Inside the New Generation of Explorer Yachts
Ice-class hulls, helipads and submarines: the superyacht has gone off the map.
By Sofia Lindqvist · 15 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
The explorer yacht began as a niche: converted supply ships for owners who wanted Antarctica rather than Antibes. Today it is one of the fastest-growing segments in superyacht design.
Range over speed
Where a classic motor yacht prizes speed, an explorer prizes range and self-sufficiency: 6,000 nautical miles or more, generous storage and workshops on board.
“Owners want to wake up somewhere no one else has anchored.”
Shop the story
Featured in this article
Keep reading
More from the Journal
Market Report·20 Oct 2026
The Quiet Rise of the Caribbean Compound
Why the world’s most private buyers are trading Mediterranean summers for multi-villa estates in the Virgin Islands.
Collecting·18 Oct 2026
Five Collector Cars That Outperformed the Market
From air-cooled Porsches to the last analogue Ferraris, the models that have rewarded patient owners.
Horology·12 Oct 2026
The Nautilus After the Nautilus
With the 5711 discontinued, where does the collector market for luxury sports watches go next?