In an example of purposeful yacht conversion, a former 26-metre Garcia-built private yacht has been transformed into a fully-fledged research vessel. Now named Malizia Explorer (ex Fani), the aluminium yacht was officially christened at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) earlier this month (6 June) following her refit and relaunch in Lorient, France, in April.
The ceremony, led by oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, marked the beginning of a bold new chapter for Team Malizia – the sailing initiative co-founded by Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann, now evolving from pure ocean racing to global scientific exploration.
Originally built as a private expedition-style sailing yacht and delivered as Beniguet, Malizia Explorer has undergone a refit that prioritises environmental technology and scientific instrumentation. First delivered in 2005 to a design by Jean Berret and Olivier Racoupeau, with interiors originally by Pierre Frutschi, the vessel retains her sailing pedigree while now serving as a cutting-edge platform for climate research.
According to BOATPro, the yacht was sold in September 2024 with Bernard Gallay, last asking €850,000.
Monaco ceremony marks a new mission
Malizia Explorer arrived in Monaco fresh from the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, a symbolic route that traced the Principality’s deep ties to marine conservation. She was met with considerable fanfare at the Yacht Club de Monaco, where Dr Earle smashed the traditional champagne bottle against her hull, blessing the vessel’s future missions.
"Malizia Explorer is hope in action," Earle said. "It's important that we hope to make change to protect the Ocean. But hope alone is not enough. You have to take the desire to make change, and then do something about it. That's what this vessel is committed to doing."
The event drew an influential guest list, including scientific leaders like Prof. Dr Antje Boetius and Prof. Dr Katja Matthes, alongside UN Ocean Envoy Peter Thomson and representatives from UNESCO and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
A superyacht turned scientific vanguard
What makes Malizia Explorer particularly compelling is her transformation. Once destined for private adventure cruising, the yacht has been repurposed into a scientific sailing vessel capable of long-range expeditions. Team Malizia selected her for her aluminium hull, generous volume, and range – attributes that made her a natural candidate for conversion.
Retrofitted with an OceanPack laboratory for continuous data collection – including salinity, temperature, oxygen and CO2 – the yacht will soon be equipped with a CTD Rosette for deep water sampling. Her sails now carry more than wind: they carry the responsibility of representing climate science in some of the most remote ocean regions on Earth.
"Today is a big milestone for us. To see the boat christened in Monaco is a step towards uniting sailors, scientists, and creatives to give the ocean a voice," said skipper Herrmann.
He continued: "Our mission has always been to raise awareness about climate change and the ocean. This research vessel is a natural progression of our team's mission, allowing us to expand our impact, explore new regions, collaborate with scientists and spread the urgent message about ocean health and climate change – whilst collecting valuable ocean data."
A yacht with low impact and high intent
True to her eco-conscious aspirations, Malizia Explorer has already been awarded a four-star SEA Index certification, the eco-rating framework developed by the YCM and Lloyd’s Register to assess carbon emissions in yachts over 24 metres. With few vessels in her size bracket reaching such status, the certification underscores her role as a sustainability case study in the yachting world.
Developed further with RINA, the SEA Index now includes lifecycle carbon analysis based on fuel choice and operational profile. Over 80 yachts are certified, and more than 20 Mediterranean ports (and growing) have adopted the index as part of their berth management systems.
Charting a global scientific course
The newly christened vessel will join the Ocean Wonders Parade en route to Nice ahead of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), where Team Malizia will share the vessel’s story and future expedition plans. Upcoming voyages include data-collection projects in the Mediterranean, followed by extended scientific missions to the Antarctic, and eventually the Arctic – regions that both symbolise and suffer from climate imbalance.
"This vessel is a true logistical platform made available to scientists," said Casiraghi, vice-president of the YCM and co-founder of Team Malizia. "This initiative is fully in line with the spirit of Team Malizia, which is founded on two essential pillars: competition and environmental preservation."
The yacht will also host outreach initiatives, education programmes and media projects designed to connect the public to marine issues. Scientists, artists and communicators will be welcomed on board for rotating expeditions in a model that rethinks how research is conducted and communicated.
What’s next for Malizia Explorer?
Malizia Explorer’s first major scientific mission will take place in Antarctica, after completing a whale research project in the Mediterranean this summer. Future collaborations are already in the works with international institutes, and the team is actively seeking partners and crew for future missions.
"Both poles are extremely sensitive and fragile areas. To better understand them, we need better science and more science, which is why the Malizia Explorer is so important," said HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. "The sailing boat will be able to reach remote polar areas and carry out key research."
For the superyacht world, Malizia Explorer may represent a shift in values – proof that high-performance sailing yachts can evolve, repurpose and even lead in the race against climate change.