Doors open at 2018 Monaco Yacht Show
This morning marked the official opening of this year's edition of the Monaco Yacht Show, held annually in the Principality Port Hercules. With a number of changes made to the layout and organisation of the show, the organising committee expects this to be the largest and busiest edition yet with over 30,000 visitors expected to walk through the gates over the next four days.
Photo: Bruno Buisson / SuperYacht Times
The show dates back to humble beginnings in 1991 when 32 yachts gathered in Monaco for the very first edition of the event; an occasion that is today known as the most prestigious yachting event in the world.
Photo: Julien Hubert / SuperYacht Times
Photo: Julien Hubert / SuperYacht Times
Not only the show itself but the yachts in the water too are larger than ever this year. An average length for the motor yachts section of 51.5 metres is larger than the last three years 49.5-metre average. The same goes for the sailing yachts market where an average length of 45.6 metres is predicted compared to the 43.8 metres over the last three years. An average gross tonnage of 714 GT per vessel is expected, making the yachts nearly 15% larger this year compared to the 623 GT average of the last three years. 
Photo: Monaco Yacht Show
Of the 120 yachts in the fleet this year, 40 of those are new build projects being displayed for the first time this week. The largest yacht inside the harbour this year is the 92-metre Aquarius followed shortly after by the new 90-metre DAR by Oceanco. Outside in the anchorage, several large yachts will also be on display such as the 95.2-metre Kismet and 110-metre Jubilee. Take a look at the entire fleet present in Monaco this year, here. 
Photo: Bruno Buisson / SuperYacht Times