MONACO AT THE HEART OF INTERNATIONAL YACHTING
With 411 companies and more than 1,400 shore-based jobs, the yachting industry plays a central role in the Principality of Monaco. At the heart of this dynamic ecosystem, the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) has established itself as a leading platform for exchange, innovation and progress within the international yachting community in the Mediterranean.
“In Monaco, decision-makers, yacht owners and industry professionals meet throughout the year to launch new initiatives and shape the sector’s future. This proximity promotes dialogue with the authorities and helps accelerate projects,” says YCM Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri who also serves as President of Cluster Yachting Monaco and the Yachting Employers’ Association.
Following the Ferretti Group Private Preview and the OneRepublic concert held on 5 September in the heart of the YCM Marina, Monaco’s yachting calendar continues with a series of major industry events. These include the 6th Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous on 20–21 September, the 35th Monaco Yacht Show from 23–26 September, the 31st Captains’ Forum on 24 September and the Winter Pop-Up by Cluster Yachting Monaco on 8 October.
September: Monaco at the Epicentre of International Yachting the 6th Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous brings together industry leaders, investors, architects and manufacturers to explore the future of marina infrastructure. Organised by M3 Monaco, a consultancy specialising in the development and management of marinas, yacht clubs and sailing schools, the event connects professionals responsible for designing, developing and operating port infrastructure with those creating the solutions of tomorrow.
Activity at the Yacht Club de Monaco intensifies around the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), during which YCM hosts its annual Owners Lunch and Captains’ Forum.
Organised in partnership with Jutheau Husson, Oceanco, MB92 Group and ICON Yachts, this year’s Captains’ Forum focuses on the future of energy sources for ships and yachts. As propulsion technologies continue to diversify, discussions will compare currently available solutions, operational experience at sea and emerging technologies under development. At the centre of the debate is one fundamental question: which solutions can realistically and effectively be deployed on board?
Tools for Progress these events form part of the collective “Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting” initiative, which has been driven by the Yacht Club de Monaco for several years. Its objective is to bring together yacht owners, users, designers, operators and developers of emerging technologies to encourage collaboration and accelerate progress across the sector.
Environmental considerations remain central to this dialogue. Launched in 2020 by YCM and Credit Suisse, a UBS Group brand, the SEA Index® provides yacht owners and industry professionals with a practical tool for assessing the environmental impact of yachts measuring 10 metres and above. Independently certified by Lloyd’s Register, the index measures CO₂ emissions regardless of the propulsion system used, applying a recognised scientific methodology and criteria verified by independent third parties.
An additional indicator, developed in collaboration with AtmoSud, incorporates air-quality considerations by assessing nitrogen oxides and fine particles.
More than 25 marinas across the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Seychelles and Japan have joined the SEA Index® network. Its continued expansion responds to the industry’s growing need for comparable data that enables stakeholders to better understand a yacht’s environmental impact and, importantly, identify opportunities for improvement.
Yacht Club de Monaco: A Dynamic Player Throughout the Year as part of its public service mandate, the Yacht Club de Monaco maintains an extensive year-round programme designed to address the needs and expectations of stakeholders across the yachting industry.
YCM is the driving force behind the Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting Rendezvous, scheduled for 13–16 March 2027. The event aims to promote careers within the industry to students through the YCM Yachting Student Fair; strengthen dialogue between the yachting and scientific communities, in collaboration with the New York Explorers Club, during the Day of Exploration; support the sector’s economic development through the Business Symposium; and recognise committed yacht owners at the YCM Explorer Awards ceremony.
The programme continues with the 14th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, taking place from 29 June to 3 July 2027. Conceived as an innovation laboratory, the event brings together universities from around the world to develop new approaches to maritime mobility and test emerging technologies under real-world conditions.
Through its extensive programme of events and initiatives, the Yacht Club de Monaco continues to unite key players from across the international yachting community around a shared ambition: to support the industry’s transformation and contribute to a future for yachting that is more innovative, more responsible and increasingly forward-looking.
