The iconic Yacht Club de Monaco was once again the venue for the BOAT International Explorer Yachts Summit 2025, which took place on 13 November. The event offered a view of the evolving explorer yacht market and the many facets of yachting exploration.
The summit was held in association with Damen Yachting, alongside premium partners Cantiere delle Marche, EYOS Expeditions, Europlan Yacht Interiors, Medical Support Offshore, ICON Yachts and Deo Juvante Yachts.
Explorer yacht market insight
BOAT’s business editor Gabrielle Lazaridis kicked off the summit with an in-depth analysis of the explorer market, backed up by BOATPro statistics. Attendees gained valuable insights into the sector's expansive growth, the key players shaping its trajectory and the demographics of those purchasing explorer yachts.
Keynote speaker: Blue Origin’s Logan Ware on the democratisation of exploration
Logan Ware, director of international business development at Blue Origin, showed what a new era of exploration looks like. He reframed the very notion of discovery, drawing parallels between Blue Origin’s expanding reach into space and the way today’s explorer yachts chart bold new courses across the world’s oceans. As he walked the audience through Blue Origin’s extraordinary evolution and history-making launches, Ware highlighted the company’s commitment to making space more accessible, whether for researchers pushing scientific limits, innovators shaping the next generation of technology or ordinary individuals inspired to look past the edge of the known world. “Adventurers are looking for something new, something that they haven't experienced,” he concluded. “This is something that is very much a dream of our founder [Jeff Bezos].”
How to design an onboard lifestyle for the wildest adventures
There’s far more to an expedition-ready yacht than long range and a reinforced hull - something our expert panel brought to life in a discussion moderated by BOAT’s editor, Caroline White. They explored the many layers of detailed planning involved in designing a superyacht that not only enables exploration but truly elevates it.
Naval architect Espen Øino, head of Espen Øino International, emphasised the importance of prioritising seaworthiness and comfort, as well as practical considerations needed for visiting remote areas, such as gun-locker storage, drone facilities, screens for showcasing daily photography and buffer zones between interior and exterior doors to keep icy drafts at bay. Øino also highlighted the need to define the yacht’s mission from the outset. Enrique Tintore, product manager for Xplorer & Yacht Support at Damen Yachting, agreed, noting that understanding exactly how the yacht will be used - whether travelling to remote regions or entering the charter market - affects design decisions up the chain. “And let’s not forget the goal of everyone here today,” he added, “which is the experience for the owners and the experience for the guests.” He explained that even small features, such as fast-deployment systems for RIBs, can make a huge difference, allowing guests, for example, to quickly launch in Antarctica when a whale appears on the horizon.
Interior design is all about the details, too. Mattia Mazzucchi, head of interior design at RWD, discussed how it can help guests feel immersed in their surroundings. “You want to be able to see out, but also feel safe,” he said. He added that darker interiors can enhance the sense of comfort and frame the views outside: “There’s something about wood and deeper tones - being embraced by the interior helps you feel protected.” Finally, Janne Salminen, commercial director at Europlan, stressed that the interior should reflect the yacht’s purpose, favouring more durable, robust materials and placing sustainability firmly at the core.
Debate: Are permits hampering exploration?
The question of whether permits are holding back exploration unfolded in a lively, interactive debate, with the panel responding to a series of provocative statements and signaling their views with voting paddles. BOAT International’s content director, Lucy Dunn, moderated the session, drawing insights from an expert lineup: sailor and expedition leader Skip Novak; managing director of PolarX Jason Roberts; ice pilot Captain Maiwenn Beadle and former Legend captain, Captain Taigh MacManus.
The discussion ranged widely, covering issues such as overtourism in the Arctic and Antarctic and the challenges regulators face in managing visitor numbers. The panel also explored the pros and cons of an “overly rigid” Polar Code, the puzzling inconsistencies between regional regulations and overlooked impacts of tourism in remote areas, such as underwater noise pollution on wildlife.
Jason Roberts argued that superyachts are being unfairly grouped into a crowded competition for landing-site allocations in areas such as the Antarctic, where places to moor are few and far between, while Taigh MacManus emphasised that regulations play a vital role not only in safety but also in helping to manage owners’ expectations. The conversation turned to whether certain regions should be designated as no-go zones - “Does it matter if we can’t visit the Crozet Islands?” - and whether explorer yachts should adopt a more purposeful role by contributing to scientific research. This led Maiwenn Beadle to reflect: “The difference between exploration and tourism is that exploration sets out with questions and returns with answers.”
Beneath the surface: Unlocking the wonders of the deep with world-leading submersible pilot Bryn Spencer
With more than two decades in the marine industry, Bryn Spencer has piloted submersibles everywhere from the Great Barrier Reef to Antarctica, earning a reputation as both an ice specialist and a trusted operator in remote environments. Holding Triton and U-Boat Worx Pilot and Surface Officer licences, he brings together deep technical expertise, a passion for exploration and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.
During his talk, Spencer shared insights from his extensive experience beneath some of the world’s most challenging waters. He highlighted how submersibles are opening new frontiers for superyacht owners and explained how his independent consultancy is helping bring these craft safely and effectively into the sector.
He took the audience on a vivid journey into the depths, illustrating the transformative potential of submersible exploration and showing how owners can unlock extraordinary, otherwise inaccessible marine experiences. “Does the deep sea represent the next frontier and exploration? I believe it does,” he concluded. “It's more accessible than space. With the right machines, the right people, the right scientists, it's very accessible. And it doesn't have to be deep sea - there are new discoveries in just 10 metres of water.”
Turning luxury into legacy: Making room for science on board
Against the backdrop of accelerating climate change, funding meaningful ocean research remains a significant challenge. Expeditions are costly, grants are highly competitive and scientists can wait years for space on a research vessel. Yet the potential rewards are profound, as demonstrated this summer when two superyacht owners partnered with Yachts for Science, the not-for-profit initiative that connects yachts with researchers conducting essential marine studies.
Deep-sea biologist Dr Paige Maroni joined two yachts - 46-metre Scintilla Maris and 24-metre On Liberty - to carry out ocean research, trips which she self-funded in order to "get them over the line". In her session, she spoke with BOAT’s Lucy Dunn, sharing her findings, the unique scientific opportunities these collaborations create and the powerful impact yacht owners can make simply by making space for science on board.
Beyond the Poles: What untapped destinations are left in the world?
While explorer yachts often gravitate toward a familiar set of high-profile hotspots, vast regions of the planet remain largely untouched. In this session, captains and operators who have ventured far beyond the beaten path shared the overlooked destinations they’ve discovered—and the realities of accessing them safely and responsibly. The discussion examined the operational hurdles, the specialist skills required of crews, and the environmental and social responsibilities that come with pushing into remote regions. Equally compelling were the rewards: extraordinary wildlife encounters, meaningful cultural interactions and the thrill of undertaking truly pioneering voyages.
BOAT International’s Gabrielle Lazaridis moderated the panel, which featured Rob McCallum, founding partner, expedition leader and divemaster at EYOS Expeditions; Marek Hasenkopf, head of business development at Icon Yachts; Dr Spike Briggs, managing director of Medical Support Offshore; and Captain Oliver Michels of 44.3-metre Cantiere Delle Marche motor yacht Maverick.
Reflecting on what inspires adventurers to go further, McCallum offered a sentiment that resonated across the room: “To get into exploration yachting, all you need is a sense of curiosity. Curiosity is what powers exploration and will take you to the far corners of the earth. Everything else - the boat, the crew, the toys we take - can be worked out later. But it’s curiosity that drives exploration.”
Fireside chat with Tobias Reichmuth, owner of 45-metre explorer yacht Prometej
Tobias Reichmuth, the young owner of 45-metre explorer yacht Prometej, has turned his vessel into a platform for purpose-driven adventure. After refitting the yacht in Croatia, Reichmuth set off on an ambitious world cruise with a clear mission: to visit the globe’s Blue Zones, regions renowned for the natural longevity of their inhabitants and uncover the secrets behind their exceptional lifestyles.
In an engaging chat with IBI’s editor-in-chief, Ed Slack, Reichmuth shared insights from his ongoing expedition, explaining how he is blending exploration with meaningful research. Scientists, academics and specialists are joining him along the way, contributing knowledge that will help turn these discoveries into insights for a wider audience.
Quiz and prize-giving in association with Damen Yachting
And it’s a wrap! The day ended with attendees splitting into teams and taking part in a lighthearted quiz, which tested their explorer yachting general knowledge as well as how closely they had been listening to the talks. Damen Yachting's marketing manager, Sarah Flavell, hosted the quiz, presenting goodie bags to the winners after a tense, quick-fire elimination round.
The guests
The Explorer Yachts Summit welcomed a diverse array of industry professionals, including builders, brokers, owners and designers. A networking drinks session provided the perfect setting for forging meaningful connections within the dynamic explorer yachts sector.