Explorer Yachts Summit 2025

The Explorer Summit returned to Monaco on the 13^th November for it’s 7^th annual meeting, reaffirming its position as one of the industry’s most important gatherings for thought leadership, market intelligence, and high-level networking. Hosted at the Yacht Club de Monaco,the event brought together captains, shipyards, expedition leaders, scientists, owners, brokers, designers, family offices, management companies and technology innovators  — all united by a shared focus on shaping the next decade of Explorer yachting. With 240 delegates in attendance, it was the most well attended summit ever and highlighted the continuing growth of the sector.  Possibly uniquely,alongside the private yachting sector, the summit included delegates from the helicopter, submersible, private jet and space industries, not to mention delegates from as far afield as Australia, the US, and the UAE.

This year’s Summit was wide ranging as always, analysing and debating a broad spectrum of issues. Discussions covered the accelerating transformation within the sector: sustainability mandates, increasing and often contradictory bureaucracy regarding safety and environmental protection, changing ownership demographics, the rise of alternative propulsion systems, the importance of design and early mission designation. Particularly emotive was the occasionally awkward and unclear positioning of superyachts within the rapidly expanding number of incursions and expeditions into the polar and other remote regions. Across multiple panels, speakers reinforced a clear message: the marine exploration landscape is evolving at a pace never seen before, and yacht industry professionals of every stripe must adapt quickly to stay relevant and operate responsibly.

One of the day’s most discussed themes was the expanding demand for and role of explorer and hybrid-purpose yachts. With owners seeking more range, more autonomy, and more meaningful experiences, demand for expedition-capable vessels has grown faster than almost every other segment. Several panels explored how exploration design is moving beyond rugged aesthetics toward holistic capability—integrated science labs, commercial-grade tenders, sustainable materials, silent energy efficient cruising, and returning to the true spirit of expedition and exploration, that is to give something back: most meaningfully - data and answers.

Gabriel Lazaridis from Boat presented fresh data indicating that despite global uncertainty, buyer appetite remains robust, particularly in the pocket explorer range around 24 to 30 meters. This chimed nicely with the answer given by Mattia Mazzuchi of RWD when asked about how design can best mitigate environmental impact. “Right-sizing” he answered simply.

It is clear there is also a strong appetite in the 60-metre range, and the point was made by Rob Maccallum of EYOS, that expeditions and exploration can and have taken place on “standard” yachts for most of the last century. At 60 meters most yachts have the range and autonomy to cross oceans and reach unexplored areas. Purpose built and designed Explorer Yachts just allow owners to do so in the safest, most comfortable and responsible manner. And who wouldn’t want that. Damen anticipated the trend and have clearly, deliberately and seemingly unassailably made the niche their own with 16 of their signature styled X-plorers and support vessels on the water. It did not really seem conceivable that anyone other than Damen could have been the headline sponsor of this summit.  

As the 240 or so delegates took their seats around 09.30 in the Yacht Club de Monaco, the 65 meter, steel hulled, Rossi Navi yacht, Alchemy slipped quietly  into Port Hercule as if to underline Rob’s point about standard yachts. Looking like a “standard yacht”, she is equipped with a super-efficient Diesel Electric propulsion system, a hydro-dynamically optimised and streamlined hull form and azimuth thrusters for ease of handing in close quarters. Although not a true explorer in the traditional sense, these were all elements mentioned by the design panel in their discussion, in many ways she is the perfect example of the modern hybrid yacht. She quietly sold off market without any marketing and closed the day beforethe summit, demonstrating the increasingly strong demand for this type ofvessel.  

The consensus was clear: the explorer / expedition yacht has moved from niche category to a more mainstream aspiration. And increasingly this means including space onboard for the scientists, expedition leaders and researchers. The collaboration between Yachts For Science, EYOS, and the private yachting industry has seen an unbelievable amount of scientific data delivered in an open source format, predominantly by Dr. Maroni, who’s conversation with Boat’s Lucy Dunne was a highlight of the day. It illustrated clearly quite how much the element of a scientific mission adds to the experience and enjoyment of the explorer minded private yacht owner’s program. If all the scientists are as passionate and engaging as Dr. Maroni, expect this trend to grow and grow.

The Summit also emphasised the growing need for integrated advisory models. Owners increasingly require a “family-office style” approach spanning acquisition, asset management, technical oversight, project management and program management. The “fireside chat” with the owner of Prometej highlighted how without this model, unrealistic expectations can torpedo the most carefully laid plans. As a first-time owner his plan seemed simple, buy 40-meter explorer vessel, visit the earths Blue Zones, (Sardinia, Icaria, Costa Rica,California and Okinawa) gather scientific data, answer questions related to longevity and arrive home 18 months later. Prometej’s owner catalogued a “hilarious in hindsight” steep learning curve of mistakes, miscalculations and missed deadlines and the yacht is now for sale having not made it beyond the Caribbean. He has clearly taken taken it all in his stride and with great humour. But he is now “right-sizing” and preparing to start again, a more experienced and informed yacht owner, with a yacht he can manage with minimal crew and maximum engagement.

Throughout the day, the atmosphere at the Monaco Yacht Club combined Riviera elegance with genuine intellectual energy. Conversations spilled from the conference hall onto the terraces overlooking Port Hercules, where delegates debated new technologies, compared operational challenges, and forged the connections that will likely shape major projects in the years ahead.

The Explorer Yacht Summit has cemented it’s place in the Superyacht Calendar and if it continues it’s current trajectory of growth, it will have outgrown the event capacity of the Monaco Yacht Club. Whatever form it takes Superyacht Partners will be there next year.

‍