Monaco

Monaco left the Feadship yard in 1982 and still wears the profile De Voogt drew for her: a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure and the upright, generous proportions of Dutch motor yachts of that era. Terence Disdale styled the interior. She belongs to the Feadship Heritage Fleet, a group of classic yachts from the yard that are still chartered, and her last refit, completed in 2023, went beyond cosmetics: the engines were rebuilt from scratch and the exterior was repainted. Her age shows in her lines, not in her machinery.

Eight guests is a deliberate number here. The owner's cabin is on the main deck and gets plenty of daylight, while down below a full-beam VIP is finished with hand-painted Dutch tiles, a detail that tells you more about where the boat comes from than any brochure. Two twin cabins on the same deck make her an easy fit for parents travelling with children or teenagers. Outside, the day is spread across three decks, each with somewhere to eat in the shade, and the crew of seven is known for turning evenings into an event; her agent mentions pillow forts on the aft deck for younger guests and even fireworks.

She is built for steady coastal hops rather than dashes. A range of around 3,500 nautical miles at ten knots means she can reposition without fuss, but nobody chooses her for speed. The water toys match the size of the boat rather than a modern superyacht list: two tenders that pull skiers and inflatables, a Laser Pico dinghy for anyone who wants to try sailing, kayaks and paddleboards. Her summers are spent in the western Mediterranean, with the Côte d'Azur and Corsica as home waters.

She suits people who value the way a yacht was built over the number of gadgets on board: a family, or four couples who are happy for two of them to sleep in twin beds. Anyone hoping for a beach club, a large spa area or a gym should look at a newer yacht, and groups that want to cover long distances in a week will find eleven knots slow.