Under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the Yacht Club de Monaco celebrated the fifth edition of the La Belle Classe Explorer Awards, recognizing excellence in innovative and sustainable use of recreational yachts. These awards value projects in which nautical activities are not only recreation, but an instrument of scientific exploration and environmental protection.

Technology and Innovation: Cutting-Edge Yachts

Among the protagonists of the Technology and Innovation category stand out the M/Y Valor at 79.5 meters (Feadship, 2025), characterized by hybrid propulsion and cutting-edge batteries; the M/Y Leviathan (111 meters, Oceanco, 2025), designed with platforms for submarines and drones and a design that subverts traditional hierarchies on board; and the M/Y Maverick (44.3 meters, CdM, 2023), known for its versatility and advanced communication capacity between expeditions.

Environment and Ethics: Responsible Nautical Activities

In the Environment and Ethics category, among the candidates is the revolutionary M/Y Breakthrough (118.8 meters, Feadship, 2025), the first yacht powered by liquid hydrogen with innovative energy production systems. Following are the M/Y Valor, which integrates hybrid solutions after a refit attentive to environmental responsibility, and the S/Y Cat Art Explorer, the largest aluminum catamaran used as a floating museum to raise awareness about art, science, and the environment, equipped with photovoltaic panels and transoceanic autonomy.

Special Jury Prize: Recognition of Human Commitment

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to the S/Y Cat Art Explorer for its cultural and environmental boldness, to the M/Y Valor for consistency between technology and human vision, and to the S/Y Panthalassa (56 meters, Perini Navi, refit 2023), a refined sailing yacht that with its optimized design celebrates the purity of navigation.

Toward the Future of Sustainable Nautical Activities

Winners will be announced during the Monaco Yacht Show, in an exclusive event dedicated to sustainable nautical activities and scientific exploration. The Yacht Club de Monaco continues to promote this philosophy of 'doing well by doing good,' with initiatives such as the SEA Index, a tool to measure and reduce the carbon emissions of yachts, anticipating future regulations.

Monaco confirms itself as a nerve center for innovation and sustainability in the nautical sector with the fifth edition of the Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, organized by M3 Monaco, a leading consulting firm in the development and management of tourist ports, yacht clubs, and sailing schools. The event, held on September 21-22, 2025, at the Yacht Club de Monaco, saw the participation of experts, entrepreneurs, institutions, and startups from around the world, united in the objective of building an eco-responsible future for the nautical sector.

A Laboratory of Ideas for Sustainable Nautical Activities

As Bernard d'Alessandri, general secretary of the Monaco Yacht Club, stated: "Monaco is a platform where innovative technologies are presented and opinions are exchanged to make nautical activities more sustainable. It is essential to work together for a more eco-responsible sector." The initiative offered a concrete showcase for projects and solutions that combine energy efficiency, environmental protection, and new technologies, demonstrating how nautical activities can be an engine for sustainable development.

Strategic Participation from Qatar

For the third consecutive year, a Qatar delegation participated in the event with a focus aimed at supporting ecological transition and the development of smart marinas and port infrastructures in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Yasser Al Jaidah, president and chief executive officer of United Development Company, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: "We are strongly aligned with Qatar's priorities of environmental sustainability, social development, and economic diversification. Monaco represents a key partner to support these challenges."

Basil Bachos, executive director of UDC, added that the creation of a yacht club with capacity to host vessels up to 60 meters is part of the strategy to position itself in a specific niche of the nautical market, drawing on M3 Monaco's experience in terms of consulting and management.

Innovation, Sustainability, and International Cooperation

The event saw the participation of numerous startups and scale-ups aimed at developing solutions for smarter, safer, and more environmentally responsible marinas. Topics explored included intelligent resource management through artificial intelligence, electrification of berths, and adoption of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels. Dialogue between public and private actors and the academic sector highlighted how the challenge of sustainability is at the center of development strategies for coastal cities and tourist ports.

Collaboration between Monaco and countries such as Qatar testifies to growing global attention toward marina models that are not merely port infrastructures but genuine hubs of innovation, economic development, and sustainable tourism, capable of protecting both natural and cultural heritage.