Intrepid adventurers: The boldest explorer yacht concepts

Designers: Ares Yachts, Van Oossanen, Hot Lab
Length: 54m

Atlas boasts a "genuine go-anywhere capability" and a Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) by Van Oossanen, with options for hybrid propulsion and solar panels to reduce environmental impact. Four guest suites are located on the lower deck, with direct access to the beach club and a private foredeck space. Atlas' main appeal, however, is the mezzanine structure at the bow, which provides the owner’s cabin with uninterrupted ocean views. The explorer yacht owes her masculine exterior lines to Milanese design studio Hot Lab.

Designers: Finn Berg
Length: 63.3m

This year saw the reveal of Finn Berg’s ECO-X, a concept "designed for both leisure and scientific research". This is realised most clearly in the underwater viewing cabin, paired with a telescopic observatory elevator which extends well above the hardtop. The yacht’s exterior styling is also suitably explore-esque, with a near vertical bow and a sheltered foredeck. With a volume of 1,250GT, ECO-X can accommodate up to 12 guests, 14 crew and four scientists. Interiors incorporate "subtle Japanese elements" alongside freestanding furniture and sofa seating for a "relaxed ambiance".

Designers: Nauta Design
Length: 74.8m

The Nauta XP75 was developed with flexibility in mind, with designer Martino Maino describing the concept as "an Ice Class yacht designed to operate in temperatures from -20 °C to 40°C". She can accommodate 12 guests and 24 crew, including a private owner's deck with a forward-facing cabin completed with island beds, side decks and a hot tub aft. Other standout features include a touch-and-go helipad, a sunken seating area, an open-air cinema and an aquarium located in the main saloon.

Designers: Admiral Centro Stile
Length: 70m

This concept belongs to Admiral Yachts, the flagship brand of The Italian Sea Group. Accommodation is across five cabins, including an entire deck dedicated to the owner with a cinema, private cabin and large indoor and outdoor lounge area with plunge pool. This deck is also where a touch-and-go helipad would be found. Meanwhile, guest accommodation is found on the main deck alongside a glass-walled observatory, described as a "real uniqueness for this type of yacht". 

Designer: Officina Armare
Length: 40m

Designed to capture “the essence of a personal island”, Espada is characterised by a broad, masculine profile paired with fresh, contemporary interiors. Accommodation is for 10 guests across five cabins, with standout features including a master cabin with private terrace, a main saloon fitted with a wet bar and a floating staircase connecting the main deck and beach club. Thanks to her twin Caterpillar C32 engines, Espada can reach a maximum speed of 18 knots and a range of 3,600 nautical miles.

Designers: Bassan & Benedetti, McFarlane ShipDesign
Length: 80m

Revealed at the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show, Kestrel belongs to a series of conversion projects created by La Spezia-based studio Bassan & Benedetti and McFarlane ShipDesign. Guided by the principle that “form follows function”, Kestrel’s minimalist and cost-effective exterior is suited to her original hull. Accommodation is for 14 guests and 25 crew, with her industrial-contemporary interiors also courtesy of the designer. Standout features include a 5.5-metre pool, a helideck, an outdoor cinema and multiple al fresco dining areas.

Designers: D-iD
Length: 45m

Characterised by clean lines and a muscular appearance, D-iD’s concept, Kumu, combines the ability and equipment of an explorer with the amenities of a motor yacht. As her original studio owners Dimitris and Kate Hadjidimos explained, Kumu was designed to "truly distill the essence of time spent on the water". As such, the explorer features long, unobstructed on-deck sightlines, completed with the use of skylights in the master cabin and main deck guest cabins. With sustainability in mind, the yacht also includes teak-deck alternatives and furniture crafted in natural materials.

New York architecture firm Gill Schmid Design revealed its 65-metre explorer concept, Synaesthesia. The yacht would be built at Dörries Yachts in Germany and has been designed for an “adventure-seeking owner” who envisions themselves living "the James Bond lifestyle". On deck, a touch-and-go helipad has been designed with a mobile platform that converts the area into a "party space" when not in use. An infinity Jacuzzi, sunloungers and dining table provide an additional leisure area on the open sundeck. Accommodation is across six guest cabins and a full-beam owner's suite.