Yogyakarta-Based Artist, Lugas Syllabus Paints Life in Captivating Stories

Lifestyle / yachtstyle2020

Yogyakarta-Based Artist, Lugas Syllabus Paints Life in Captivating Stories

September 28, 2020
2:59 pm

Revered for his paintings and sculptures that address the ironies of modern and contemporary society, Lugas Syllabus is a gifted and engaging storyteller, with a greater vision for peace and justice.

Lugas Syllabus, ‘The Garden of Triumph’, 300cm x 200cm. Acrylic on linen. 2015. Exhibited ‘garden of thriump’ solo show Lugas Syllabus. Art Stage 2016, Element art Space Singapore. Collection of Mr. Alim

As a contemporary artist, living and working in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Lugas Syllabus is highly revered for his paintings and sculptures; His work address the ironies and contradictions in modern and contemporary society. Drawing inspiration from a variety of mediums, Syllabus’ work often incorporate elements of pop culture, media and technology; coupled with memories and folklore. Armed with an undergraduate degree in painting from the Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) of Yogyakarta, Lugas Syllabus has participated in a multitude of artist-in-residency programmes in Passau, Germany; Brisbane, Australia and Singapore, with a selection of work showcased globally.

Yogyakarta-Based Artist, Lugas Syllabus Paints Life in Captivating Stories

Legenda Pendekar dari Bukit Asia. 200cm x 150cm . Acrylic on Linen. 2014. Collection of Mr. Kevin.

You grew up in Bengkulu, Indonesia, and are now established in Yogyakarta, the art capital. Tell us about your first steps as an artist?

I’ve loved art since I was a kid, and decided to be an artist since senior year in high school after a visit to Yogyakarta with my family. It was my father and my uncle Idran Yusuf, who were both artists as well, who showed me ISI (Indonesia Institute of Art at Yogyakarta). Since then, I pushed myself to make many sketches and paintings everyday, neglecting other subjects, in order to achieve the best results to qualify for admission into ISI.

Living construction in the Garden of Memory. 120cm x 150cm. Acrylic, gold leaf on linen, 2018. Exhibited at Solo Show of Lugas Syllabus. We dance together, curated by Khai Hori. Chan+Hori contemporary Singapore, 2018. Image courtesy of the Artist n Chan+Hori, and Collection of Mr Tan Hon Yik.

You seem to take inspirations from very diverse sources – pop music, television series, movie posters, even video games – how would you describe your style?

I love storytelling, describing through painting, explaining with poetry, and using my own daily life for inspiration.

‘Work Eat Work’ Reconsumerism auto machine. Mural on Lugas Syllabus Solo Show ‘Natural Born Worker’ curated by Patrick D. Flores, Finale Art File Philipine. 2016. Image courtesy of Artist and Finale Art File, Manila.

Your art is vibrant with vivid colours and a palette of images sampled from domains as diverse as nature documentaries, art history and religious icons. Tell us more about the “psychedelic imagery” you are using and the “hidden” messages you seem to be trying to push across?

I like to push my art beyond galleries, fairs, auctions and collector walls. I’m happy if it appears in the public space and is given more attention and contribution. I began expressing myself using hidden messages after I showcased Davinci Codex in Milan during my residency in Europe 2012 and also Goya’s Paper in Madrid. I’m working on my own paper now about the sign and I’d like to keep my upcoming ‘hidden message’ a mystery.

Golden Limousine in the heaven of Art, 200cm x 300cm, Acrylic on Linen, (2016) . Auctioned @Christie’s Hongkong 2017. Price realised HKD 325,000, Collection of Mr. Sunyata Wangsadarma

A lot of your work deals with a sociological observation of societal power structures. Your work also contains political themes (your large-scale artwork “Golden Limousine in the Heaven of Art” or “Golden Prayer” for instance). Do you see yourself as an “engaged” artist?

You are right. I feel an artist should engage in political themes but should not be controlled by it. We describe him as a “knight of social betterment”. This knight considers himself a hero who has given over the meaning of life to his God, he lives focusing on the delight of his extended family and thrives on a just society; he is the one who rallies to drive mankind towards a more beautiful and noble world. I try to work on my own beliefs as well, I want to live a meaningful life for my God also. I believe if society is organised cooperatively, socioeconomic resources can benefit all, there would no longer be corrupt governments as dirty politics would vanish and there would be no more racism. Like in Golden Limousine: I dream of myself driving with my heroes like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raden Saleh, Picasso, Chang Ta Chien, Warhol, Affandi, to name a few. Therefore, with no more racism, no need for power. There would be no additional burdens on a citizen’s obligations to society.

Royal Wedding Series ‘Blessing Family on the Golden Tree’.
Dr. Oei Hong Djien on The Royal Wedding stage.
Set of Painting , Bridal Stage, Photobooth, and Interactive Photo Contest via Media Social. 2019.

Your primary medium of expression is through painting and sculpture. How do you decide which media to use over others?

The concept or story controls the medium. I also like to work across media, for example, in my work ‘royal wedding series’, I made a bridal stage and photo booth contest. In this work, the audience and space are both equally important.

Nature inside Nature. 200 cm x 300 cm. Acrylic, Gold Leaf On Linen. 2018. Collection of TOTO Indonesia.

What is the most challenging aspect about creating your artwork?

To make it similar to my imagination…, there are limits to the material but no limit on my fantasies…

Berbatas tapi tak Terbatas tapi Berbatas’. Interactive Room ‘mushola’ Prayer Room set of Copy Raden Saleh painting ‘Merapi dipagi hari & malam hari’ Medium Variable. 2019. Exhibited at ArtJog MMXIX Jogja National Museum 2019. Image courtesy of the Artist n Art+Jog

You have collectors around the world. You are referenced amongst the leading global art websites. What does such recognition inspire in you?

As Warhol said if Art is a business make a good business, Art Business is more about trust and joy of process. I make many mistakes but I keep learning and I want to enjoy my progress and I don’t want to stop learning.

Title: The Relationship between hope and blood. Medium: Teakwood, Fiberglass, Silicone Rubber, Dand Colouring Car Paint. Year: 2014 – 2017. Size: 160cm x 130cm x 260cm + Variable Dimension Small Stone Sculpture. Exhibited Jogja Biennale XIV ‘stage of Hope’ Jogja national Museum 2017

How do you view the current art scene in Indonesia? How important is the space given to artists in modern Indonesian society?

The Indonesian art scene has made good improvement but it needs more support from the government and art collectors. In Indonesian modern society, artists have more wide space, as they work across many disciplines. But we also need to give more support for artists and Art Promoters (curator, gallery, dealer etc) who try to push their careers onto international platforms, and we promote Indonesian art globally as well.

Lugas Syllabus.
Standing,Running,flying #2. 200cm x 300cm. Acrylic on Linen. 2015.
Exhibited: The Prophet ‘Solo Exhibition Of Lugas Syllabus. Curated by Hendro Wiyanto. Sangkring Art Project.
Collection of Mr Hosiyadi.

The five words that best describe your art?

Theatrical, Landscape, Poetry of Hope.

Forbidden tree and the Golden Age. Acrylic, Gold Leaf on Linen. 200cm x 300cm. 2017.
Exhibited at ‘Lugas Syllabus Solo show’ tomorrow must be better. Art021 Shanghai, Element art Space. 2017. Collection of Micky Tiroche.

In which city can we expect to see your next solo exhibition?

I am working on some plans for a solo show with galleries overseas, perhaps China since it’s the closest. Since my successful sold out solo show at Art021 Shanghai and Museum show at Nanjing, I keep in contact with China Collectors, Curators and Art Friends, and am happy to still sell some work to them even during Covid.

The Sound Of The End is the New Beginning. Size: LxWxH. 380x140x132cm3. Medium: Buffalo horn, Goat hair, Metal, Brass etched, Electronic Motion Sensor, Wire. Year: 2015 – 2017. Exhibited: 2016. Art Stage Singapore.2017. Golden Landscape ‘Lugas Syllabus Solo Show ‘ Katamsi Gallery Indonesian Institute of Art.2019. Pholypony South East Asia. Nanjing Museum of Art, China.

Where can we see some of your work online, are these for sale?

You may find my work on Ocula, through selected auctions at Christie’s, online galleries such as Chan+hori and on my personal page. There is artwork for sale, some is collected, while some is only for visual documentation.

Lugas Syllabus, Pinky Rainbow in the Beautiful Day, 2019. Acrylic on canvas. 200 x 150 cm.exhibited Sea Focus 2020 Singapore. Image courtesy of the artist and Chan+Hori.

You are a very sociable person, far from the cliché of an introvert artist. Who are your best artist friends on the Indonesian art scene?

I have some art friends that often get together in my studio. My studio has a ‘Joglo’ cottage where we drink coffee and discuss art. I don’t want to name names in case of envy, but they are all good friends who inspire each other but there’s also some friendly rivals. We like to debate art .Sometimes the debates get a little salty…and it becomes never-ending, continuing up till late at night. I find that they are all smart but not as genius as me…so i leave them to go to sleep. Sometimes they stay until really late and in the morning. I start work in the morning, I heard a story about them from my studio assistant while they were all still sleeping. I really enjoy listening to stories while I’m painting and drinking coffee, especially when I feel like I’m the winner of night’s debate.

Lugas Syllabus, Better Land for a Better Home, 2019 – 2020. Acrylic, gold leaf, decorfin on linen. 150 x 200 cm. Exhibited ‘where the sidewalk end’ Chan+Hori Contemporary. Collection of Mr. Aaron Teo.

If you were to name one mentor who has inspired you in your life and path as an artist, who would that be?

It would be my father who taught me how to sketch and write. But I also like Goya as he can put his hidden message in his work and show his feelings in many situations. In Indonesia I like S Sudjojono as he can show the true colour of Indonesian Art from his era. But I want to be more than they are, I want to talk about history, the present and the future, that’s why I put no borders on my art.

Sydney hosts Beneteau, Lagoon, Excess open days

News / yachtstyle2020

Sydney hosts Beneteau, Lagoon, Excess open days

September 28, 2020
2:10 pm

Beneteau, Lagoon and Excess will host 12 models including five Asia-Pacific debuts at the Boating Rendezvous in Sydney from October 16-18.

The Oceanis 40.1 is one of Beneteau’s two major new sailing models

Sydney will host the Asia-Pacific debut of the brand-new Oceanis 40.1 sailing boat as Beneteau, Lagoon and Excess each host open days as part of the Boating Rendezvous from October 16-18.

The Oceanis 40.1 is one of two major new sailing boats recently unveiled by Beneteau along with the Oceanis Yacht 54.

The Beneteau First Yacht 53 had its world premiere at Cannes last year

Other Beneteau sailing boats on display at Cockle Bay Marina in Darling Harbour comprise a First Yacht 53 (Australian premiere), Oceanis 30.1 and a First 27 (Asia-Pacific premiere).

Local dealers will also show six motorboats from the French brand including the Asia-Pacific premieres of the Gran Turismo 32 (outboard version) and Antares 11, as well as a Gran Turismo 40, Swift Trawler 47 and Flyer 8 and 10 models.

The 47 is the second-largest model in Beneteau’ Swift Trawler range

Meanwhile, a Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran will also be on display and host live ‘Inspire and Learn’ sessions demonstrating how to manoeuvre the vessel, while the Asia-pacific premiere of the Excess 12 rounds up the 12-model line-up.

The Boating Rendezvous – Sydney 2020 is an appointment-only event, adhering to protective health measures in Australia.

A Lagoon 42 will also be on display in Cockle Bay Marina in Darling Harbour

For details and registration, visit:
Beneteau event page
Lagoon event page
Excess event page

Art Republic of Kongo: Q&A Part 2

Lifestyle / yachtstyle2020

Art Republic of Kongo: Q&A Part 2

September 25, 2020
10:58 am

Paris-based Cyril Kongo is returning to his Southeast Asian roots with creative platforms in Vietnam and Singapore.

Following is the conclusion of a two-part interview by Nina Starr on YachtStyle.co

Kongo, whose grandfather in Vietnam was blinded after he stepped on a mine, painted a vintage Nord 1000 to raise funds to produce The Little Prince tactile art book

Tell us about your partnership with the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation and painting a vintage Nord 1000 airplane.
The idea was to raise funds to produce The Little Prince tactile art book with drawings for the blind. My grandfather was blind. He had jumped on a mine in Vietnam and lost his eyes.

As a kid, I read the newspaper to him, so when the Saint Exupéry Foundation proposed this project, I accepted because it served others. I believe the most important thing in the life of a person is to serve a cause and inspire people.

Art Republic of Kongo: Q&A Part 1
Kongo emerged from the Parisian graffiti art scene and still uses a wide array of colours in his work Describing himself as a 'true citizen of the world', Kongo is a regular visitor to Asia, where he spent his early years before living in Africa and settling in Europe.

How did your connection to Asia lead to presenting street art in China?
I am half Asian. My dad is Vietnamese, so I have always been linked to Asia, especially Southeast Asia, by half my family. I had the chance to progress between Europe, Africa and Asia, so I am a true citizen of the world.

In 2004, I created the Eating Frogs Tour in southern China with a group of friends comprising big names in graffiti, dance and deejaying to present French hip-hop in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It’s funny how it takes time, how tightly closed the borders were. It’s opening drop by drop and there is still a lot to do there.

Kongo, whose father is Vietnamese, is opening a gallery in Vietnam

What are your favourite places in Asia?
Each experience is magnificent. I have a special fondness for Singapore, which impresses me by the modernity of its vision. The country is managed like a company and everyone follows the same path. I find it interesting as a Parisian where everything is all over the place. Sometimes it feels good to have some boundaries for the common good and Singapore impresses me a lot in that regard and with its quality of life.

I also love Indonesia, especially Bali, where I find a lot of spirituality and a bit of the disorder of Paris. I particularly like Vietnam because it’s part of my blood. I love Japan for its modernity, the total change of scenery you can have and the vision they have of art.

Kongo’s work has even featured in fashion for Chanel

I am very impressed by China, by its power, how it managed to rebound and become a major force in the world, knowing how to mix politics, industry and capitalism.

Tell us about your collaboration with Singaporean tailor Kevin Seah.
Kevin is above all a friend. Once again, it was an encounter. I held my first exhibition in Singapore in 2012 and Kevin was working in the same building. He is very well dressed and very British, but he was a skateboarder who understands urban culture, so there was mutual respect.

I was impressed by his know-how and that all his suits are sewn by hand. He asked me to make a painting for him and I asked him to make me a jacket, so that’s how it started. He made me a denim jacket, and for the inside lining, he used the silk scarf I’d done for Hermès. It was super chic yet casual, and I loved it. He also made me a camouflage jacket.

A tailored jacket by Kongo

Then we had the idea of making jackets out of linen canvases. He has a linen that is very fine, so I can’t put a lot of paint on it. He sent the linen to me in Paris, I painted the canvases, sent them back to Singapore and he reinterpreted my paintings, cutting them to make unique jackets. We did that in 2013.

I did the collection with Karl Lagerfeld in 2019. It was a completely insane experience, but I didn’t make the collection for Chanel. I met Karl and he asked me to make a whole series of paintings at his atelier on Quai Voltaire, then he chose the paintings to make dresses and bags. It was a real meeting between creators.

After your successful pop-up studio in Paris’s chic 8th arrondissement in 2017, you opened one in Singapore, too.
In November 2018, I told Kevin [Seah] about my ephemeral workshop on Rue François 1er. He asked me about doing one in Singapore and told me to look at a place available next door. The landlord of The Mill, Roy Teo, left me the space to create my workshop for a month, so I did the same pop-up studio concept.

Kongo at work in his studio in Paris

However, it’s no longer ephemeral since I kept it to set up a showroom-atelier because I feel good in Singapore and I’m planning to settle there to create my works to continue the Asian adventure. It will be a private atelier-showroom where people can visit by appointment.

Finally, how is the boutique in Hanoi progressing?
It’s a partnership with a financier who’s opening a Cyril Kongo brand boutique for me to highlight Vietnamese and Southeast Asian artists. He told me that in Vietnam, north and south, many family members went overseas, travelled far and were immigrants in the US, England, Canada, Europe.

He said: “Your case is very special because Vietnamese and Asians who have succeeded consume the brands that have recognised you, so you’re like a hero to them. We know the pain that all families who left Vietnam suffered to get back on track, but very few have succeeded in doing what you have done, like collaborating with Richard Mille and Chanel. You’ve made us proud and we’d like you to express yourself in Vietnam.”

The man, the myth, the enigma …

It will be a store-gallery. I will present objects and original drawings, but I also want to develop the savoir-faire of Southeast Asia like Vietnamese lacquer and carvings, and Indonesian batik. I’ll go around Southeast Asia and reinterpret savoir-faire, much like I interpreted traditional French skills through my work with Daum or La Cornue.

I want to give my contemporary vision on traditional skills we are proud of, but which seem a bit old-fashioned. For example, I want to give my take on sang-de boeuf ceramics and remake batik, which is very traditional and coded. I will present all this exclusively in the boutique in Vietnam and an e-commerce website linked to the store.

Riva 88’ Folgore: Fast as Lightning

Leave a Comment / Reviews / yachtstyle2020

Riva 88’ Folgore: Fast as Lightning

September 24, 2020
3:08 pm

Presented at this year’s Ferretti Group Private Preview, Riva’s new Sportfly flagship has a shark-grey hull, serious style and – as its name suggests – lightning speed.

The first unit has a top speed of 39 knots with twin 2,638mhp MTU engines

A new Riva is always a welcome occasion and this year the 88’ Folgore – Italian for lightning – combines the sleekness and speed of a sport boat with the exquisitely finished exterior and interior spaces the brand is renowned for.

Among the new models showcased at this year’s Ferretti Group Private Preview in Monaco, the first unit of the Folgore has a shark-grey hull with bright black detailing, classic colours in the Riva tradition of recent years.

Built from composite materials, with carbon-fibre reinforcements in the superstructure, the Folgore features plenty of marble, crystal glass and stainless steel, yet still racks up 39 knots with the more powerful of its twin MTU 16V options.

The Folgore has an overall length of 26.9m (88ft 4in)

Officina Italiana Design, headed by Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, designs the entire Riva range and for this heir to the Domino, one of the brand’s top sellers, the firm has again collaborated with the Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy Committee, led by Piero Ferrari, and its Engineering Department.

The course set by Officina Italiana Design with the Dolceriva continues with the new design of the hull windows, which looks a bit like a clean black brushstroke along the yacht’s silver side.

The Folgore is another collaboration between Officina Italiana Design and Ferretti Group

Mahogany-and-steel detailing and carbon-fibre elements continue to show the influence of past and present on recent Rivas, while navigation lights framed in polished stainless steel or the continuous aquamarine waterline exemplify sophisticated functional design.

The walkway handrails are also carbon-fibre and steel, with a section on the starboard side that also acts as the handle for the access door to the interior. Making this boat even more unique is the innovative windscreen, manufactured with spherical crystals that result in a slight counter-curvature.

The garage can house a Williams Sportjet 395 and a jetski

Another innovative feature is the glass roof in the superstructure, which swings open both towards the stern and the bow, to allow fresh air in either when cruising or at anchor. Under the roof is a slatted structure that separates the interior and exterior spaces if desired. The standard solution is a fixed roof.

EXTERIORS
Aiming to offer a design that combines aesthetics and functionality, the Folgore delivers a redesigned stern, with a rear door that swings open into two different positions: parallel to the waterline for use as a 6sqm beach club or submerged for launching and recovering the tender.

The cockpit’s mahogany table can be lowered to form a huge sunpad

Two sets of teak side steps lead to the 22sqm multifunctional cockpit area. The first unit has a huge dining area with a sofa that can be transformed into a sunpad by operating the up-down mechanism that raises and lowers the polished mahogany tabletop.

On the left is a service unit with a storage compartment, an ice-maker and either a fridge or the third command station for stern mooring operations. To starboard, the mobile bar next to the sportfly stairs has a Stone by Florim marble top that opens electrically and two stools.

The foredeck has a huge C-shaped sofa and a sunpad for at least four people

The crew quarters can be accessed through a companion hatch under the stairway, as well as from the galley on the lower deck.

In the bow, the layout of this first unit features a huge C-shaped sofa with a coffee table that swings open to reveal a big storage area and, further forward, a sunpad that can accommodate at least four people.

A small sun hood is integrated in the foredeck sunpad

Integrated in the sunpad is a small sun hood that is opened by an electro-hydraulic mechanism, while the entire 23sqm area can be covered with awnings.

The 20sqm sportfly offers the owner even more ideas for ways to relax in comfort, with a big sunpad plus sofa in the stern, another sofa with a coffee table and pouf on the port side, and yet another sofa to starboard.

The sportfly features lots of seating and a central helm station

The helm station is centrally positioned in the bow, with a pivoting backrest shared by the sofa, and features two 16-inch touchscreen displays. This area can also be completely covered with awnings.

INTERIORS
Entered through the glass door in the cockpit, the interiors on the main deck are divided into lounge, dining and helm areas.

The interior areas have 2m of headroom

The height of all the interior areas touches 2m and is even higher on the lower deck, a huge plus point for any guests.

A mix of wood, leather and steel characterises the onboard decor on both the main and lower decks. The dominant wood on this first unit is polished rosewood, combined with pale or dark coloured leather inserts and white parquet.

The saloon has a large Poliform sofa to starboard

These pairings and the contrasting white and black lacquered sections of ceiling create surprising contrasts that infuse the boat with a refined, classical elegance, enhanced by the natural light that floods in through the continuous side windows and the windscreen.

The saloon features a grey marble Poliform coffee table and a big ice-coloured Poliform sofa to starboard that faces a cabinet with a TV (up to 55 inches). Also on the port side is the dining area, featuring a big tinted glass table with a stainless-steel base and grey Minotti chairs with charcoal-coloured nubuck backrests.

Forward of the saloon, the dining table seats up to eight

The helm station is starboard, has two adjustable-height leather seats and is separated from the saloon by a full-height tinted glass partition. The captain can also enter and leave through the door next to the helm station.

LOWER DECK
The lower deck features the full-beam owner’s suite midships, a VIP double in the bow, a portside VIP cabin with convertible twin beds, and a guest twin, all with en-suite bathrooms. The starboard cabin’s bathroom also acts as the day head.

The 20sqm owner’s suite is proposed with three different layouts

Mirrored surfaces dominate all the cabins. Walls clad with tinted mirrors and widescreen TVs are cleverly paired with wood, leather, fabric and colours that match those on the main deck.

The 20sqm owner’s suite is proposed with three different layouts. The first unit is fitted with version A, which has one big owner’s bathroom, a walk-in closet and a vanity table with a leather-and-aluminium Living Divani chair.

The owner’s suite makes the most of the yacht’s beam of 20ft 8in

The furnishings are rounded out by several pieces of freestanding furniture chosen by the owner, including a Poliform brown leather chair, a black-painted steel Frank coffee table by B&B Italia, and a silver armchair by Minotti. Access is down three white marble steps, while the floor, shower and basin top in the owner’s bathroom are finished in white and gold polished Calacatta marble.

The standard version has a smaller bathroom and two walk-in closets, while version B offers the possibility of two bathrooms with separate services and a single central shower, in addition to the walk-in wardrobe.

The VIP cabin in the bow has two wardrobes

The lower deck also features the galley and crew quarters, which contain a mess area, two cabins with bunk beds and head, and a laundry with a washing machine plus an optional clothes dryer. One of the two entrances to the engine room is located here, while the other is in the cockpit.

PROPULSION AND TECHNOLOGY
This first unit is fitted with a pair of MTU 16V 2000 M96L engines rated 2,638mhp, for a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 33, each speed three knots faster than with the standard 2,435mhp engines.

The first Riva 88’ Folgore has a top speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 33 knots

The helm station on the main bridge has Xenta electro-hydraulic steering gear, with independent rudder management for sporty turn optimisation. There’s also a Loop-integrated dashboard developed in collaboration with Naviop-Simrad, which integrates onboard monitoring with navigation and manoeuvring instruments, from which the captain can manage the entire yacht.

The first unit is equipped with three 19-inch touchscreen displays. A joystick features docking-mode functionality for easy handling in confined waters such as when mooring alongside, with lateral movement aided by the proportional bow thruster.

The first unit is equipped with three 19-inch touchscreen displays and a joystick

In addition to all this, a Dynamic Positioning System maintains the yacht in the same position even in strong winds and currents, an ideal solution when preparing to moor or waiting to refuel. The new model is fitted with Humphree stabilising fins, while the Folgore can also be fitted with the Seakeeper SK26 gyroscopic stabiliser.

With the 88’ Folgore, Riva has created another winner in another dynamic year for the Ferretti Group.
www.riva-yacht.com
www.ferrettigroup.com

To contact Ferretti Group Asia-Pacific, email: infoapac@ferrettigroup.com

Ferretti Group Sells 12 Yachts in Asia-Pacific in Record Year
Ferretti Group has secured €70 million in sales in Asia-Pacific so far in 2020 and recently signed two new dealerships in Southeast Asia.

Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index launched in Monaco

News / yachtstyle2020

Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index launched in Monaco

September 24, 2020
12:36 pm

Developed by Yacht Club de Monaco and partners, the SEA Index has been created to promote eco-responsible yachting.

The Superyacht Eco Association was announced at Yacht Club de Monaco

Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and Credit Suisse have launched the Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index, a voluntary assessment to measure the environmental impact of yacht design and use.

The SEA Index – which ranks yachts from one to five stars – shall be available online for owners, captains and other professionals to carry out their own assessment. Over time, YCM hopes it will evolve into a global industry standard, providing a transparent ecological rating for all large yachts.

In the absence of a global standard on emissions for superyachts, the SEA Index was created as part of the YCM-initiated ‘Monaco Capital of Yachting’ project to make the Principality a centre of excellence and innovation for the luxury yacht sector. The club unites over 800 owners of superyachts, including 37 of the world’s 100 largest yachts, under its flag.

Also developed in collaboration with Nobiskrug, the SEA Index is designed to encourage the yachting industry to research and put forward solutions to reduce the environmental impact of superyacht designs.

Feedback during the announcement suggested there may be cooperation with the Water Revolution Foundation, which has also developed a system to measure the environmental impact of superyachts.

Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM General Secretary and President of Cluster Yachting Monaco, said: “The climate emergency is a reality. Our industry knows it has to reinvent itself as the automobile sector has done. If we aspire to position ourselves as a centre of excellence, it is up to us to take the initiative and lead by example.

Bernard d’Alessandri watches as explorer Mike Horn speaks at the announcement

“It is only by acting together that we will succeed in making our contribution to a more climate-friendly yachting sector that will do everything in its power to reduce the effects of air and sea pollution on health and the climate, and will encourage good practices.”

YCM and Credit Suisse said the SEA Index was also a response to growing demand from owners who are keen to be able to calculate their superyacht’s impact.

Michel Buffat, Head of Aviation and Yacht Finance at Credit Suisse, said: “There has been strong demand from owners, keen to be able to contribute to the sustainability of the industry as it moves towards a climate-friendlier future.

“More and more owners are adopting a sustainable approach as they align their enthusiasm for the oceans with their passion for yachting. As an organisation which puts sustainability centrally to its operations, it was a natural step for us to partner with the YCM on this very important initiative in the interest of our clients.”

Efficiency is key
The SEA Index is a customised tool designed to assess and improve the environmental performance of yachts and meet environmental objectives for lowering carbon emissions.

First aimed at displacement and semi-displacement superyachts, it considers the CO2 emissions occurring when transporting one passenger as well as GT (Gross Tonnage, a measurement for yacht volume) over 1nm.

Monaco is a hub for superyachts, as seen here at the 2018 Monaco Yacht Show © MC-Clic

The SEA Index is based on the initial IMO EEDI methodology, but has been amended for superyachts. It has been created to provide an objective assessment and primarily focuses on the levels of CO2 emissions while in operation.

It does not actually measure those emissions but uses benchmark data based on yacht design specs to assess whether yachts entering the Index calculation process are doing better than average or not.

The SEA Index is a collaborative effort that has involved industry sectors from shipyards to operators, and yacht owners willing to share their data to help establish the benchmarks. The benchmarks were generated out of data provided by 130 yachts ranging from 40-140m, for which every data point of the assessment has been collected and validated by the SEA experts.

The system is also a ‘work in progress’ as more data can be compiled to refine calculations and adjust the benchmarks of existing situations across the various size and user segments.

Beyond CO2
As a non-profit organisation, the SEA hopes to drive more owners and shipyards to explore solutions that reduce all levels of pollution and environmental impact.

The Association also encouraged industry players – including yards, owners, yacht management companies, brokers, insurance companies, equipment and service providers – to help contribute data, which will remain confidential.

HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II, President of Yacht Club de Monaco, with Mike Horn

The objective of the SEA Index is also to recognise good practices, and those that do better than average will be rewarded with up to five stars, like in the hotel industry.

Its ultimate goal is to become the yacht industry’s leading air-pollution rating system, which can also be extended to other areas and lead to a multi-faceted sustainability Index, covering the likes of propulsion systems, energy recovery, chemicals, waste and water.

HSH the Sovereign Prince Albert II, President of Yacht Club de Monaco, said: “The next decade will be a decisive one for the future of our planet. Climate change is one of our biggest challenges.

“In line with the United Nations sustainable development goals for 2030, the next 10 years must focus on ocean science to underpin our scientific knowledge, encourage technical innovation and promote the emergence of new solutions to reverse – we hope – the cycle of decline in ocean health.”
www.yacht-club-monaco.mc

Art Republic of Kongo: Q&A Part 1

Lifestyle / yachtstyle2020

Art Republic of Kongo (Part 1)

September 24, 2020
10:38 am

Born to Vietnamese and French parents, Paris-based Cyril Kongo has grown from street graffiti to become a darling of the luxury world.

Kongo emerged from the Parisian graffiti art scene and still uses a wide array of colours in his work

Describing himself as a ‘true citizen of the world’, Kongo is a regular visitor to Asia, where he spent his early years before living in Africa and settling in Europe. Born in Toulouse in 1969 to a Vietnamese father and French mother, Cyril Phan spent much of his early childhood in Vietnam until the war ended in 1975 and later lived for several years in the Republic of Congo, which inspired his artist name, Cyril Kongo.

An early proponent of the Parisian graffiti art scene who earned a reputation for his pictorial
alphabets reconciling painting and writing, the French-Vietnamese artist spent decades painting in the streets. More recently, though, his art has decorated everything from walls and canvases to shop windows, jewellery, kitchenware, clothing, luggage and bags, as well as a champagne bottle, humidor, car and even an airplane.

Kongo emerged from the Parisian graffiti art scene and still uses a wide array of colours in his workk

Kongo’s ability to appropriate an everyday object and transform it into a work of art has made him a favourite of the luxury world and a collaborator with French brands like Chanel, Hermès, Richard Mille, Daum and La Cornue, showcasing traditional European savoir-faire. Following is part one of a two-part interview by Nina Starr on YachtStyle.co.

How did you spend the confinement period in France earlier this year?
The first month was a month of forced rest, which allowed me to ease off from my hectic pace in 2019. In the second month, all I did was work at my studio, which is next to where I live. I worked on large formats and drawings.

This period inspired in me a lot of gratitude to medical personnel dedicated to their profession and saving thousands of lives with little means. I donated a painting to the Paris Hospitals Foundation, which they sold at auction to raise funds. My second initiative was an installation at Lariboisière Hospital to directly thank the nursing staff. I made a digigraph of this work, which I’m currently selling via my website, and all profits will be donated to the hospital.

“Never” Apologize 4 My Art – a piece from 2015

These guys had no masks and wore the same personal protective equipment (PPE) while treating several people, when they’re supposed to change their PPE each time. They had to wear cooks’ outfits to work. It was completely crazy, absurd in a country like France.

I drew and painted a lot because it was a very inspiring time and I was confined to one place, instead of meeting people or travelling or exhibiting my works. For over two months, I was stuck in my own universe, also developing my e-commerce and other things.

Did the subject of your art change?
I did a whole series on paper called Confinement, where I forced myself to make one piece a day to crystallise this unique time. For several generations, we haven’t had the occasion to experience a global pause.

A piece from late March 2020 during Kongo’s confinement period in Paris

No country, person, government or law has succeeded in stopping the world like this. There are going to be drastic changes compared to the old world, but in the new world, the planet will have had a break in terms of pollution and there will be new forms of intensified communication and a new form of consumption.

During confinement, there were a lot of Instagram Live events where artists exchanged and there was plenty of online creation, which was very interesting. I’m sure the world of 2021 will not be the same as that of 2019.

What role can artists play at such a time?
In a world of anxiety like the one we’re living in, we need to offer some positive emotion, something fun and enjoyable. For example, when I stress, I like to drink a glass of wine and eat cheese – this is my French side. Like when people put up a painting at home and change their decor, it de-stresses them and gives a desire for renewal.

Kongo has increasingly worked with three-dimensional pieces

In these times, an artist can bring a little beauty into the world and lift spirits, which is necessary because we get so much news that provokes so much anxiety.

How did you go from the street to art galleries?
With a lot of determination. But the world of art galleries is not the aim. The aim is to continue to express yourself, to be seen by as many people as possible and be able to express your art in as many places as possible. I’m not satisfied with just galleries, although I’m happy to have recognition
and success.

I don’t like the name ‘street art’ because it puts limits on you and confines you to the street. Yes, it’s in my DNA and I spent almost 30 years creating works in the street, but for me, borders do not exist. My interest over the past 10 years is to bring my art to universes that surprise and, above all, aim for excellence.

A gallery for Chanel

For me, graffiti has always aimed for excellence. When we painted huge walls with my MAC collective (from the late 1980s), we had positive competition with other artists and wanted to impress them. I’ve continued with the same energy but by creating bridges with the universes of watchmaking, silk, crystal and especially traditional savoir-faire.

You don’t speak about collaborations with brands but instead about encounters between creators from different universes. What do you mean by that?
All the collaborations have stemmed from encounters. I met the decision makers and we exchanged ideas, creating a bridge between our two universes. No collaboration was done by a marketing team, for example, and I refuse 90 per cent of the projects brought to me like this.

A shop window for Hermes

I think the success of a collaboration comes first through an authentic encounter, then integrity in creation, and then comes the sales or marketing work, which is not my job. That’s why I don’t like to talk about collaboration with a brand, even if I am considered a brand or Richard Mille is considered a brand.

It’s true, but above all, it is the vision of someone. This vision has taken on the dimension of a brand but it’s more the consumers who see us as brands, not ourselves. For us, it’s a savoir-faire we have and want to convey onto everything. The idea is to get out of our comfort zone and push our respective universes further.

An Asian-themed stove for La Cornue

For example, for my collaboration with La Cornue, the two worlds were so unexpected. It was to make a stove, but beyond that, it was the know-how around enamel and sheet metalwork, around people who have dedicated their lives to their skills. That’s what moves me and what I want to express all the time.

Note: Part Two of the interview will appear on YachtStyle.co

First issue of Yacht Style Vietnam released

News / yachtstyle2020

First issue of Yacht Style Vietnam released

September 23, 2020
3:05 pm

Luxuo Media Vietnam has launched the first local Vietnamese-language issue of Yacht Style, which highlights the leaders promoting pleasure boating in this emerging market.

The first Vietnamese edition of Yacht Style

Luxuo Media Vietnam, owner of http://www.luxuo.vn, has launched the first issue of Yacht Style Vietnam, a publication dedicated to ‘The Leaders’ of the nascent yachting industry in a nation with a population of 96 million and a coastline of over 2,000 miles.

Doan Viet Dai Tu, founder of Tam Son Yachting

Local yachting leaders include Doan Viet Dai Tu, founder of Tam Son Yachting, which is the distributor for Beneteau, Lagoon, Monte Carlo Yachts and Zodiac in Vietnam, and a developer and operator of marinas and yachting services.

Dang Bao Hieu, founder of Ana Marina

Others include Ana Marina creator Dang Bao Hieu and Nguyen Duc Thuan, founder of VietYacht (Jeanneau and Prestige) and LuxYacht (Ferretti Yachts, Pershing and Riva), who brought 12 yachts to Vietnam in the belief that country will soon start to develop the boating potential along its vast coastline.

Nguyen Duc Thuan, founder of Vietyacht and Luxyacht

Luxuo Media Vietnam is confident of the magazine’s future despite launching the title amid the backdrop of Covid-19.

Hai Yen Ho, Managing Editor of Yacht Style Vietnam, said: “We believe the yachting industry is still growing in Southeast Asia, in particular in Vietnam, where there is a generation of entrepreneurs emerging in the yacht industry and marina development, and where yacht owners are increasing. We believe we are not alone in our optimism about the future of yachting here.

Yacht Style Vietnam includes marinas, resorts and destinations

“The fact that a lot of Vietnamese are confused about the concept of yachting and cruising, and most boat regulations in Vietnam are for fishing boats or cargo ships, mean it’s more essential than ever to launch a publication to clarify the concept of yachting and explore what it offers.”

The issue includes a feature on catamarans

The magazine includes reviews of the Azimut 78, Lagoon Sixty 7, Sunseeker Predator 60 EVO and Prestige 420, and a comparison of the Merry Fisher 1095 and NC33 from Jeanneau, as well as features on catamarans and the Prestige shipyard in France.

The magazine also includes associated industries and lifestyle features

“As the public begins to understand what yachts are and how they can contribute to the tourism economy, more and more Vietnamese people will begin to embrace this new culture,” Ho said. “Warm, calm waters, paradise-like bays and passionate industry leaders are already here.”
www.luxuo.vn

India, Indonesia highlight potential in Asia Boating Dialogue

News / yachtstyle2020

India, Indonesia highlight potential in Asia Boating Dialogue

September 23, 2020
2:18 pm

Asia Boating Dialogue online session covering South and Southeast Asia reveals the large long-term potential for yachting in the world’s second and fourth most populous countries.

The second and final session of this year’s Asia Boating Dialogue is on September 29

Speakers from seven nations in South Asia and Southeast Asia took centre stage in the Asia Boating Dialogue’s first free Zoom webinar, with over 160 industry professionals updated on industry statistics, business trends, marine updates, boating regulations and destination insights.

India, the first country to be profiled, is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country within a decade and has 7,500km of coastline, featuring 12 major ports.

After a long period of little development of yachting – the country’s last boat show was in 2010 – presenter Aashim Mongia from the Indian Marine Federation (IMF) said significant progress was being made at a government level to grow recreational boating and marina development, due to the potential rewards from coastal tourism.

A new marina in Mumbai and increasing domestic interest in charter mean boating could soon be on the map for a country that has a growing middle class and good weather for much of the year.

“In the next couple of years, there will be a massive thrust as the Government has realised the potential of this industry,” Mongia said. “It has been a slow process, but over the years we have engaged with the Government and now we have support and approval for development of boating infrastructure and new regulations are also coming into play.”

The seven presenters and three hosts from Session One of the 2020 Asia Boating Dialogue

Sri Lanka to the south is also making strides when it comes to recreational boating. Gamini Herath, from the Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute (BTI), said that “although Sri Lanka is not a boating nation, there are small advances that show there is a growing demand for recreational boating in the country. A new ministry has been formed to oversee yachting development and there is a fledgling ship building and yacht charter industry.”

Indonesia is arguably Asia’s second-most popular yachting destination after Thailand, and has vast growth potential for both domestic boating and yachting tourism, with 17,000 islands and a population of about 273 million.

Representing the Indonesian Marine Tourism Association, Robin Engel was upbeat about the industry’s progress made during the two terms that President Widodo has been in power.

“There has been a swing away from big cruise-ship tourism to smaller more sustainable vessels that connect this island nation and local tourism,” Engel said. “With borders closed, this has stimulated the local domestic boating market and as a result there will be opportunities here in the future.”

Singapore’s Darren Oh, who heads up the Singapore Boating Industry Association (SBIA), outlined the strengths of the economy along with the current local boating regulations and infrastructure.

“We are home to Asia’s biggest yacht show and Singapore has a number of top-quality marinas; it’s just unfortunate we don’t have much in the way of cruising grounds,” Oh said. “With the Covid-related lockdowns, there has been an increase of local charter activity and brokerage sales, but we still need to look to neighbours like Indonesia and Malaysia for easy access to good cruising destinations.”

Representing the Association of the Marine Industries of Malaysia (AMIM), William Quah said Malaysia’s pleasure boating was starting to stagnate despite a decent network of marinas, an active sailing culture, and good shipyards for refit and repairs. “We are lagging our neighbours and need to catch up especially in areas such as charter,” Quah said.

As such, the AMIM is currently talking to Malaysian Government about activating a five-stage strategy to stimulate the growth of pleasure boating throughout the country.

Thai Yachting Business Association (TYBA) representative Peter Jacops outlined the vast impact that the Covid lockdown has had on tourism and the boating industries, especially charter, while Apa Ongpin, representing the Federation of Philippines Marine Industries, highlighted that the Philippines was recovering from the “world’s longest lockdown of 77 days from March to May”.

“The forecast is flat for 2020, but there will be post-Covid opportunities in the future,” Ongpin said. “It’s a small industry with only five to 15 new boats a year entering the market. The industry will continue to grow as the primary boating market is upper-middle class and wealthy private owners, with a secondary market of property and resort developers.”

Registration is also free for Session Two (East & Northeast Asia), which will be held on September 29 (16:00 SG/HK) and feature speakers from China, Hong Kong & Macau, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

An update of the Asia Boating Forum that started in 2015, the new Asia Boating Dialogue initiative is a cooperation between the Singapore Yacht Association and the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association, with the support of ICOMIA.

Basco Boating, Asian Yachting Academy and Fountaine Pajot are gold sponsors of the 2020 Asia Boating Dialogue, while Groupe Beneteau Asia Pacific, Mercury, ONE°15 Marina, Simpson Marine and Volvo Penta are silver sponsors.
– With thanks to Suzy Rayment / Asia Yacht Press
www.asiaboating.org

Royal Phuket Marina benefits from solar power

News / yachtstyle2020

Royal Phuket Marina benefits from solar power

September 23, 2020
12:32 pm

Marina generates majority of its power needs from solar panels atop its dry-stack storage facility.

Solar panels on rooftop of Royal Phuket Marina’s dry-stack storage

Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) is generating 60 per cent of all the power needed for its operations from new solar panels installed on its fully covered, four-storey dry-stack system.

RPM has become the first marina in Thailand to switch to renewable energy, having last year become the country’s first to receive ‘Clean Marina Accreditation’ from the Marina Industry Association as part of its International Clean Marina Program.

Gulu Lalvani, Chairman of Royal Phuket Marina, said: “We’re proud to say that our move to solar power reduces our annual carbon footprint by 20 tonnes. We’re passionate about nature and the environment at Royal Phuket Marina.”

Suitable for boats up to 48ft (15m), the dry-stack facility offers other advantages such as negating the need to coat hulls with anti-fouling chemicals that leach into the ocean over time. The storage service includes hauling out after use and a pressure-wash before re-stacking.

Marina Manager Woranart Wongvanich said: “Our dry-stack customers can call us 24/7 saying they want to use their boat today, and it will be in the water, ready to go, within 10-15 minutes.”
www.royalphuketmarina.com

Benetti sells 11 units of Oasis 40M

News / yachtstyle2020

Benetti sells 11 units of Oasis 40M

September 21, 2020
12:41 pm

Azimut-Benetti Group announces remarkable sales of Oasis 40M and unveils schedule of nine new models in the next 18 months.

The first Benetti Oasis 40M on display in Portofino

Benetti announced that it has sold 11 units of its brand-new Oasis 40M, which was scheduled to debut at the now-cancelled Cannes Yachting Festival.

The stunning sales figure was declared at Azimut-Benetti’s annual press conference in Portofino, where the 133-footer designed by UK-based RWD was showcased along with the Azimut Magellano 25 Metri, which was accompanied by the world premiere of Gabriele Muccino’s short film dedicated to the new Magellano flagship.

Designed by UK-based RWD, the Oasis 40M is focused on outdoor living

Benetti also recently delivered the first Diamond 145, the largest model in its Class series of yachts that includes the Delfino 95, Mediterraneo 116 and Fast 125.

Benetti is scheduled to launch three new models in the next 18 months, starting in September 2021 with the B.Yond 37M, the first model in the brand’s new explorer series, and the Motopanfilo 37M, ushering in a new class for the Italian superyacht builder. It has also scheduled a second Oasis model for early 2022.

Timeline of new models from sister companies Azimut and Benetti

Meanwhile, Azimut has scheduled to start 2021 with the new Flybridge 53 and its flagship 38m Trideck, both with exterior designs by Alberto Mancini. A new Flybridge model, the Magellano 66 and the Verve 42 will follow in the autumn, while the new Magellano flagship, the 30 Metri with an exterior by Ken Freivokh, will launch in 2022.

Marco Valle, who began his new role as CEO of Azimut-Benetti Group on September 1, said the company was excited about the future after what he described as a “very complex year”.

Azimut’s new Magellano 25 Metri also debuted in Portofino

“We are now able to present a particularly rich programme of product development. Our overall product range will increase from 30 to 35 models, thus essentially covering all the existing categories in the luxury yachting market, bringing the Collections from eight to 10, adding the luxury explorer category, B.Yond and the whole Oasis experience,” said Valle, who had been CEO of Azimut Yachts since 2016, having joined the brand in 1996.

“This will allow us to continue serving our international clientele by meeting their demands with a range that not only offers yachts from 12m to over 100m long, but also makes it possible to choose from very different and assorted styles of navigation and experiences on board.”

Also designed by Ken Freivokh, the Magellano 30 Metri will launch in 2022

Azimut is presented by Azimut Yachts HK / Marine Italia in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, southern China and Singapore.
www.azimutyachts.com
www.azimutyachts.hk
www.benettiyachts.it

Sunseeker accelerates product growth

News / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker accelerates product growth

September 18, 2020
11:58 am

Sunseeker and owner Dalian Wanda are investing additional working capital to accelerate the growth of the British builder’s product range, set to reach 22 models by 2023.

Sunseeker operates across various facilities in Poole on England’s south coast

Sunseeker International, together with backing from its majority shareholder Dalian Wanda, is investing additional working capital to accelerate expansion of its product range in the coming years.

The British brand is investing over £38 million (about US$49 million) in new product development between 2020-2023 to double its portfolio from the 11 models it offered last year to 22 models, quicker than originally planned.

The Manhattan 68 kicked off Sunseeker’s new models for 2020

Following the world premiere of the Manhattan 68 at Boot Dusseldorf in January, the yard plans to launch the 90 Ocean, 88 Yacht, 65 Sport Yacht, Manhattan 55 and Predator 55 EVO™ by the end of this year.

Andrea Frabetti, CEO at Sunseeker International, said: “This significant support reflects our shareholder’s belief in the entire Sunseeker team and its commitment to our business, brand and manufacturing in Dorset.

The Predator 55 EVO^TM is among models sets to be launched by the end of this year

“During the crisis, we have remained fully focused on our strategic plan to not only retain our market-leading position but to gain market share by remaining resolutely focused on innovation across multiple new and exciting niche models.

“We have seen strong market confidence throughout this period and are very much primed for future growth and success.”

Designed to succeed the Manhattan 52, the Manhattan 55 is also among Sunseeker’s new models

Sunseeker’s current ranges comprise Superyacht (50M Ocean, 42M Ocean, 131, 116), Yacht (100, 95, 90 Ocean, 88, 86, 76), Sport Yacht (74, 65), Predator (74, 60 EVO™, 55 EVOTM, 50), Manhattan (68, 55, 52) and Performance (Hawk 38). Not all of these models have been launched and some will soon be discontinued.
www.sunseeker.com

Millennial Jet Set: By Arnaud Tellier, BNP Paribas Wealth Management

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Millennial Jet Set: By Arnaud Tellier, BNP Paribas Wealth Management

September 17, 2020
2:43 pm

Superyachts and business jets are passion investments for the super-rich, and both appeal to Asia’s new generation of high-flyers.

Amadea is a 106m superyacht built by Lurssen and exclusively listed for sale with Imperial; © Imperial (Photo: Guillaume Plisson)

At BNP Paribas Wealth Management*, we see a younger generation of UHNW individuals transforming the broader luxury landscape in Asia. This change is marked by a move from accumulating tangible assets to pursuing rare, tailored experiences.

EVOLVING SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY
Today, owning a superyacht is not about making a statement but maximising the way an owner utilises their resources and time, both of which are scarce. And of course, the memories created on board will last long after returning to shore.

A superyacht is a floating piece of real estate. It enables people to work, have fun and gather with family, friends and business partners in a private environment, all while enjoying a five-star, world-class service comparable to the best resorts and Michelin-starred restaurants.

The Asian superyacht market is dominated by models from 30 to 35m. Superyachts of 40m and above are rare in Asia. Having said that, we see more and more Asia Pacific tycoons buying yachts of 50m and above, and docking them in the Mediterranean, the Seychelles and the Caribbean.

Hong Kong is the largest hub for yachts in Asia Pacific, supported by mooring facilities including the Aberdeen Marina Club, Hong Kong Gold Coast and the new Lantau Yacht Club. It has been observed that more Europe-based yachts are visiting Thailand (Phuket in particular) and Indonesia.

Australia and New Zealand could hold increasing appeal around the America’s Cup early next year, while the Summer Olympics in Japan could draw international yachts as well.

There are still obstacles for the development of yachting in Asia such as the stringent regulations for cruising from one country to another, complexities around chartering, and the lack of marinas and infrastructure for mooring and refit.

At an industry level, more lobbying is necessary to convince governmental bodies to ease restrictions and further invest in infrastructure. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic may bring some positive changes.

In a recent move, the Thai government is exploring the potential of high-end foreign superyacht tourism. Such luxurious tourism may generate substantial revenues from the use of local suppliers to high-spending UHNWIs patronising local stores and resorts.

GROWTH IN ASIA’S BUSINESS JET MARKET
Southeast Asia is still seeing growth in total numbers of business jets, while the market has stabilised somewhat in Greater China, where it is being driven mostly by replacements of existing jets.

Dassault is introducing the ultra-widebody business jet with its new 6X

According to a 2019 fleet report published by Asian Sky Group, the total number of regional aircraft (including those in India) was 1,213 at the end of 2019, of which 518 were based in Greater China. Superyacht owners in Asia are very discreet and rarely publicise their ownership. Confidentiality is part of the experience and the value proposition.

This is also true for jets. Asian clients are notably keen on buying long-range and ultra-long-range models. In many other markets, customers would initially start buying a small jet or even a turboprop to begin with and then gradually step up to bigger models. In Asia, we have seen many first-time business-jet owners buying at the top end of the market.

New models such as the Bombardier Global 7500 and Gulfstream G700 are changing the game. With larger cabins allowing for four or even five separate ‘living spaces’, they also have a longer range than previous models. Dassault is also introducing the ‘ultra-widebody’ business jet with its new 6X. Demand for these aircraft has increased in the last five years, even as the trade war changes the market.

Seletar Airport in Singapore and Hong Kong International Airport are popular for business jets, and the new airport in Beijing is also expected to become a hub. Jet activity is increasing in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Interestingly, we have recently seen consolidation of, and investment in, business jet maintenance and repair operations (MROs) in the region. Jet Aviation expanded its presence by acquiring Hawker Pacific’s MRO two years ago, Dassault Aviation took over ExecuJet’s APAC MRO early last year, and Bombardier has been investing massively in a new service centre in Seletar.

MILLENNIALS ARE THE FUTURE
BNP Paribas Wealth Management finances the upper end of the business jet and superyacht markets, catering for superyachts of 40m and above, and medium to ultra-long-range business jets.

Arnaud Tellier: “We are actively playing our part by offering carbon-offset programmes, impact investment solutions, and promoting and supporting NGOs active in these fields through a ‘tick and donate’ initiative.”

Our clients generally have a net worth of US$500 million or more. We are very selective in the clients and the assets we finance, and we operate in a niche market, completing a handful of transactions each year.

We have worked with several next generation UHNWI, who like their parents, are investing in business jets and flying privately.

The situation for yachts is a little different. Most of these clients received a Western education and have since introduced the yachting lifestyle to their parents and enjoy family time on-board.

Millennials are truly concerned about global warming, CO2 emissions and ocean preservation. From an industry perspective, the business-jet manufacturers and superyacht builders are working hard on their value proposition to attract millennials. These manufacturers and shipyards want to be part of the solution, not the problem, and they are constantly innovating to produce more environmentally friendly products.

As a leading global private bank, BNP Paribas Wealth Management is committed to green finance. We are actively playing our part by offering carbon-offset programmes, impact investment solutions, and promoting and supporting NGOs active in these fields through a ‘tick and donate’ initiative.”

We are actively playing our part by offering carbon-offset programmes, impact investment solutions, and promoting and supporting NGOs active in these fields through a ‘tick and donate’ initiative.

When it comes to financing environmentally friendly yachts, fuel efficient diesel-electric yachts, or explorer vessels having a scientific and educational purpose, BNP Paribas Wealth Management is willing to go the extra mile.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management has accumulated vast experience in yachting over the last 15 years, and we are willing to share this knowledge of the industry with our clients and introduce them to the leading shipyards, brokers and yacht-management companies in Asia and Europe.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management understands that a superyacht or business jet is more than just an asset – it is a personal expression of taste, style and success. By working closely with our valued clients, we have gained the trust and respect of UHNWIs across the world.

Reach out to the Jet and Yacht Financing team (jyf@bnpparibas.com) and find out how BNP Paribas Wealth Management can help you.

* BNP Paribas Wealth Management is the business line name for the wealth management business conducted by BNP Paribas.

ARNAUD TELLIER

Arnaud Tellier is CEO, Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Wealth Management and leads a regional team of over 1,100 private banking professionals across key markets in Asia. Tellier defines the strategic direction of the business while overseeing its day-to-day management. He brings a multi-disciplinary approach to serving BNP Paribas’ private banking clients, with a background in capital markets and corporate and investment banking. His efforts in transforming the bank’s offering for Asian clients saw him awarded ‘Private Banker of the Year’ at The Digital Banker’s 2019 and 2020 Global Private Banking Innovation Awards.
www.wealthmanagement.bnpparibas/asi

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