Thousands of the world’s richest people have descended on the port of Monaco as dozens of the world’s most expensive yachts go up for sale at the annual show.
In total 125 craft with a combined value of £3billion will be on show between Wednesday and Friday, as 580 exhibitors show off the wares, hopeful of landing a lucrative purchase.
Last year, out of 109 boats, ship-makers managed to flog just 19 vessels – but with an average value of £20million the show certainly aims for quality over quantity.
Yachts on show this year include the GTT 115, created by Porsche’s design studio spin-off, the Super Yacht Sub 3, which can dive to 300m and stay submerged for 12 hours, along with two helicopters.
Tickets just to attend the event, described as ‘the flagship event in the worldwide yachting calendar’, cost £140 just for a day pass. The show runs for four days, starting on Wednesday and ending on Friday.
CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE
The Monaco Yacht Show has got underway in Port Hercules, with 125 of the world’s most luxurious and expensive craft up for sale, with a combined value of £3billion
Superyachts from 38 different countries which took 580 different companies to put together will be on show from Wednesday until Friday, with tickets just to look around costing £140 for the day
The show, which is one of the largest and most prestigious of its kind anywhere in the world, takes place in Port Hercules, one of the few ports in Monaco large and deep enough to accommodate so many boats
The show spans such a large distance, 10 acres in total, that guests are able to ride smaller vessels between the larger exhibits in order to see the whole display in a single day
Last year, out of 109 boats on display, just 19 were sold – but with an average asking price of £20million, the yacht show focuses on quality over quantity
New this year is a ‘water toys’ section for all the ‘must-have’ aquatic gadgets of wealthy yacht owners. This is the Super Yacht Sub 3, which costs £1.6million and is capable of staying submerged for up to 12 hours
One of the yachts on display is the GTT 115, conceived by Porsche’s design-house spin-off, which features three or four cabins below deck, a spa at the front, and dining area at the back
One of the stranger vessels on display is the British-made Glider Sport Limousine 24, designed to take people between their yacht and the shore at speed of up to 60 knots
A smaller boat designed to carry guests around the show weaves between larger craft on display and up for sale at the prestigious Monaco Yacht Show
While the event is focused around yachts, also on display are 15 luxury cars from makers such as Aston Martin and Bentley, along with two helicopters and a range of smaller vessels
On board the yachts are designed to provide nothing but the height of luxury to their new owners. This is the spa pool on board the Scout superyacht
The master bedroom on board the Scout superyacht, which has a starting price of £17million. In total it has six guest cabins and three more to accommodate a crew of 11
As well as this sitting room, the boat features its own gym, office and ‘bark park’ – designed to house any dogs on board
The Scout also comes equipped with a dining room and a separate living quarters for the chef, should the owner hire one
Thousands of people are expected at the show over the coming three days before it is dismantled by the end of the week
One of the two helicopters at the show is displayed on the rear deck of Game Changer, a superyacht that is designed for those who like expensive toys. It also has room to store a miniature submarine on board
Another helicopter on display at the Monaco Yacht show sits on the deck of one of 125 superyachts for sale
While the show includes smaller craft and ‘water toys’ for the first time this year, the focus is still on the larger vessels
Visitors to the annual yacht show in Monaco line up to see some of the world’s most expensive vessels
The yacht show offers not just the chance to see the vessels, but also be seen with them, as this young woman demonstrates