Monaco Ocean Week’s Yachting Day Looks to a Sustainable Future

As every year, Yacht Club de Monaco is in charge of the Yachting Day, which takes place during the 6th Monaco Ocean Week (20-26 March 2023). An initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation alongside the Monaco Government, the Monaco Oceanographic Institute and Monaco Scientific Centre, it addresses environmental issues surrounding the industry, looking to a more sustainable future.

“Yachting faces major changes,” says Bernard d’Alessandri, General Secretary of YCM and President of Cluster Yachting Monaco. “A modernisation has become inevitable, and those involved in the sector are mobilised to initiate this evolution through research and bringing on new solutions. The assessment phase is over, we must act now with pragmatic solutions like the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and brings young engineers together with industry professionals to present and test their innovations in propulsion.”

To this end, a packed programme of events is open to all (registration required), taking place from Thursday 23rd March. It includes:

9.00am-12.30pm: 12th Environmental Symposium La Belle Classe Superyachts: ‘Encouraging Sustainability in Yachting, engaging the industry and new generation of engineers’

2.00pm: 27th Captains Forum: ‘Superyacht Commitment: Management, Leadership & Mentoring’

3.30pm: Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous

6.30pm: 3rd YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts

12^th Environmental Symposium La Belle Classe Superyachts: sustainability for industry players

A must-see fixture in the calendar for all those involved in the industry, the focus of this symposium is to take stock of alternative energy sources and their efficiency for superyachts. The theme ‘Encouraging Sustainability in Yachting, engaging the industry and new generation of engineers’ will highlight initiatives underway to give owners and the industry keys to a more eco-responsible approach, and to present a Sailing Yacht Zero scenario, hulls of the future and progress on electric and hydrogen/electric hybrid propulsion systems.

27^th Captains’ Forum: management and skills

YCM gives the floor to captains at the 27th Captains’ Forum, which will focus on ‘Superyacht Commitment: Management, Leadership & Mentoring’.  The event is one of the activities organised for the Captains’ Club, which gathers 150 captains with the 3000 certificate working on superyachts flying the YCM flag. Given their key role, this is a chance for captains to exchange views and contribute to developing the future of yachting.

YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts: recognition for eco-committed owners

The day concludes with the YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts. Held under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II, since 2019 these Awards have been recognising owners who stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment, be it in the design of their yacht or how they use it. Awarded by a jury of experts, there are three awards: Technology & Innovation, Mediation & Science, Adventure & Environmental Ethics. They recognise the men and women who are the true explorers of the future and reflect the Club’s fundamental Art de Vivre la Mer values.

1^st Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous (23-24 March): sustainability solutions

Following success of the first two Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous (next one 24-25 September 2023), M3 (Monaco Marina Management) has broadened its remit to promote progress on sustainability solutions for superyachts in organising the first Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous.

Dedicated to yachting industry players (boats 24m and over) and innovation companies keen to provide a collective response to climate issues, this Rendezvous is part of the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting approach and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Credit Suisse, MB92 Group, and innovation for a sustainable economy experts Blumorpho.

With the philosophy being to promote young companies offering new solutions across the whole life cycle of a yacht, the first edition gathers an ecosystem of players to collaborate on how to exploit innovative technologies that are driving sustainability. Naval architects, owners, captains and shipyards will join investors, startups, scaleups and innovation industrialists to act together. All those selected are referenced in an E-Catalogue presenting their solutions applicable to yachts.