This Sunday at the Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting Rendezvous, Bernard d’Alessandri, Director and General Secretary of Yacht Club de Monaco, and Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club of New York inaugurated the Explorer Dock for use by yachts designed or employed for exploration, scientific research or maritime innovation. From 2.00pm to 6.00pm the Explorer Dock was open for the public to discover seven very different vessels moored in the YCM Marina. All illustrate a yachting evolution towards more responsible uses from long-distance ocean navigation to scientific missions and technical solutions to reduce the boat’s environmental impact.
Visitors were able to board several yachts selected for their ability to sail long distances for extended periods, and serve as platforms for scientific and environmental projects. They included the R/V Plastic Odyssey (40m), a former oceanographic vessel transformed into a floating laboratory which conducts missions to combat plastic pollution, calling into regions that are particularly exposed to marine debris. Also the S/Y 7Continent (26m) which is involved in expeditions run by the 7th Continent Expedition Association, serving as a platform for data collection campaigns and activities to raise awareness of microplastic pollution.
The S/Y Simena (62m), recently built by ARES Yachts, exemplifies a new generation of hybrid vessels that can cover long distances while optimising energy consumption, thanks to a propulsion system that combines sailing, diesel and electric power.
Also on display were the M/Y Martita (22.33m), a compact boat integrating energy efficiency solutions for long-distance cruising; the M/Y Latitude (47m), an expedition yacht designed to navigate in polar regions; the M/Y K+ (38.2m) specifically conceived to reduce consumption; and the M/Y Reduce (35.9m), an aluminium catamaran designed to limit resistance and improve efficiency when cruising.
Several boats on the Explorer Dock also had the SEA Index® certification, an index developed by the Yacht Club de Monaco to measure carbon emissions of yachts. The S/Y Simena (61.61m – ARES Yachts, 2026) received a 4-star rating, while the S/Y 7Continent (26m – MH Corbin, 1992) was rated 5 stars, confirming the growing interest of owners in solutions that allow them to better manage their vessels’ environmental impact. This initiative reflects YCM’s commitment to support the sector’s transition to more responsible practices by providing the international community with robust measurable benchmarks.
The Explorer Dock inauguration day is part of a four-day event organised with The Explorers Club that has brought a hundred-plus explorers, captains, scientists, engineers and owners to the Principality, all sharing a vision to transform yachting into a tool for exploration, research and innovation. After the success of the first Yachting Student Fair held on Saturday, this immersive day is followed by the Day of Exploration, the 30th Captains’ Forum and the 6th YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts, which concludes the meeting and will be attended by HSH Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
With this programme, the Yacht Club de Monaco is confirming its commitment to making the Principality a meeting point for the worlds of yachting, science and exploration.
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