Sanya International Yachting Centre again hosts Boating Sanya

UAE-based Mahmoud Itani, Thailand-based Captain Arnaud Lemeunier and China-based Allen Leng are the keynote speakers for the main forum of the conference at this year’s Boating Sanya show at the Sanya International Yachting Centre.

Samuel Xu, an experienced media professional, will moderate the conference, which will be held in the Conference Hall from 1.30-5.30pm on December 6, the second day of the December 5-8 show. The main forum focuses on ‘Chinese Yacht Brands Going Overseas’, while the conference will include a sub-forum on sustainability and roundtable discussion on luxury lifestyle.

Mahmoud Itani, IR Yachts Consultancy

“An increasing number of Chinese yacht brands are strengthening their brand influence and market competitiveness by participating in international yacht shows and establishing overseas sales networks. These efforts have not only gained international recognition for Chinese yacht brands but also provided a new momentum for the transformation and upgrading of the entire Chinese yacht industry,” organisers stated.

“To deeply discuss the development status and future trends of China’s yacht industry, Boating Sanya 2024 is gathering industry leaders from all over the world to witness and promote the new development of China’s yacht industry.”

Captain Arnaud Lemeunier, SLV Marine

Mahmoud Itani, co-founder of UAE-based IR Yachts Consultancy and a Gulf yachting specialist, will speak on ‘Decoding the Middle Eastern Yacht Market: The Road to Breakthrough for Chinese Brands’.

Captain Arnaud Lemeunier, founder of SLV Marine based in Thailand and Indonesia, is a former America’s Cup sailor with 35 years of sailing experience and a CoC 500GT certification. The Frenchman will speak about ‘Sailing into Southeast Asia: The New Future Direction of Chinese Yacht Brands’.

Allen Leng, Heysea Yachts

Allen Leng, co-founder and Chairman of Heysea Yachts, one of China’s leading shipyards, will discuss the ‘Internationalisation Strategy of the Chinese Yacht Manufacturing Industry’. Leng is a graduate of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and was Vice Chairman of the ISO Large Yacht Subcommittee.

A sub-forum focused on the ‘Sustainable Development of Leisure Boat Industry’ will discuss the transformation and application of new energy, new technology and new materials, focusing on a “green, intelligent and sustainable future”.

Joost Mertens, Vripack Design

Joost Mertens, Sales Manager and Partner of Dutch studio Vripack Design, will discuss ‘The Greatest Challenge of Our Generation’, while Fabio Bronda, founder of Italy-based Bronda Architects, will present ‘The Use of New Technologies and Materials in Yacht Design’.

Demolar Du, Chairwoman of Shanghai Far East Composites and Shanghai Sailing Club, will speak about ‘The Green Revolution of New Energy Sailboats’. Du serves as President of the International FarEast 28R Class Association, Vice President of the S\V14 Class Association and Deputy Leader of the Keelboat Development Working Group, all under World Sailing.

Demolar Du, Shanghai Far East Composite Material Technology

Weng Kangqiang, Engineering and Technology Director at CATL Electric Boat Technology, will speak on ‘Electric Propulsion: Boosting Green Consumption in Yachting’.

The conference will also include a roundtable discussion on the ‘Yacht Industry and High-End Lifestyle’. Panellists include Leo Yang, Chief Representative of Burgess China, experienced sailor Marshall Zhu, Chairman of Shanghai Vita Biotechnology and founder of Blue Vision Group, and Yolanda Liu, General Manager of Hainan Visun Yacht Industry Development Investment Group.

Alexandre Heng, O2H2O

Alexandre Heng, founder of O2H2O, an Asia-Pacific private jet and superyacht company, will also be part of the roundtable with Sam Li, Chairman of Jetpon Yacht Group, Vice President of China Transportation Association Cruise Yacht Branch and a member of the National Yacht Development Expert Steering Committee.

Samuel Xu, Boating Sanya conference moderator

The four-day Boating Sanya show will occupy 13,000sqm on land – almost the size of two football pitches – and 129,100sqm of water, according to organisers. The first edition of the show was held at the Sanya International Yachting Centre in April 2023, soon after the public marina officially opened.

Exhibitor categories include motoryachts, sailboats, equipment and accessories, diving gear, marina developers and pontoon suppliers, resort products, maritime organisations and clubs, watersports clothing, and water-related art and literature.

This year’s show is collaborating with the nearby yacht marina in Sanya Port “to present a world-class yacht bay lifestyle”, while a yacht river cruise is among new features. Other highlights include the China Yacht Awards Ceremony, video and photography competitions, and a Yacht Fashion Lifestyle Market, as well as cocktail parties and functions.

boatingsanya.com