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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
