On Thursday 21 May 2026, the Yacht Club de Monaco welcomed industry leaders, designers, shipyards, suppliers and yachting professionals for the latest edition of the Cluster Yachting Monaco Spring Pop Up. Running from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm, the event combined a morning conference programme, a networking lunch and an Open Day that continued throughout the day, bringing together key conversations about yachting.
This year’s edition reflected an industry in transition. Discussions moved beyond product alone and focused on relationships, infrastructure, changing ownership expectations and the evolution of the customer experience itself.
Trust and reassurance at the centre of growth strategies
The first panel, Yachting in Transition: Growth Strategies in a Changing Market, gathered Patrick Coote, VP of Brand Marketing at MarineMax, Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Director at Oceanco, and Séverine Sciortino, Director of Operations at Sanlorenzo Med Monaco.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was clear: yachting remains fundamentally a people-based business.
While technology, CRM systems and digital tools continue to evolve, speakers stressed that trust remains the true currency of the industry. Building and maintaining long-term relationships with owners requires highly personalised service and consistent reassurance throughout the ownership journey.
The panel explored how companies are investing heavily in data management to better understand owner preferences and behaviours. Yet the discussion made clear that technology alone never works because clients need to feel that investments translate into tangible value and meaningful benefits.
Sciortino highlighted the role of the Sanlorenzo Med Lounge, explaining that the concept was created to reassure clients by bringing together all the partners involved in the ownership ecosystem. “The objective is to make owners feel that every stakeholder is aligned and working collectively for them”, she voiced.
Fragmentation hence emerged as one of the industry's major concerns. As the ownership journey involves brokers, shipyards, captains, management companies, marinas and suppliers, ensuring a coherent experience across every touchpoint is becoming increasingly important.
Fountaine Pajot on the next generation of boating
The central role of customer experience was also highlighted by the Cluster Talk by Romain Motteau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Fountaine Pajot, who brought a broader market perspective.
Motteau spoke about the arrival of Millennials and Generation X owners and how they are reshaping boating culture. According to him, a new generation of customers is approaching yachting with a far more pragmatic mindset, centering ownership around flexibility and lifestyle rather than traditional status perceptions.
This evolution creates new challenges for the industry and asks brands to become closer to customers and better understand changing expectations surrounding usability and experiences.
Asia was also highlighted as a region with significant future potential. Motteau pointed to strengthening momentum around the Singapore boat show and suggested that the region may experience one of the industry's strongest rebounds in the coming years.
His comments reinforced a recurring theme across the day: the future of yachting growth will depend on both adaptability and stronger customer proximity.
The rise of catamarans and wider yachts
Looking at the qualities increasingly valued by newer generations of owners, yachting is now prioritising comfort and shared experiences throughout the whole customer journey.
The second panel, Why Are Yachts Getting Wider? The Rise of Catamarans and Their Impact, focused on one of the most visible transformations currently shaping the market.
The discussion featured Olivier Racoupeau of Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design, Espen Øino of Espen Øino International and Artur Połoczański from Sunreef Yachts.
Rather than viewing wider yachts and catamarans as a challenge, speakers positioned the trend as a major opportunity for marinas and infrastructure development.
First, catamarans offer practical advantages that align closely with changing customer expectations, as the wider layouts create larger living spaces and enhanced onboard usability.
Second, they are particularly well suited to marinas with shallow waters that cannot easily accommodate mono hull sailing yachts or heavier motor yachts.
Third, the growing popularity of catamarans is forcing marinas and ports to adapt, since wider beam dimensions require rethinking berth allocations and infrastructure planning.
The consensus among speakers was that this trend is not temporary. The Cannes Yachting Festival was cited as a strong example of this evolution, with increasing space dedicated to catamarans over the past four years.
A reflection of a changing industry
With 22 yachts showcased during the Open Day, the 2026 edition of the Cluster Yachting Monaco Spring Pop Up demonstrated an industry balancing innovation with changing consumer expectations.
Across every discussion, one message remained consistent: the future of yachting is all about trust and collaboration made possible by CRM investment and ecosystem coordination adapted to evolving owner motivations.
Rebecca Gabbi