Monaco's Inaugural Yachting Student Fair Attracts 800 Young Participants
Approximately 800 students gathered at the prestigious Yacht Club de Monaco for the first-ever Yachting Student Fair, marking a significant initiative to introduce young people to careers in the maritime and yachting industries. The event, held in Monaco on March 21, 2026, provided a full day of interactive meetings and exchanges designed to showcase the diverse professional opportunities available in these specialized fields.
Hands-On Introduction to Maritime Professions
Middle school students, sixth formers, further education students, and recent graduates participated in the fair, gaining practical exposure to professions that combine technical expertise with international opportunities. Bernard d'Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco, emphasized the importance of such initiatives: "It's very important for Monaco to have a vision for the future and to help the younger generation grow within our industry. In the yachting sector, we need young people with motivation."
D'Alessandri noted that the yachting industry often remains inaccessible to youth, making events like this fair crucial for direct engagement. "The yachting sector is wonderful, and it is important to present it to young people because they rarely have direct contact with it," he added.
Industry Professionals Share Expertise
Throughout the day, numerous training institutions, maritime organizations, and yachting professionals presented their educational programs and career pathways. Espen Øino, a renowned naval architect and superyacht designer, shared his professional journey with visiting students at his exhibition stand.
"Over the years we have seen that surprisingly many people do not necessarily know what we do or the many professions linked to the maritime industry," Øino explained. "We are one small piece of a much bigger puzzle made up of architects, designers and engineers working together to design and engineer a vessel before it is built."
Øino highlighted the comprehensive ecosystem surrounding yacht construction and operation, noting his enthusiasm for participating in the inaugural event: "This is the first time the Yacht Club is organizing this event, and we immediately said we wanted to be part of it. We want to share our passion for what we do and try to attract young talent."
Educational Institutions Showcase Diverse Programs
The fair featured presentations from several prominent educational institutions offering specialized maritime training:
- École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM) and the Nautical Institute Academy France provided information about careers as officers and engineers in the maritime sector.
- Lycée Jacques Dolle in Antibes presented its courses in nautical maintenance, electromechanics, and propulsion systems.
- École Nationale des Scaphandriers explained requirements for underwater professions, ranging from welding to hyperbaric archaeological operations.
- European School of Economics (ESE) showcased its international career programs, including Bachelor's degrees, MSc and MBA programs, and short courses at campuses in London, Madrid, Rome, Milan, and Florence.
Student Perspectives on Career Exploration
Many students found the fair invaluable for broadening their professional horizons. Jurgen, a high school student, shared his experience: "I'm here because I wanted to better understand this world, and I really liked what they explained. The most important thing for me was how they described the path to different careers."
He praised the event's comprehensive approach: "I think it was very helpful, especially because there was such a wide choice of activities. I would definitely recommend anyone to come here."
Giovanni, another participant, expressed particular interest in the yachting industry: "I'm interested in the yachting world in general, especially since I have relatives who work in this field here. And the variety of jobs presented at the stands were very interesting; covering many different types of yachting jobs from cooking and boat cleaning to boat engineering, and architecture."
Launch of Extended Yachting Celebration
The student fair also served as the opening event for four days dedicated to yachting and exploration, organized in collaboration with The Explorers Club of New York. This world-renowned institution, founded in 1904, joined forces with the Yacht Club de Monaco to create an extended celebration of maritime exploration and industry.
The successful inaugural Yachting Student Fair demonstrated Monaco's commitment to nurturing future talent in the maritime sector while providing students with unprecedented access to industry professionals and educational opportunities that combine technical expertise with global career prospects.
