The Mediterranean Yacht Charter Experience: Highlights from 2025 Shows
- Captain Randy and Shelly
- May 18, 2025
- 6 min read
East Mediterranean Multihull & Charter Yacht Show in Poros, Greece
The East Mediterranean Multihull & Charter Yacht Show (EMMYS) gathered an impressive fleet of multihulls and crewed yachts in the charming town of Poros. This event is renowned for its focus on multihull vessels, which combine performance, space, and comfort, making them highly sought after for Mediterranean charters.
Culinary and Tablescaping Awards
One of the highlights of the EMMYS is the Chef and Tablescaping competitions, which celebrate the creativity and skill of the onboard culinary teams. The 2025 winners demonstrated exceptional talent in both food preparation and presentation.
Chef Competition — Diamond Category
- 1st place: Chef Savvas Lichanidis aboard Above & Beyond (Sunreef 80)
- 2nd place: Chef Dimitris Abrazis aboard Mythos G (Motoryacht Posillipo 85)
- 3rd place: Chef Maria Kokkou aboard Namaste (Fountaine Pajot Samana 59)
Chef Competition — Emerald Category
- 1st place: Chef Giannis Skarlatos aboard Lucky Clover (Lagoon 52F)
- 2nd place: Chef Nina Dania aboard Valium 52 (Lagoon 52)
- 3rd place: Chef Dimitris Fotopoulos aboard For Sail (Lagoon 560)
The Diamond category winners impressed with gourmet menus that combined local Greek flavors with international techniques, while the Emerald category chefs showcased fresh, vibrant dishes perfect for summer charters.
Tablescaping Competition
- Diamond winner: Polina Politidou aboard Above & Beyond
- Emerald winner: Maria Konstantopoulou aboard Pi
Tablescaping is an art that enhances the dining experience onboard, and these winners created stunning table settings that beautifully complemented their culinary offerings.
Designer Water Competition
This eco-focused category rewards yachts that prioritize sustainable and innovative water use onboard.
Diamond winner: ELLY
Emerald winner: Twin Pride
Both yachts demonstrated advanced water management systems that reduce environmental impact without compromising guest comfort.
The Mediterranean Yacht Show (MEDYS) in Nafplio, Greece
Held annually in Greece, MEDYS is the largest crewed yacht charter show in the world. It attracts yacht owners, brokers, and charter professionals from across the globe. The 2025 edition continued this tradition by showcasing an elite selection of licensed and fully compliant professional yachts and crews.
Show Highlights and Winning Yachts
MEDYS is known for its rigorous standards and the quality of yachts presented. While the full winner list is extensive, some yachts stood out for their design, service, and overall charter appeal.
The show featured a diverse range of vessels, from sleek motor yachts to spacious sailing yachts, all crewed by highly trained professionals.
Interviews with crews revealed a strong focus on personalized service, safety, and creating memorable experiences for charter guests.
The event also emphasized compliance with international maritime regulations and environmental responsibility.
MEDYS 2025 Chefs’ Competition — Winners
| Category | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Tablescaping Award |
|------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Category A Platinum | Ioannis Pirpiridis — M/Y Bella Stella | Viktoria Shcherbakova — M/Y Anka | Nikolaos Petroutsos — M/Y Rini V | Evelyn Rich — M/Y Artisan |
| Category A | Georgios Elekidis — S/Y Meliti | Audeline Pitre — S/C Azul | Antonis Pazianas — S/C Serenity | Carmilyn Caliboso Apalla — M/Y Karma |
The TYBA Yacht Show in Göcek, Türkiye
The 2025 TYBA Show in Göcek emphasized growing quality and professionalism in the Turkish charter market, with brokers praising exceptional service, innovative yachts, and standout culinary experiences.
This year featured an exceptional lineup of 50 luxury yachts, ranging from 20 to 82 meters. The participation of the 82-meter Oceanco-builtAlfa Nero set a new benchmark for the TYBA Show by literally stealing the spotlight for its sheer scale, modern amenities, and an infinity pool. This exclusive event continues to highlight not only theTurkish fleet but also world-class yachts, reinforcing Türkiye’s growing importance in the global yachting scene.
The highly anticipated Chefs’ Competition took on the theme of “Istanbul Street Food with a Creative Twist.” It was one of the most challenging ever, as noted by the distinguished panel of judges.
The show also featured the debut of the CYBA Designer Water Competition, alongside contests for Best Cocktail, Best Table Setup, and Most Welcoming Crew. These events, combined with a series of engaging industry seminars, brought added energy and insight to the show.
Competition Highlights & Award Winners
Yachts Over 35 meters: Princess Melda
Yachts Under 35 meters: Good Life
Best Dining Tabletop Display: Babylon
Best Cocktail: Yazz
Designer Water Competition: Tanway
The privately crewed charter yachts in Türkiye continue to uphold the “3 H’s” of Turkish yachting—Haute Cuisine, History, and Hospitality—along our stunning coastline. These pillars are what set them apart on the global stage, and they remain committed to exceeding expectations in each.
Insights from the Yacht Charter Shows
Attending these back-to-back yacht shows offered a unique perspective on the evolving trends in Mediterranean yacht charters:
Culinary Excellence: The competition winners demonstrated how onboard chefs are elevating the dining experience with creative menus and impeccable presentation.
Sustainability: Eco-friendly initiatives like the Designer Water Competition highlight the industry's commitment to reducing environmental impact.
Crew Professionalism: The crews interviewed emphasized the importance of teamwork, guest engagement, and continuous training.
Yacht Innovation: New models and refits showcased advances in design, comfort, and technology, enhancing the charter experience.
What This Means for Charter Guests
For those planning a Mediterranean yacht charter in 2025 and beyond, these shows provide valuable insights:
Choosing a yacht with award-winning chefs can transform your onboard dining into a highlight of the trip.
Selecting yachts recognized for sustainability ensures a more responsible and eco-conscious vacation.
Working with professional crews who have proven their skills at these shows guarantees a smooth and enjoyable charter.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been thinking about your next crewed yacht charter vacation, we'd love to start planning something special in the Mediterranean for you. Let us know what kind of yacht, crew, and experience you’d like to try next — whether that’s a sleek motor yacht, a spacious catamaran, or a sailing yacht designed for adventure. We'll personally match you with the best options available. Let's get you there!
-Your Charter Yacht Vacation Expert & Concierge!
CYBA Accredited Yacht Charter Brokers: Capt. Randy & Shelly Tucker
If you want to experience a luxury yacht charter vacation first hand and up close, there is no better way than on your own privately crewed yacht with a full-time professional Captain and Chef/First Mate. We've been sailing and chartering for well over thirty years.
How We Got Started:
The U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands were our "backyard" which we came to love and cherish. So much so, that we sold everything in 1997, became a USCG licensed Captain and moved to Charlotte Amalie, USVI as owners & operators aboard the 72' sailing yacht. We do know the ins and outs of this special place & the people who live there. That's what makes us an official "Yacht Charters Guru”!
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As a member of CYBA, the Charter Yacht Broker’s Association, we adhere to strict yacht charter booking protocols. We have access to the CYBA industry escrow account and E-Contract to protect your money. This is made available by CYBA for electronic use only by established, industry recognized and reputable Yacht Charter Brokers with a verifiable contract number at CYBA.net
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