Elite Traveler: Please give us a bit of insight on your background.
Thibaut de Montvalon: I joined Beneteau group two years ago. Sailing and Yachting have been a passion of mine since I was a child. I started out an engineer in my teens then I moved to various roles in the industry, including sales. Now I am running the group office here in Asia. We look after Beneteau, Lagoon catamaran and Monte Carlo Yachts here. My parents have always been expats in Asia, and I have spent my childhood between Hong Kong and Indonesia. I’m French but Asia is my home.
ET: Please tell us more about MCY 86.
TM: She encompasses all of the unique characteristics of all our MCY. MCY 86 is indeed a strong concentration of the MCY DNA. It has a Portuguese bridge, a bow lounge area at the front, two side opening balconies and three distinct living areas on board, which allow the owner and the guests to fully enjoy their privacy and their own spaces. These are features only found on board Mega Yachts.
ET: What is the approximate price for the MCY 86.
TM: The retail value of the MCY 86 depends on the tailored options the client chooses. We have a very high level of customization on the MCY 86.
ET: Please tell us more about your shipyard in Italy.
TM: This is a very important point because MCY has developed a unique way of building yachts, which is extremely innovative and had never been implemented in Italy before. This manufacturing process is so special that it has actually been patented. Although MCY belongs to a French group, the Group Beneteau, the shipyard is located in Italy as, when it comes to large motor yachts, Italy is where the best knowledge and craftsmanship come from. Our shipyard is located in Monfalcone near Venice. We are currently building 70 boats per year and have the ability to build up to 200 feet yachts.
ET: What is so special about MCY and catering to the Asian market?
TM: We have a high-level of customization which is the strongest element that we can offer to the Asian Market. We can build a karaoke room and/or a mah-jong table, which are regular requests in China. We can also build meeting rooms or be as creative as the client wants. One particular feature that goes over well in Asia is the variety of living areas found on board, for socialising, entertaining guests and cocktail parties, which is hard to find in our competitors boats.
ET: What does the future hold for MCY?
TM: MCY is a young brand. I would say it is just the beginning of the story. We look for the extension of range, our distribution network and offices worldwide. We are expecting a great deal of development in the coming years.
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