Launched in 2007 by the Captains’ Club, the Captains’ Forum at Yacht Club de Monaco has grown to become a key event for all professionals committed to yachting’s evolution. Superyacht captains and owners, maritime experts, scientists and explorers gather every year to share experiences and reflect on how the sector can, and is, changing.
The mission of the Captains’ Forum is multi-facetted and includes:
As part of the collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ initiative, the Captains’ Forum positions the Yacht Club de Monaco as a platform for exchange where performance includes protection of the oceans and contributions to scientific research.
9.00am -10.30am
How to Follow Heroes: The Intersection of Science, Yachting and Exploration
11.00am - 11.30am
Presentation on the SEA Index® and its road map
On 24 March 2026, the 30th Captains’ Forum at Yacht Club de Monaco will provide a broader perspective on the role of yachting in modern exploration and scientific data collection at sea.
Captains, explorers and international specialists will share their vision of yachting as a platform for observation, research and transmission.
This year, organisers are adopting a new image-driven presentation format called Pecha Kucha. To keep the discussions moving, each speaker will be allowed to show 20 slides at 20 seconds per slide, totalling 6 minutes and 40 seconds, in a series of well-paced well-structured presentations.
The format encourages participants to get to the heart of the topic, to share concrete experiences and engage in direct dialogue with the audience. Moderated by Maiwenn Beadle, a maritime expert involved in initiatives linking yachting, exploration and sustainability, the forum will prioritise interaction and strategic perspectives.
Next up is a presentation on the SEA Index®. Launched in 2020 by YCM and Credit Suisse (a UBS brand), the SEA Index® has become the benchmark for measuring and reducing the environmental footprint of superyachts. A highlight of the event it aims to clarify the sector’s environmental commitments and mobilise yachting stakeholders to focus on measurable indicators.
An environmental transition cannot be achieved without tools. This session focuses on solutions compatible with the SEA Index® approach: digital platforms, measurement systems and technical innovations designed to reduce a yacht’s environmental footprint. Concretely, it will focus on examining what actually works onboard. Michele Insom (NANNI), Marc Guynot (NEMO Platform) and Claire Ferandier Sicard (ETYC) will discuss the impact of these systems.
Organised as a workshop, lunch will focus on URN standards and the issue of Underwater Radiated Noise. This technical, sometimes complex, but now crucial subject focuses on how to reduce acoustic impacts. It has become a major challenge, not only to preserve marine ecosystems but also for the development of environmental certifications. Eric Baudin from Bureau Veritas will lead the discussions.
For the afternoon session, scientists and specialists in environmental indicators will take to the floor. The goal is not to add a theoretical layer but to reinforce the credibility of commitments undertaken by the sector. A yachting sector that is committed must be able to base its actions on reliable data, robust methodologies and structured partnerships with research. How can a yacht be transformed into a useful observation platform? How can quality data be collected? How can captains, owners and scientists engage in dialogue on shared platforms? To answer these questions, Yacht Club de Monaco has invited leading experts to give their views:
This panel’s aim is to reinforce the link between applied research and the maritime industry to ensure that environmental commitments are based on measurable and shared facts.
From the morning’s strategic debates to technical workshops and scientific discussions in the afternoon, the common thread remains the goal to make yachting a responsible, structured and credible sector in the face of environmental challenges.
The Captains’ Forum at Yacht Club de Monaco is more than a key event on the calendar; it is part of a broader approach to ensure a yachting industry that is capable of anticipating, innovating and fully embracing its role in ocean conservation.
Michèle Flandin
m.flandin@ycm.mc
+33 (0)6 42 07 88 59
