Judging for the inaugural Honours completed in Monaco

With three months to go before the inaugural Honours gala event on 26 September, the eve of the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show, the judging process has been completed and the first three Honourees have been selected.

To celebrate the people of superyachting and their stories, The Honours – organised by The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show and sponsored by Agusta, Begüm Yachting, BWA Yachting, Feadship, Preciosa, Richard Mille and RINA – seeks to recognise those who have made outstanding contributions or helped propel the industry forward to a more responsible, sustainable and caring future. After more than 360 nominations by people from across the superyacht industry and beyond, potential honourees have been sifted and sorted, and finally shortlisted for consideration by an expert panel of industry peers.

The panel of judges convened for a day of deliberation in Monaco, chaired by Tony Harris, Superyacht Industry Ambassador of Informa Markets. He was joined by a prestigious line-up of peers from across several sectors of the industry, including internationally renowned yacht designer Espen Øino; Jonathan Beckett, Chief Executive of leading brokerage house Burgess; Farouk Nefzi, CMO at superyacht builder Feadship; Merijn de Waard, Founder of Superyacht Times; Jeroen Sirag, Marketing Director at sailing yacht builder Royal Huisman; and Francesca Fenucci, CCO at BWA Yachting.

The nominees were considered on a variety of criteria, including the impact they have had in their field of work, community, voluntary services or public life; their leadership qualities and level of influence; the commitment they have shown in their work or community; their innovation and creativity; and their character, ethics and personal values.

“It is very important that people start understanding how impactful in a positive way this industry is and can be,” says Francesca Fenucci. “The Honours will bring this to light more and more over the years. The judging day was fun and pleasant on the one hand due to my fellow colleagues, but definitely very challenging on the other because we had to make important decisions given the level and standard of our nominees.”

After several hours of debate and deliberation, the panel of judges agreed on three laureates who they felt stood worthy of being honoured for their contribution to superyachting, highlighting the positive impact that positive people in yachting can have far beyond the bounds of yachting itself.

“The crucial thing about the Honours and how they can benefit the superyacht industry is that they give us great stories to tell, about people and what they are using their boats for, and how they are helping communities with their yachts,” says Tony Harris. “The judging panel was a great day – there was some lively debate with a very knowledgeable team of judges who have generously given their time for this, and they are all passionate about it because fundamentally they all believe in the concept of trying to promote a more positive image for the superyacht industry.”

Adds Dilan Saraç, Executive Director of the Superyacht Life Foundation: “Superyacht Life has always been about promoting the positive sides of superyachting, and the number of nominations we received for this year’s Honours just reinforces the depth of talent and determination that exists in every area of the industry, from owners and crews doing good and advancing inclusion to the work done to support communities around the world. Our Honourees this year are three perfect examples of what makes the superyachting sector so special, and I believe they will not only inspire others within the industry but will also demonstrate to the wider world the other side of superyachting.”

Says Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director at Monaco Yacht Show: “It was a pleasure to welcome the panel of judges to the Principality for their day of deliberations, and having seen the shortlist of nominees I didn’t envy their task of selecting just three honourees from such an outstanding list. But after lengthy, fair and fruitful discussions the final winners were unanimously agreed upon, and I can’t wait to celebrate them at our exclusive, experiential dinner on the eve of the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show in September.”