands such as Mercedes, Brabus, and Montecarlo Automobiles.

Among the one hundred something exhibitors present at MYS you may find some of the most famous shipyards worldwide, such as Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Baglietto, Riva, or Sunseeker.

During 2020, when the world fell under the lockdown, the superyachts market shows a differentiated trend by category, reports Superyacht Times, one of the leading publications in industry and one of the media partners of MYS.

For example, sales of new and used yachts over thirty metres confirmed the previous year’s figures, with 295 deals in 2020 compared to 278.

In fact, numbers turn negative when considering the 30-40 metre new-build sales sector: 98 in 2019 and only 76 last year, while, second-hand market shows181 deals in 2020, against 175 in 2019.

2020 was indeed positive for the 40-80 metre market.

This is reflected in customers’ appetites for larger superyachts.

Overall, used yacht sales in this segment were actually up in 2020, rising from 98 sales in 2019 to 108 in 2020.

The number of sailing yachts sold actually doubled, from six in 2019 to 12 in 2020.

For Superyachts over 80 metres, the star category of very large superyachts, 2020 was still a promising year: new yacht sales for yachts over 80 metres totalled eight units, which is just below the average number for the last five years (8.6).

Finally, for the superyacht category from 2020 to 2021, only 54% of the planned 2020 yachts were built.

In other words: 46% of the yachts were ‘postponed’ to better times due to problems created by the pandemic.

In fact, Covid-19 caused a slowdown in work at many shipyards around the world.

This was echoed in the number of 2020 superyacht completions of yachts over 30m. While 2019 saw a total of 158 completions, the total number for 2020 stands at 150.

Italian yards, whose products are highly requested worldwide, actually managed to complete more yachts during 2020 than in 2019. In fact, despite the severe impact of the pandemic, Italian yards completed 78 yachts in 2020, while 71 yachts were finished in 2019.

Completions in Turkey and the UK both fell sharply during 2020, while production in Germany, Taiwan and China remained stable.

Coming back to the 2021 edition, MYS is hosting also a Yacht Summit, where a panel of experts in yacht construction, design, management, chartering or purchasing will discuss topics such as current yachting trends, or key elements to achieve success in yacht construction, or on processing the design of a vessel to its delivery.

In 2021 a Yacht Summit is also taking place, and some of the best yachting experts will share valuable insights with potential yacht owners and charter clients, new to the yachting world.

Through thematic workshops, a panel of experienced designers, brokers, superyacht builders or financial advisors will guide attendees and provide unbiased information on the decision-making process related to buying or chartering their first superyacht.

This year MYS edition will also organise a Yacht Design & Innovation Hub, where in particular first-time superyacht clients, such as HNW millennials or successful business leaders, will be able to enjoy an immersive experience in the world of superyachts together with top designers, such as Victory Design, to start discussing their yacht project or receive expert insights on current and future business trends.

In the end, as the MYS organisers are pointing out, yachting is all about the emotions and senses: you need to see the yacht, touch the fine materials from which it was built, imagine all the great moments you could share on board, feel safe and at home with your family and more.

Yachting is a positively human adventure in which the virtual world is intrinsically limited.

An adventure that lies just beyond the gates of the Monaco Yacht Show, and which is ready to inspire our dreaming for freedom across the seas of the world.

L’immagine:
MYS media