Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Was she brilliant illusion, or was she real? Slowly and seemingly silent, a lustrous, metallic- silver bow emerged from the quay in Cannes, France. Slotted between two larger yachts, this 105-foot vessel’s hull shimmered in the bright midday light as she spun with prima-ballerina precision in the basin. Her sheer mass, enhanced by larger-than-average bulwarks, caught my eye. Her elegant, stately profile made my heart skip a beat.
I looked around, and a crowd was gazing at her with me. Even within a marina filled with stunning offerings, she shined. The yacht headed for open water poised and confident. A man asked aloud, “What yacht is that?” “That’s the new Monte Carlo Yachts 105 ,” I responded. “Wow,” he said.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
The clean, dashing lines of this yacht come from the drafting table of Italian design firm Nuvolari & Lenard. This group is well-known for creating supersize and striking yachts for builders such as Lürssen, Palmer Johnson and Oceanco. It’s no easy feat to make a yacht look sinewy, sleek and proportional when she stands 24 feet 7 inches above the water (32 feet 2 inches with radar mast) and has a 23-foot-5-inch beam. But these designers did.
Her profile is aggressive, with a relatively fine entry and heavily raked forward windows. An ever- flowing sheer line frames the bottom of the wide, dark salon windows. Combined with the arching superstructure above, it looks like an inquisitive, raised eyebrow. The combination of dark horizontal windows and light-tone superstructure contributes to her long, lean look. Further enhancing this feel is the 45-foot-long, retractable hardtop that pitches forward ever so slightly, appearing like a tipped hat that’s greeting the sea.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
And greet the sea, my 105 did. I took the wheel at the portside helm and heard only the breeze passing by my ears as she ran across the water at 25 knots with her optional twin 2,400 hp MTUs diesels on the pins, carrying a full load of fuel and a couple dozen passengers. With a light load, the 105 is said to make up to 27 knots on the top end, with a solid 23- to 24-knot cruise speed.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
In the background, the gentle sounds of water running under her variable-deadrise planing hull provided relaxing white noise. Looking back at the flybridge deck, I noticed 20-plus people, all with a place to sit. If you are a cruiser who likes to entertain, the teak-covered flybridge offers four distinct seating areas, including a family-size, U-shaped sofa and chaise longues aft. (Also a great spot for reading a good book on the hook.) And with a bar and grill, this is the place for an at-sea soiree.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Her visage is intoxicating. Her exterior appointments are first rate. And Monte Carlo Yachts has created an interior setup that is equally five-star.
The salon seems to stretch to infinity, from the minute you step through the sliding-glass cockpit doors right up to the formal dining area. This never-ending feel is aided by a wide-planked, naturally distressed teak sole. Two sofas placed outboard and running longitudinally help too. For me, the salon highlight is the chic, glass-top dining table flanked by large, foldout terraces. It’s easy to imagine sitting here with friends for dinner while a warm and gentle Bahamian cross breeze fills the room.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Her 484-square-foot, main-deck master stateroom is a gem as well. In addition to the contemporary brushed gray oak and soft, brown leather flourishes atop dressers, nightstands and the like, this space is kept bright thanks to inset headliner LED lighting, wide and elongated side windows and a rectangular, overhead window. This space features a walk-in closet larger than some New York apartments I’ve seen, just three steps down and forward of the king-size berth. An en suite head sports a Brazilian brown stone sole, and white Carrara marble provides a clever counterpoint.
Monte Carlo Yachts 105
Guest staterooms belowdecks are equally impressive. This MCY 105 has a full-beam VIP, but owners can opt to split it into two staterooms. Forward are two more staterooms, both with side-by-side berths. All are outfitted to the same level of detail as the master. Your friends and family will feel like royalty on your next Caribbean cruise.
My time on board the MCY 105 ended before I was ready to let her go. But I can assure you that she is quite real. And quite brilliant too.
| Monte Carlo Yachts 150 | Manufacturer Supplied Numbers |
|---|---|
| LOA | 32.26 m – 105 ft 10 in |
| Maximum beam | 7.15 m – 23 ft 5 in |
| Draft | 7 ft 9 in |
| Displacement | 104 ft Dry |
| Maximum speed | 27 knots |
| Cruise speed | 23-24 knots |
| Exterior and Interior Design | Nuvolari Lenard |
