Ever since it was founded in 2008, Italy’s Monte Carlo Yachts has had a unique offering to owners – Nuvolari Lenard. Long established as one of the world’s leading superyacht design studios, the Venice-based firm headed by Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard has designed every Monte Carlo Yachts model, from the first MCY 76 launched in 2010 through to the second-generation models that began to unveil in 2019 and the Skylounge editions that premiered last year.
Nuvolari Lenard’s style is a huge attraction for owners of MCY models and the studio is responsible for the exterior and interior designs of the full size range, from the MCY 66 to the flagship MCY 105.
The duo has created one of the most easily recognisable brands in this sector of the market with consistently recognisable, flowing exterior lines and a hull stamped by the iconic overlapping circular windows midships. These ‘Future Classics’ are easy to spot in any marina or bay.
Just as important for owners is that the shipyard and the design studio work hand in hand with owners to customise the interior and exterior as well as the made-in-Italy furniture, high-end décor and top-quality materials. However, Monte Carlo Yachts’ owner-centric offering recently moved to a new level with the release of the MCY 105 Signature Edition.
“This yacht boasts three signatures in one: the signature of Monte Carlo Yachts, the one of Nuvolari Lenard and the one of the owner,” says Sergio Loiacono, Monte Carlo Yachts’ Sales and Marketing Director.
“MCY 105 Signature Edition reflects the dreams and desires our customers have expressed for more than a decade. It embodies all the aspects a client is looking for. Clients sometimes love to immerse themselves and explore first-hand the unlimited customisation possibilities, while sometimes they love to receive a dedicated tailormade proposal from the designers’ expertise. This offers both.”
Nuvolari, a naval engineer and architect, and Lenard, the designer, are also convinced of the Signature Edition concept, having spent the past decade listening to feedback from Monte Carlo Yachts owners.
Lenard adds: “MCY 105 Signature Edition is conceived to meet the ultimate requests and taste of customers, celebrating Italian heritage and featuring a more contemporary, essential style. This interior design emphasises the presence of natural light to create a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere to enhance well-being on board.”
While the MCY 105 Signature Edition takes tailored proposals and client engagement to a new level due in large to the scale of the flagship yacht, Monte Carlo Yachts has always offered clients the ability to choose the configuration and look and feel of their yacht, whatever its size.
The entire MCY range allows every owner to tailor their yacht to suit their lifestyle. Customisation options range from the main deck, lower deck, flybridge and exterior areas to technical equipment and special features.
“Every Monte Carlo Yachts unit is built around its owner. It responds to their personal way of enjoying life onboard. Consumers want products tailored to their own specific needs and style, so Monte Carlo Yachts distinguishes itself from the competition by offering customisation,” Loiacono says.
Since its inception, Monte Carlo Yachts has had a particularly personal and owner-centred approach, seemingly bringing the custom superyacht service mentality to a semi-production operation. This approach is possible due to the brand’s worldwide presence and an efficient dealer network that offers one-to-one meetings and support.
The personal approach is also replicated the other way, as Monte Carlo Yachts traditionally welcomes its yacht owners to attend its model premieres and come to the shipyard to visit its purpose-built, state-of-the-art factory in Monfalcone, which specialises in a revolutionary modular construction process inspired by lean manufacturing.
In fact, each new build typically begins with a meeting with the prospective owners, as the shipyard listens to their ideas and wishes, and shows them around the waterfront facility. “These meetings are the basis of the relationship that gives the owner a leading role in the planning and development of their yacht,” Loiacono says.
Some owners, he explains, love to be involved and experience first-hand the customisation process, guiding the choices from the layout to small details. In other cases, the owner wants the customisation driven through Monte Carlo Yachts and Nuvolari Lenard proposals, which start with a client profile study.
“The reason we can propose almost unlimited tailor-made solutions, such as the MCY 105 Signature Edition proposal, and a unique customisation experience – as much as the client wants – is because of the unique MCY Collection design and the innovative naval architecture and production process. This is the added value of choosing Monte Carlo Yachts.”
The other major attraction is that any trip to Monfalcone can also enable the owner to have an immersive visit to the Nuvolari Lenard studio in Venice, just 1½ hours away by car. The customisation process continues here as owners can see, feel and choose from the incredible array of luxurious materials and finishes that the design studio typically proposes to its superyacht and megayacht clients.
There are plenty of choices to be made as the interiors of MCY models are characterised by natural woods, stone and marble, luxurious fabrics, and high-end Italian indoor and outdoor furniture. Large, lacquered surfaces, refined hand-stitched leather inserts and decorative glass and metal details, selected from top design firms and leading Italian suppliers, are also on the menu.
“Literally unlimited material choices await the client, which makes the personalisation process a truly fascinating experience that can’t be found with any other production builder,” Loiacono says. “The MCY style office works closely with the Nuvolari Lenard studio, providing painstaking attention to every single detail. The result is an exceptional experience for even the most demanding owners.”
Personalised layouts and decors, 3D views, décor boards and made-to-measure brochures are developed together with the client. Lenard emphasises: “No detail, no matter how small, is overlooked. We are there all along with the shipyard, to make sure that each yacht is exactly as the owner wants it to be.”
The shipyard also works closely with its dealers, who can also play an important part in the customisation process. In this region, dealers are led by Asia Yachting, which represents Monte Carlo Yachts in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
One of the builder’s leading dealers globally, Asia Yachting has hosted an array of spectacular Monte Carlo Yachts events in Hong Kong in recent years. These include a spectacular evening on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront that featured tailor-made stands for marble, carpet, leather, wood and fabric, each showing dozens of options typically offered for MCY models.
The harbour venue also hosted various interactive displays including an MCY steering wheel where guests could imagine driving a yacht while seeing ‘their’ boat move on a screen. It underlined the importance the builder puts on owners taking control of their yacht from the concept stage.
“For the majority of MCY owners, the customisation process has been an added value. It’s a unique experience to be guided by the Nuvolari Lenard studio and to really customise the layout and every single detail of their new yacht,” Loiacono concludes.
“The shipyard’s innovative naval architecture and leading-edge production process means we can then create the yacht of their dream without having to compromise on quality and delivery time. Each creation captures the owner’s dreams, while staying true to MCY’s distinguished signature and character.”