Monaco yacht event spotlights catamarans as market priorities shift

The YCM Marina put catamarans at the center of Monaco’s yachting conversation on May 27, when the annual Spring Pop-Up drew more than 100 professionals past 22 yachts presented by Yacht Club de Monaco and Cluster Yachting Monaco. What stood out was not just the turnout, but the message: multihulls are no longer a side topic in the Principality, they are part of the strategic discussion about where the market is headed.

Changing client expectations, sustainability and the growing role of catamarans drove the day’s agenda. Bernard d’Alessandri, who leads Cluster Yachting Monaco and serves as general secretary and director of Yacht Club de Monaco, framed the gathering as a place to step back and compare viewpoints on industry change. Arthur Bohr chaired the discussions, and the room kept returning to the same practical demands now shaping new builds and refits: wider layouts, larger outdoor spaces, better comfort and more autonomy.

That shift was echoed by the speakers. Paris Baloumis of Oceanco said clients now want to be part of the experience, not simply acquire a yacht. Romain Motteau of Fountaine Pajot pointed to newer generations that are looking for more flexible, user-oriented yachting experiences instead of a traditional ownership path. Espen Øino added a simple but telling observation: owners spend more time outside than inside their yachts, which helps explain why open-air living spaces and broad decks are gaining traction across the market.

The catamaran conversation also carried a clear sustainability angle. The event was tied to World Boating Day, which fell on May 23, with related activities running through the week of May 18 to 24. It followed the 2025 Spring Pop-Up, which had centered on sustainable transition, giving this year’s multihull focus a clear institutional pattern rather than a one-off theme. The release also pointed to newer catamaran features such as solar panels and greater energy independence, with Sunreef Yachts cited as an example.

For Monaco, the signal was plain on the dock. With 22 yachts on display and multihulls given dedicated airtime inside the Yacht Club de Monaco ecosystem, catamarans were not treated as an alternative at the edges of the market. They were presented as part of the main discussion shaping the next phase of yachting.