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The nine yacht chef participants are confirmed below, the world-renowned jury is ready…
Read on for the full details including the past winners, our esteemed jury members past and present, previous winning dishes and remind yourself what this exciting and exclusive event is all about.
RSVP is obligatory this year, only those on the guest list will be permitted access, so please contact our team to request an invitation:
chefcompetition@bluewaterychting.com or click here to register.
Baptiste Liquito - M/Y Infinity Nine (35m)
Beatrice Cordy - M/Y Nectar (65m)
Aaron Thomas -M/Y Canvas (33m)
Gaia Botturi - M/Y Madame Kate (60m)
Tony Triest - M/Y Barabara (88.5m)
Paul Thinus Prinsloo - M/Y Moka (50m)
Milan Popovic - M/Y Smiley (35m)
Ilija Gojkovik - M/Y Emocean (38.2m)
David Kempsey - S/Y Sagitta (45m)
Who will win the 2026 competition?
2018 champion - Pablo Albuerne - MY TALES 53m
2nd place: Steeve Negouai - MY BLACK LEGEND 50m
3rd place: Eric Vugliano - MY ROLA 47m
2019 champion - Stephanie Gravier - MY PLANET NINE 73m
2nd place: Richard Cullen - MY BLACK PEARL 107m
3rd place: Bruno Chailan - MY MIMTEE 60m
2022 champion - Nicolas Petit - MY LATITUDE 43m
2nd place: Micail Swindells - MY GO 77m
3rd place: Ivan Holmes - MY KJOS 38m
2023 champion – Marco Tognon – MY PLANET NINE 73m
2nd place: Tommaso Santoni - MY PALOMA 60m
3rd place: Henrique Antunes - MY MOCHAFY22 45m
2024 champion - Paulo Ucha Longhin - MY HERCULES 50m
2nd place : Chef Ava Faulkner MY LIGHT HOLIC 60m
3rd place : Mateusz Mitka MY LADY BRITT 63m
2025 champion - Benjamin Ferrand - MY VICTORIA DEL MAR 50m
2nd place : Gaëtan Di Santo - MY Ocean One 36m
3rd place : Christoph Siebentritt - MY Synthesis 70m
2026 champion….
Once again, we are partnering with the Monaco Yacht Club and La Belle Classe Academy for an exclusive day of intense competition.
We are excited to see what the nine chef participants will create for our remarkable jury members, using the TOP SECRET ingredients provided by Riviera Gourmet (along with their own selection of spices!) and Halles Du Midi, with Gourmet Deliveries providing a beautiful display of the best fruits and vegetables available for superyachts.
Once again we will have the audience vote from a selection of mystery ingredients to be added to the chefs selection, by Gourmet Deliveries. Be kind!
RSVP to request a ticket for the event, or to request the link to the live streaming so you can enjoy all the action from wherever you are in the world.
2023 winning dish:
Marco Tognon reigned supreme, delighting the jury with his Brittany lobster ceviche, caviar and avocado mousse with parmesan, whipped cream, vodka and vanilla bean, following up with Champagne and vanilla poached pineapple with mascarpone.
2024 winning dish:
In 2024, yacht chef Paulo Ucha Longhin took the crown for his exquisite dish of glazed lobster, hazelnut butter and bisque, a lemon tartare and caviar, followed by a dessert of mascarpone cream with cocoa and strawberry tartare with basil and lemon cream.
Paulo will create a menu for the yacht club members at a special dinner in March as part of his chef comp win, and he will join the jury for this year’s superyacht chef competition.
2025 winning dish:
In 2025 yacht chef Benjamin Ferrand created an exquisite dish of seared lionfish, orzo risotto with kale, and a blue crab bisque. For dessert, Benjamin prepared a tiramisu with espuma, a crunchy crumble and suzette sauce, with chocolate, cocoa and a touch of kaffir lime.
Who will be judging the dishes this year?
We have been humbled by the chefs who have presided over the superyacht chef competition jury;
Chefs Jacques Maximin, Nicolas Sale, Guillaume Gomez, Glenn Viel and Yannick Alleno to name just a few.
What will 2026 bring us?
Our jury includes several notable chefs including;
*Philippe Etchebest – one of France’s most famous Michelin starred chefs and holder of the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France, Chef Phillippe has featured on Top Chef and France’s version of ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ (Cauchemar en Cuisine).
*Jeeny Maltese – TV chef and food writer, she regularly features as a celebrity chef on RTÉ One’s The Today Show, Jeeny is known for her wellness-led international cuisine.
*Tim Mälzer - Long‑established German TV chef and presenter also hosts his own tv competition called ‘Ready to beef’. Also a restaurateur and cookbook author. Known for bold flavours, high standards, and a no‑nonsense coaching style.
*Carlo Cracco - Star of Prime’s Dinner Club, travels round Italy with celebrities to explore authentic cuisine. Owns a Michelin star restaurant which is listed in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
In addition to these notable chefs, we will also have Chef Duncan Biggs from Oceanwave Monaco, Chef Frederic Ramos, the President of Gout et Saveurs, the winner from 2025 will be joining us on the panel, yacht chef Benjamin Ferrand, and superyacht chef and youtube host, Danny Davies.
We have some amazing prizes on offer;
Sknife are back to support the event again this year with their award-winning creations. Sknife uses a new kind of medical steel which can be used at sea side restaurants and yachts for their knives and they will be offering engraved gifts for the finalists and jury.
All Around The Yacht are gifting the official Superyacht Chef Competition aprons for the chefs and jury.
Riviera Gourmet are offering a stage at Restaurant ‘Gordon Ramsay’ (3 Michelin Stars), in London, flights and accommodation included.
Bonemasters will return once again with their world famous jus for the chefs to use to create their dishes, and bringing the beautiful engraved copper pots for all finalists.
Plus many more…the prize giving ceremony will commence form 5pm when we will announce the winner, 2nd place and 3rd place - any predictions on who might claim these spots?
