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Leading motor yacht marque Prestige is celebrating the win of major awards at leading boat shows in Cannes and Genoa for two yachts making their world-premiere appearances.

In the World Yachts Trophies ceremony on Saturday 16 September at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Prestige F4 — the first of the all-new generation of the F-Line — won the prize for Best Interior Design in the category of yachts from 45 to 64 feet, while the flagship Prestige M8 was declared best among Power Driven Catamarans.

The following week at the Genoa International Boat Show, the M8 was named winner of the 2023 Design Innovation Award in the Multihull category.

“Both the new Prestige F4 and flagship Prestige M8 are important milestones in the evolution of the brand today,” said Erwin Bamps, vice president of the Franco-Italian yacht builder.

The multihull Prestige M8 “embodies [the marque’s] ability to cater to a sophisticated, discerning clientele” | Credit: PrestigeThe multihull Prestige M8 “embodies [the marque’s] ability to cater to a sophisticated, discerning clientele” | Credit: Prestige

“The F4 is the first model of our third-generation flybridge line-up and features many new attributes that reflect our vision for the ideal family yacht of tomorrow.

“At the same time, the multihull M8 embodies our ability to cater to a sophisticated, discerning clientele, marrying French industrial excellence and an Italian heritage of personalisable, large yacht construction at our Monfalcone shipyard.

“Being recognised for both ends of the Prestige spectrum with international awards is a beautiful accolade of our achievements.”

MGM Boats are the Irish agents for Prestige and you can express your interest in the F4 and M8 at [email protected].

Published in MGM Boats
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This past weekend at boot Düsseldorf was a big one for Dun Laoghaire-based agents MGM Boats, with the world premiere of Jeanneau’s new DB/37 and the launch of the electric Delphia 10 Lounge — as well as the reveal of the new flagship of Prestige’s M-Line in the M8.

Following the M48, the first in the M-Line that was launched last year, the multihull M8 promises an unprecedented experience: to live in perfect harmony with the sea on smooth, serene cruises, more respectful of the environment with a reduced fuel consumption.

The M8 also aims to redefine the onboard experience with a living area of more than 270 sq m “unequalled in its category” and twin hulls ensuring natural stability and excellent seaworthiness.

The M8 is being touted as ‘a true villa on the sea’, to which this artist’s impression of the interior can testify | Credit: Prestige YachtsThe M8 is being touted as ‘a true villa on the sea’, to which this artist’s impression of the interior can testify | Credit: Prestige Yachts

“The M8, flagship of the M-Line by Prestige, represents the quintessence of our savoir-faire in terms of design, elegance, and fit and finish,” says Erwin Bamps, vice president of Prestige.

“I would like to underscore the unique character of Prestige, the only Franco-Italian yacht builder in the world, today, combining the French mastery of serial production and Italian heritage in large yacht construction.”

While remaining faithful to Prestige’s identity, the M8 features a distinctive hull, designed from the start uniquely for a motor yacht.

Living is easy onboard the M8, its creators promise | Credit: Prestige YachtsLiving is easy onboard the M8, its creators promise | Credit: Prestige Yachts

The result is a multihull that is less wide but taller than a sailing catamaran, offering unequalled surface area and dimensions, which Prestige says is never before seen in existing monohulls and multihulls on the market.

“The M8 is a true villa on the sea,” says its designer, Camillo Garroni. “The layout, living spaces, ease of movement and safety on board have been designed to optimise the experience of the owners and their family.”

Discover new horizons, get closer to nature and reconnect with yourself and others in a spacious, refined, bright environment with the M8 from Prestige. There’s more on the Prestige website — and if you’re at boot Düsseldorf this week, meet the team from MGM Boats for details.

Published in MGM Boats

Naval Visits focuses on forthcoming courtesy visits by foreign navies from our nearest neighbours, to navies from European Union and perhaps even those navies from far-flung distant shores.

In covering these Naval Visits, the range of nationality arising from these vessels can also be broad in terms of the variety of ships docking in our ports.

The list of naval ship types is long and they perform many tasks. These naval ships can include coastal patrol vessels, mine-sweepers, mine-hunters, frigates, destroyers, amphibious dock-landing vessels, helicopter-carriers, submarine support ships and the rarer sighting of submarines.

When Naval Visits are made, it is those that are open to the public to come on board, provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate up close and personal, what these look like and what they can do and a chance to discuss with the crew.

It can make even more interesting for visitors when a flotilla arrives, particularly comprising an international fleet, adding to the sense of curiosity and adding a greater mix to the type of vessels boarded.

All of this makes Naval Visits a fascinating and intriguing insight into the role of navies from abroad, as they spend time in our ports, mostly for a weekend-long call, having completed exercises at sea.

These naval exercises can involve joint co-operation between other naval fleets off Ireland, in the approaches of the Atlantic, and way offshore of the coasts of western European countries.

In certain circumstances, Naval Visits involve vessels which are making repositioning voyages over long distances between continents, having completed a tour of duty in zones of conflict.

Joint naval fleet exercises bring an increased integration of navies within Europe and beyond. These exercises improve greater co-operation at EU level but also internationally, not just on a political front, but these exercises enable shared training skills in carrying out naval skills and also knowledge.

Naval Visits are also reciprocal, in that the Irish Naval Service, has over the decades, visited major gatherings overseas, while also carrying out specific operations on many fronts.

Ireland can, therefore, be represented through these ships that also act as floating ambassadorial platforms, supporting our national interests.

These interests are not exclusively political in terms of foreign policy, through humanitarian commitments, but are also to assist existing trade and tourism links and also develop further.

Equally important is our relationship with the Irish diaspora, and to share this sense of identity with the rest of the World.