Erwin Bamps on the trends in yachting and the Future of Gulf Craft

120 superyachts, tenders everywhere transporting guests from one place to another, and deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars being brokered next to helipads. Even a few exotic car manufacturers and luxury modifications companies got in on the extravaganza.

You’ll only see Port Hercules like this once a year. That’s when the Monaco Yacht Show rolls into town.

We had our eyes set on a few superyachts and one executive interview. Though we were with Majesty Yachts in Cannes a couple of weeks earlier, we weren’t about to visit Monaco and not stop by for another look at their gorgeous yachts.

In addition to exploring the spectacle at the world's most prestigious yacht show, we had a short conversation with the CEO of Gulf Craft, Erwin Bamps. We met with him on the beautiful Majesty 100 Terrace (Majesty Yachts is one of the brands owned by Gulf Craft).

As COO and then CEO from 2009 to 2018, Erwin played a pivotal role in transforming Gulf Craft from a UAE-based family-owned business into a key player in the superyacht industry.

He recently returned as CEO after some time away from the company, and he appears poised to further elevate Gulf Craft's position among luxury yacht builders.

Gulf Craft also had the award-winning tri-deck Majesty 120 docked next to the 100 Terrace. That’s another yacht we had the pleasure of touring a year earlier in Cannes.

It’s easy to get lost in the long list of superyachts on display at the Monaco Yacht Show, but Majesty Yachts definitely made their presence felt, and they didn’t even have their largest yachts on display.

Beyond the show, there were seemingly endless PR events and after parties all around town. There certainly wasn’t a shortage of things to see or places to go (not counting the regular attractions in the principality).

If you want to stay in Monaco (or even the French towns it shares borders with) during the four days of the event, you must book very early, or you will be out of luck.

It was an amazing show, and we’ll have a full report on it shortly. For now, listen to what Gulf Craft sees on the horizon for yacht building as stated by their CEO. The future is certainly bright for people in the yachting community.

Elijah Durojaiye

Elijah is the lifestyle editor at Fortloc. Having lived on three continents, he brings a unique perspective to travel. After his first visit to the French Riviera, it became his favorite corner of the world, and he has produced and directed multiple video productions in Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and other Cote d'Azur cities. With first-hand experience driving race cars and supercars on GP tracks in multiple countries, he has deep insights into what to look for when seeking track experiences. But none of that qualifies him as a racecar driver.