The Dandelion Chandelier Planes, Yachts and Autos Luxury Calendar is all about speed machines: yacht, classic car, air and boat shows; regattas; Formula 1 races; and luxury automotive events around the world in May 2018. For the rest of the Luxury Calendar, click here. And start your engines.
The month of May is home to some iconic races and icons – from the streets of Monaco to the Volvo Ocean Race to the Indy 500, there is plenty of action speeding through this month. May also pays tribute to a British classic – The Land Rover, as well as providing a rare opportunity to to bid to own a Lamborghini that has been blessed by a Pope himself.
Air Expos and Shows:
The skies above Chiba will once again become a motorsports battleground, when the home of the Samurai welcomes back the Red Bull Air Race for the 4th time. The sprawling metropolis of Chiba is renowned as the birthplace of civil aviation in Japan and is famed for its warrior heritage, making it the perfect city to capture the spirit of the World Championship – May 26 – 27
The Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach will host its 9th Warbirds Over the Beach where attendees can take a trip back in time to the days of the Second World War – May 18 – 20
Last year over 40 000 people visited the Poznań Air Show in Poland for air shows performed by some of best pilots from around the world and to take a closer look at the static exposition of all kinds of airships – starting from helicopters and gliders, through cargo planes, to supersonic aircraft – May 18 – 19
The Poznan Airshow
The Miami Beach Air & Sea Show is a two-day event showcasing the most impressive military fighter jets, bombers and equipment from all branches of the United States Military, as well as Police, Firefighters and their First Responder agencies. After the Saturday Air & Sea Show the stage will be transformed for the Music Explosion, featuring musical artists Kent Jones, MAX, Shaggy and hosted by DJ Irie – May 26 – 27
Yacht Races and Shows:
A brand new yachting event known as The Superyacht Show launches this month in Barcelona’s OneOcean Port Vell and aims to offer both potential superyacht buyers and charterers the chance to step aboard some of the world’s leading yachts in an exclusive and private setting – May 2 – 5
The East Med Yacht Show returns to Marina Zea in Piraeus, Greece, for its 17th edition from 3rd to 6th May 2018. Timed to coincide with the start of the summer cruising season, the show welcomes charter brokers, yachting professionals, travel agents and media representatives – May 3 – 6
The 2018 Antigua to Bermuda Race is organized by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week. The 2nd edition of the 935-mile oceanic race stars off Fort Charlotte, Antigua – May 9
London’s only on-water boat show will return for its fourth edition. Held at St Katharine Docks next to the iconic Tower of London and Tower Bridge, London On-Water promises a showcase of yachts, supercars and a whole host of luxury lifestyle offerings – May 10 – 12
The 13th Volvo Ocean Race sails into Newport, RI for its only North American stopover. This supreme seafaring adventure covers 45,000 nautical miles around the world, across four oceans, to six continents and 12 host cities, before it ends in June. The race is described as sailing’s most difficult team challenge. Newport’s Volvo Race Village features free activities for the entire family as well as up to seven VO65 race boats docked within yards of spectators. Gurney’s Newport Resort on Goat Island is the best place to stay to see the vessels – May 12 – 20
The Volvo Ocean Race
The Vladivostok Boat Show brings together the Russian Far East’s and the Asia-Pacific region’s yachting industries. With over 50 companies in attendance, show participants hail from Vladivostok, Moscow, Khabarovsk, Saint-Petersburg, Primorsky Kray, Korea and Thailand, along with other locations – May 18 – 20
The 13th edition of Boat International Media’s renowned World Superyacht Awards will once again welcome guests in Florence, Italy and is a weekend filled with activities and events with a lavish gala for recognizing the award-winners. The annual event honors the most impressive and innovative engineering, design and construction of superyachts launched in 2017 – May 19
Chris-Craft Boats: An American Classic is a celebration of an American boating classic. Since 1874, Chris-Craft has built boats of immense beauty that evoke an emotion and passion in all who see them. The varnished mahogany runabouts of yesteryear, and their modern sister-ships of today, all share the same design ethos, gorgeous lines, high quality and style. The name alone conjures up images of classic wooden boats, waving flags, and unforgettable memories made on the waves – May 22
Sanlorenzo shipyard has been building high-quality motor yachts since 1958. A boutique firm in the yachting industry renowned for its superior interior design in the nautical world, and crafting only a limited number of custom-made units per year, Sanlorenzo ranks second among the top twenty builders of yachts over twenty-four meters. Italian Style on Board: SanLorenzo Yachts Interior Design describes twelve exclusive Sanlorenzo yacht models; each boat tells the story of a unique collaboration between constructor and designer in order to reach the perfect result, the “superlative” boat – May 29
Opening the Mediterranean’s classic yacht regatta season is Les Voiles d’Antibes. A selection of the most beautiful classic yachts will flock to Port Vauban in Antibes on the French Riviera for five days of racing, exhibitions, concerts, parades and other festivities. In attendance will be yachts built in the pre-1954 era, classic yachts built before 1976 and those from the spirit of tradition class – May 30 – June 3
Auto Races:
First held on the amazing streets of Monaco in 1929 almost all of the turns, corners and straight lines of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix are exactly the same today. This is a celebration of historic motor racing and happens only every two years. The Automobile Club of Monaco gathers together some of the most wonderful vintage sports cars that race around the same circuit as the Monaco Grand Prix itself – May 11 – 13
The Santander Spanish Grand Prix (or Gran Premio de España) will be held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain – May 11 – 13
The Monaco Grand Prix returns to the winding streets of Monte Carlo. Who will be crowned champion of this prestigious race in 2018? A combination of precision driving, technical excellence and sheer bravery is required – May 24 – 27
The Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
This year marks the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 – drivers travel 200 times around a 2.5 mile oval track – May 27
Luxury Auto Shows and Auctions:
Keels & Wheels Concours d’ Elegance is a classic car and vintage wooden boat show that takes place 30 miles south of Houston at the Lakewood Yacht Club in picturesque Seabrook, Texas. Nearly 60 car judges and 20 boats judges evaluate approximately 40 classes for cars and 20 classes for boats – May 5 – 6
A spring tradition for collector car enthusiasts across the US, RM Sotheby’s: Auburn Spring auction returns to the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana – May 11 – 12
RM Sotheby’s 1965 Shelby 289 S/R Cobra
The perfect blend of gentility, glitz, hedonism, and top-rank motorsport, Monaco provides the perfect backdrop for RM Sotheby’s: Monaco auction. Held at the glamorous Grimaldi Forum, a venue synonymous with the principalities most prestigious events, the Monaco auction takes place alongside the legendary Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, making for a weekend ripe with automotive excitement. The sale will also offer a bespoke 2018 Lamborghini Huracán built for His Holiness Pope Francis. There are few opportunities to own a vehicle blessed by the pope, let alone a Lamborghini – May 11 – 12
Celebrate 70 years of Land Rover with the Gaydon Land Rover Show at the British Motor Museum with a huge range of models from 1948 to the present. In addition the show will also celebrate 50 years of the Lightweight Land Rover and aims to highlight the history of Land Rover’s development, as well as feature its original British rivals such as the Austin Champ and Austin Gipsy – May 12 – 13
See other May 2018 Events:
— Travel
— The Arts
Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.