The best yacht concepts showcased at the Monaco Yacht Show 2017

This year was a particularly busy one for new concepts announced at the Monaco Yacht Show. We round up the best of the best, starting with the 120 metre Project Nature.

Straight from the drawing boards of Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design, this ambitious concept is true to its name, with a climate-controlled superyacht garden on board. Meanwhile, those who prefer to observe the nature around them should head straight to the bow observatory, complete with telescopes for gazing out of the large floor-to-ceiling windows. The studio adds that this 4,950GT yacht would be built from a steel hull and aluminium superstructure to LY3 standards, giving accommodation for up to 18 guests and 50 crewmembers.

Dutch yard Amels used this year’s Monaco Yacht Show to showcase its new 111.7 metre concept Pollux. Developed in collaboration with British design studio H2 Yacht Design, this 4,750GT superyacht would be fully PYC compliant, allowing for 20 guests and 48 crewmembers.

Jonny Horsfield, director of H2 Yacht Design, said: “Our ambition was a design that drew on the Amels DNA and heritage, but didn’t simply reproduce existing details.”

Italian designer Roberto Curto has created one of the most talked about superyacht projects of the year in the form of 101 metre Mauna Kea. Named after a Hawaiian volcano, this design features two large superyacht staircases that cascade down from the upper deck.

Chinese yard Pride Mega Yachts used the Monaco Yacht Show 2017 to show off its new 94.7 metre in-house design Red Star, which boasts striking red topsides befitting of its name. Key features include a richly decorated main saloon with dark panelling, Chinese-style wooden sculptures and silk carpets.

The dining room can seat 18 guests around a large circular table, while the upper deck saloon is designated as a men's club, complete with cigar lounge, games table, bar area and home cinema. Accommodation is for up to 20 guests and 30 crewmembers, and the yard estimates a top speed of 16 knots and a globetrotting range of 7,000 nautical miles at 12 knots.

One of the more secretive announcements made at the Monaco Yacht Show was the news that Wally has teamed up with German yard Nobiskrug and British studio Winch Design for an 83 metre explorer yacht. The project is without a name at this stage and all details are officially being kept under wraps, but Boat International understands that the aft deck would feature a pair of fresh water swimming pools measuring two metres by 20 metres, giving plenty of room for owners who like to swim lengths.

Described as a “mega sloop”, MM78 is the new 78 metre sailing yacht concept from Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design, which was developed in response to a client request. MM78 balances sailing performance considerations with luxury features — a lifting keel and square-top mainsail promise a superb cruising experience, while the five-stateroom layout boasts full-height windows, a 7.5 metre swimming pool, and an owner’s apartment that spreads out across 150 square metres.

Following the recent sales of a SeaXplorer 65 and a SeaXplorer 75, Damen has gone smaller with its latest proposal for the range, which is called the SeaXplorer 55. Despite its shorter LOA of 55.7 metres, the new design is just as capable as its bigger sisters, with an aft-deck superyacht helipad, suitable for an Airbus EC-135, and a clever tender storage system that allows an 11.28 metre XO 360 expedition boat to be carried.

Mark Vermeulen, product director at Damen, added: “The SeaXplorer 55 is a luxury yacht with real go-anywhere, do-anything expedition pedigree. It has the seakeeping performance and Ice Class capability, but we also offer lots of options for our clients — from full fairing and custom interiors to tailor-made configurations for their expedition equipment.”

An unashamedly rugged explorer yacht, Maverick 55 is the first design born of a new partnership between Italian yard Rossinavi and Gian Paolo Nari. The 1,050GT volume is notably high for a 55.2 metre yacht, with the swimming pool and tender storage brought indoors, allowing for comfortable relaxation even in polar climates. Nari adds that the Maverick 55 has been designed for spending months on end at sea.

Glider Yachts' first SS18 certainly turned heads at this year's Monaco show, with its wave-piercing design and striking blue exterior. The British yard now plans to go bigger with a 24 metre version called the SL24. This limousine tender is offered with either private-jet inspired interiors or a more traditional layout, which can seat up to 12 passengers. A 2,000hp engine set-up promises scorching speeds of up to 56 knots, while the SLX24 piles on even more power — 4,200hp in total for a top speed of 76 knots.