THE MAGIC OF BY JANINE KETTERER
VEN AFTER 21 YEARS, the magic of Monaco still glimmers in Port Hercules as yachts head into port, drop anchor and tie up in preparation for the annual Monaco Yacht Show (MYS). This four-day spectacle will run from Wednesday, September 19 through Saturday, September 22 and is sure to enchant all those who enter her gates. There’s a fairytale charm to Monte Carlo; perhaps it’s her royalty — her sovereigns often seen on the docks of the show — or her Mediterranean muses, but we applaud whatever imbues Monaco with her magic and can’t wait to see what she has in store for her 22nd year. Gates open at 10 a.m. daily, and more than 500 of the world’s leading superyacht companies stand arms open wide to greet guests of the show, which closes at 6:30 p.m. nightly.
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with outstanding environmental qualities, and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco will be on hand to recognize the winner. This won’t be the only celebrated vessel at the show, as the Prix du Design award will be given to the yacht featuring the most innovative design. Not to be outdone, Fraser Yachts once again will award its best charter captains and crew at the Fraser Yachts Captains’ Dinner at the Yacht Club de Monaco Thursday evening, September 20. And if you’re looking for more glitz and glam, Boat International Media has it in spades as it launches the 26th volume of The Superyachts book at The Hermitage that same night. (Don’t forget your invitation.) With all of this on the docket for MYS 2012, it’s no wonder there will be thousands of people at the show hoping to capture just a small spark of Monaco’s magic.
Courtesy MYS: Pierre Pettavino
As if the exhibitors on the docks aren’t enough to add to Monaco’s mystique, 100 superyachts in all sizes will be ready for viewing, thanks to the handiwork of some very talented crew, who create their own brand of magic on board each vessel, every day. The crown jewel of this year’s show is none other than Vicky, Proteksan Turquoise’s 72.6-meter beauty, which was launched at the end of June 2012. She’ll stand majestically alongside Nobiskrug’s 74-meter Mogambo and Better Place, Wally’s 50.5-meter new launch, who just happens to be the world’s largest carbon fiber sloop and the first sailing yacht to comply with RINA’s Green Star class. And speaking of green, this year, as in the past, RINA will present the “Green Plus Yacht Award 2012” to a vessel
50 SEPTEMBER 2012 DOCKWALK.COM