CYF 2024: explorer-styled yachts

Explorer-style yachts are one of the hottest trends in the yachting market, and the Cannes Yachting Festival proved it. Among the hundreds of yachts on display, there were many boats in the brutal expedition style — ‘wannabe’ explorer look-a-likes as well as some true rugged ‘offshore off-roaders’ with reinforced construction and increased range. These are the ones that made most of the noise.

1. ALMAX | Sanlorenzo 50 м

Almax is a steel fuel cell superyacht. Fueled by methanol, the electricity generated from the fuel cell powers the onboard comfort systems, which, as estimated by the shipyard, allows the yacht to operate in zero-emission mode up to 90 per cent of the typical usage time. Guests are accommodated in five cabins and have access to a gym and spa centre.

2. MAVERICK | Cantiere delle Marche 44.3 м

Maverick is a true explorer yacht with such indispensable explorer attributes as a powerful A-frame crane and a 22mm reinforced ice belt below and above the waterline. There is a large swimming pool aft doubling as a storage for deck furniture during cruising in difficult weather conditions. Other facilities include a gymnasium, a sauna and a diving centre.

3. FRETTE | Columbus Yachts 43 м

Frette is the second hull in the Atlantique 43 series after Night Fury II, delivered in June 2024. The exterior and interior design was created by Hot Lab, a Milan-based studio, which mixed motor and sailing yacht features in the Frette's appearance. This can be clearly seen in the open transom, housing a five metre swimming pool just 50 centimetres above sea level. The yacht shares its name with the famous Italian textile brand — the bed linen in the cabins is from Frette.

4. KASIF | Bilgin Yachts 41.9 м

The first yacht built at the new Bilgin Yachts site in Antalya, Kasif has a range of over 5,000 nautical miles which will allow the owner to pursue his favourite hobby - fishing - in remote waters. Inside, the interior is richly finished in burgundy colours. This is the eighth collaboration between the shipyard and Emrecan Özgün of Unique Yacht Design, who has designed such yachts as Tatiana, Leona and Eternal Spark.

5. DOGE 400GT | Ocean King 40.4 м

The brutal and energetic exterior of this Explorer was designed by Design ALot studio and the naval architecture done by inNave. All public spaces are well connected, including the main dining area on the upper deck opening onto an open deck with a bar and a pool. A large beach club with two folding terraces will provide guests with easy access to the sea. The yacht sleeps 10 guests in five cabins, including a master suite forward on the main deck with en-suite bathroom and private office.

6. MULTIPLE | Overmarine 39 м

Although Oceano yachts are not a true explorer type, these displacement vessels epitomise the concept of comfortable boats for long, slo-life cruising. Multiple is the first hull of the smallest model in a series that now includes the Oceano 39, Oceano 44, Oceano 46 and Oceano 50. Designed as an ‘ocean glass villa’ with floor-to-ceiling windows, she also features sliding doors that allow the interior and exterior areas of the yacht to be connected. One of the highlights onboard is the glass-bottomed bow plunge pool which allows light into the master suite below, featuring a private folding terrace.

7. FOX | Pendennis 34.9 м

This highly anticipated compact research yacht was delivered by Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth in May this year. She owes her name to the famous Falmouth-born inventor Robert Ware Fox Jr, a 19th century scientist who invented a special type of compass that played a significant role in high latitude exploration and the discovery of the South Pole. Her features include a 103.5 square metre open aft deck, a DJ station, a glass-walled sky lounge and a wine cellar. The yacht has five cabins, including a full-beam master on the main deck.

8. MINELLA | Numarine 30.7 м

The first hull of Numarine's 30XP series, named Minella, has made her debut in Cannes. This is the first yacht from the Turkish shipyard to be fitted with a hybrid propulsion system. The exterior and interior design is by Kan Yalman, with an alternative interior design by Istanbul-based Ofist Design. There are five en-suite cabins on board, including four guest cabins on the lower deck and a master suite on the main deck forward.

9. SUPER MARIO | Extra Yachts 30.7 м

Super Mario is the fourth yacht in the Extra X96 Triplex series, differing from her sisters by an additional sixth cabin on the upper deck and the galley been moved to the main deck. The ‘modern and eclectic’ interior by Hot Lab spans four decks and is decorated with natural oak and white Calacatta marble. At 7.6 metres wide and 23.8 metres long, she falls under the CE category for pleasure craft up to 24 metres in length.

10. INFYNITO 80 | Ferretti Yachts

The stylistics of an explorer vessel, with its high and almost vertical bow, forward-facing deckhouse and reverse sloping windscreen, are also characteristic of the latest Ferretti Yachts Infynito 80. The yacht builds on the ideas of the earlier and slightly larger Infynito 90, the most notable of which is the ‘all-season’ terrace in the bow. The key difference is that the top deck of the Infynito 80 is open and is a classic sundeck, unlike the enclosed one of the INFYNITO 90.