Yacht Club de Monaco Captains’ Forum Shifts Focus to Ocean Science and Exploration

Event summary

  • The 30th Captains’ Forum at the Yacht Club de Monaco, held on March 24, 2026, focused on yachting’s role in scientific data collection and ocean exploration.
  • The forum featured speakers like scientist Matthew Zimmerman, explorer yacht designer Dominique Geysen, and ICON Yachts owner Micca Ferrero.
  • Geysen introduced ‘SailXplorer’, a project aimed at creating environmentally responsible explorer yachts for scientific expeditions.
  • Explorer and filmmaker Trevor Wallace presented the Menorca Shipwreck Project, an underwater excavation campaign documenting Mediterranean maritime history.

The big picture

The Yacht Club de Monaco’s Captains’ Forum marks a strategic pivot towards leveraging yachting for scientific and exploratory purposes, aligning with broader industry trends of sustainability and purpose-driven luxury. This shift positions the club as a hub for advanced yachting that integrates environmental protection and research, potentially influencing the future of high-end maritime activities. The collaboration with key players like ICON Yachts and the introduction of projects like ‘SailXplorer’ underscores a growing emphasis on balancing operational demands with ecological responsibility.

What we're watching

Strategic Positioning
How the Yacht Club de Monaco’s shift towards scientific collaboration will affect its standing in the luxury yachting sector.
Environmental Integration
The pace at which environmentally responsible yacht designs like ‘SailXplorer’ will gain traction in the industry.
Knowledge Transfer
Whether initiatives like the Menorca Shipwreck Project can sustain long-term engagement from both professionals and students in marine archaeology.