Leaders

Carmen Lau, Camper & Nicholsons, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Covid, Monaco Yacht Show, Gentleman’s Yacht, Codecasa, Feadship, Eclipse, Alex Lees-Buckley, Gulf Craft, Viareggio, La Spezia, Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Codecasa, Mangusta, Perini Navi, Tecnomar, Cantiere delle Marche, CdM, CRN, Ferretti Group, Palumbo, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Asia

Carmen Lau on travel’s trials and tribulations during Covid

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Carmen Lau on travel’s trials and tribulations during Covid

June 16, 2022
4:58 am

Despite stressful global travel restrictions during the Covid era, Carmen Lau of superyacht brokerage Camper & Nicholsons has been flying around Europe, the Middle East and Asia to attend sea trials and meetings, visit shipyards and represent clients.

Carmen Lau, Senior Advisor, Camper & Nicholsons

A little over two years ago, going from a meeting in Hong Kong to a shipyard in Italy with a stop-off at Camper & Nicholsons’ London office could be organised on your phone in the taxi on the way to the airport. Back then, business travellers used to think one person in front of them at check-in was an inconvenience. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to be stuck in one of those queues again!

Travel, as with most areas of our daily lives, has been rather complicated since spring 2020. It’s also hugely stressful, especially when people are counting on you.

In Italy last year, I was booked to attend a sea trial on a fully-crewed superyacht, which typically would have involved a short internal flight between two cities.

However, as it was at the height of the pandemic, and despite my almost 20 years of industry experience, nothing could have prepared me for the day I learned my Covid certificate was not accepted for my flight. I had one day to make it to that shipyard and was currently over 220km away.

Camper & Nicholsons at the Monaco Yacht Show

Panicking, I had to run – in heels – to a nearby Covid test centre to try to get a valid certificate in time to board the following morning. However, when I arrived at the door of the test centre, they denied me entry because I had the wrong type of face mask. Furthermore, the hospital didn’t sell the one I needed. I was in tears.

It wasn’t the denial of entry that broke me emotionally or the thought of having to restructure my travel arrangements yet again. It was when an Italian security guard saw my distress, walked over and pulled out a brand-new FPP2 mask from his pocket. “Here’s my spare one,” he said, handing it to me.

STATE OF THE MARKET

For the last two years, it has been imperative that I continue meeting all my clients’ requests and ensuring they feel secure in their dealings with me. As such, I’ve spent a lot of time travelling to multiple countries and meeting potential clients, shipyards, surveyors and suppliers.

Considering how difficult it has been to travel and how most people in Asia have flown so rarely, this has put me in a privileged position in the yachting industry, knowing first-hand what is happening in leading shipyards and hearing the needs of yacht owners around the world.

With former Benetti colleagues at the Monaco Yacht Show

Despite the numerous challenges of the past two years, the market has remained extremely active. According to a study by C&N, there are just over 1,000 superyachts over 80ft in build in 2022, representing a 30 per cent increase on the average of the previous five years.

This demand has been evident in my conversations with people across the industry. The pandemic put life into perspective for many, and people are ready to get out on the water and happy to invest in superyachts.

I felt this sentiment at the Monaco Yacht Show last September. With the previous year’s edition cancelled, it was nice to go back and see familiar faces. Unfortunately, due to stringent quarantine requirements, few brokers from Asia were able to make it and I was one of the lucky few who did.

My main mission was to view the yachts in-show on behalf of our clients, arrange live viewings, share the latest yacht launches and design attractive offers with them.

With Camper & Nicholsons colleagues inspecting a 24m new build at Codecasa

I was also able to sign a contract for a 24m Gentleman’s Yacht by Codecasa on behalf of an experienced yacht owner in Southeast Asia on the first day of the show. C&N’s New Build Division are supervising the construction of this aluminium build, which is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

SENDING ECLIPSE TO ASIA

Once the show wrapped up, I travelled to Naples in southern Italy on behalf of a client to inspect Eclipse, a 43m Feadship. The captain and crew were extremely professional and efficient, which made things easy for me.

After meeting with the client via Zoom, I completed a sea trial and spent the rest of the day going through details with the crew. I was able to complete a thorough assessment of the condition and maintenance of the yacht within the day, and send the report back to the client over the weekend.

While waiting for their response, I travelled to Viareggio further up Italy’s west coast to visit a few new build projects. Between meetings, I was even able to visit the UK for my son’s birthday before heading back to Italy, in Imperia by the border with France, to close the sale of Eclipse with my colleague Alex Lees-Buckley.

On the 46m Feadship Eclipse

An experienced, well-respected broker, Alex has sold this yacht several times in the past and we were able to close this deal smoothly within 45 days. As the purchasing client was unable to view the yacht in person, I was honoured to have gained the client’s trust and gladly accepted the yacht on their behalf.

The yacht was due to be shipped to Asia in November, yet the pandemic again played havoc with scheduling. With long queues in various transit ports, we were only able to ship Eclipse at the end of December and I didn’t see the yacht again until months later, back in Asia.

SHIPYARD IN THE DESERT

My travels weren’t over. On behalf of another client, I travelled to Dubai to visit Gulf Craft. I found it to be a highly organised shipyard with a complete in-house production team for everything from design and construction to technical implementation and interior design. It was staggering to see such fine-tuned infrastructure in the middle of the desert.

In the desert in the UAE

At Mina Rashid Marina, where Gulf Craft has an office, I viewed Nomad’s flagship 95 SUV while the client joined us via Zoom. I was also lucky enough to view an impressive Majesty 140 before it travelled to the US.

During my visit, the UAE celebrated its 50th National Day, so the shipyard organised activities and experiences for their guests, including serving authentic and delicious Emirati treats.

TOUR D’ITALIA

Hong Kong’s Covid restrictions were tightened before Chinese New Year, but as soon as the quarantine period was reduced from 21 days to 14, I booked the first flight I could as I needed to return to the city to follow up on several projects.

Viareggio Carnival

However, as the UK was on Hong Kong’s red list, I first needed to fly to Italy for a mandated ‘wash out’ period of two weeks before I could then to fly to Hong Kong, via the UAE and Thailand. Direct, it was not.

Rest assured, I didn’t rest. On the contrary, I toured a total of nine shipyards in Italy. Between the coastal stretch from Viareggio to La Spezia, I visited Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Codecasa, Mangusta, Perini Navi and Tecnomar.

At CRN with Fabiomassimo Discoli of Ferretti Group Asia Pacific

I then flew to Ancona on the east coast to see Cantiere delle Marche (CdM), CRN of Ferretti Group and Palumbo Shipyard. I viewed many of their products and inspected five new build projects I was involved in.

MARKET INSIGHTS

I also had many conversations that have provided invaluable insights into the state of the market. These insights have informed the advice I’ve given to prospective and longstanding clients alike.

For example, the prices of raw materials will continue to increase. Gianpaolo Lapenna, Palumbo Shipyard’s General Manager, confirmed that aluminium has doubled in price and the cost of electricity has increased by 40 per cent. Despite all this, most shipyards are at full capacity. For example, the next availability at CdM isn’t until 2025!

At the Palumbo/Columbus Yachts booth at MYS

Due to such a high volume of sales, suppliers and subcontractors are in high demand. It’s a challenging period for production and purchase teams. They need to ensure production schedules are met while keeping build costs down, a difficult task considering the rising cost of raw materials and made more difficult by Covid-related supply-chain issues. Meeting deadlines is harder than ever.

As such, when I’m discussing new build projects with my clients, I advise them to make their decision ahead of schedule to allow shipyards to lock in the price and parts in advance to meet the production and delivery schedule.

HONG KONG HOMECOMING

After my two-week stay was completed, I finally headed back to Hong Kong, albeit with two stops along the way and with another two weeks of hotel quarantine at the end of the journey.

Flying back to Hong Kong

However, it was great to be back and I was happy to complete the sale of another of my listings, an Azimut Grande 35 Metri. I also organised the premiere of the brand-new CLX96 in Hong Kong in May, as C&N is the central agent for CL Yachts’ latest and largest model.

Most importantly of all, I was able to see my proud client as he received Eclipse. Because, when it comes down to it, that’s what makes the travels, trials and tribulations worth it: to see happy clients on board their new yacht, ready for whatever adventures lie ahead of them.

CARMEN LAU

Now a Senior Advisor at Camper & Nicholsons, Lau set up the company’s Asia headquarters in Hong Kong in 2017 and helped expand its charter, management and brokerage services among Asia-based clients. Involved in superyachts since 2004, Lau has worked for Kingship and Benetti, and acted as an owner’s representative through her own consultancy.

clau@camperandnicholsons.com

www.camperandnicholsons.com

Vrit Yongsakul on Princess’s pioneering X Class in Southeast Asia

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Vrit Yongsakul on Princess’s pioneering X Class in Southeast Asia

June 7, 2022
11:41 pm

Vrit Yongsakul, Group Managing Director of regional dealer Boat Lagoon Yachting, talks about the arrival of the first Princess X95 in Southeast Asia, while revealing that more X Class units are on their way. Interview: Claire Lim.

Vrit Yongsakul, Boat Lagoon Yachting

Vrit, how does it feel to welcome the first Princess X95 in Thailand, where it’s now berthed in Phuket?

It’s a real privilege to be able to bring this award-winning flagship to the region because the Princess X95 is like nothing we’ve seen before. It’s a new trend setter, especially for the Asian market, because of the widebody concept and the flybridge covering almost the full length of the yacht.

It’s amazing to see in person the incredible volume and space. This truly defines this new ‘Superfly’ range of superyachts that offer expansive spaces with great flexibility never seen before on this size of yacht. You can also see the stylish input from Pininfarina, the famous Italian design house, in the beautifully sculpted surfaces and long flowing lines.

Princess X95 being unloaded from the ship

As the longest-serving Princess distributor in Asia, representing the brand since 1994, why do you think the X Class suits clients in the region?

One of the greatest aspects of the X95 is that it’s highly customisable, which allows for a truly personal and curated yachting experience unlike any other. It’s so versatile and can be perfectly suited to many occasions and boating styles.

It’s 29m long, yet the usable space and area are equivalent to that on the Princess 35M. This allows large groups such as Asian families or friends and business guests to enjoy an incomparable experience together, whether in the main-deck saloon with its huge galley fitted for Michelin-starred chef entertainment or on the spacious, class-leading flybridge.

The Princess X95 berthed in Phuket

In addition, there’s the enclosed skylounge, which can be reached from the saloon by an internal stairway. The skylounge can be configured into many functional areas such as an entertainment or media room, upper lounge, mini office, private meeting area or even superyacht-style dining area with panoramic views. It’s fully protected from the weather and heat that can sometimes be a little unfriendly in the tropics.

And although the X95 has an extensive range suitable for covering the region, it’s also capable of efficient, fast planing speeds to make day boating a joy. This suits a lot of our Asian families who often may not have a lot of time and wish to host business guests, have a family day out or venture to places where not many can go to enjoy the freedom of privacy, luxury and the next level of yachting.

The open aft area of the flybridge

What special features does this X95 include?

This unit has been highly customised for Asia in many ways. The saloon includes a large, round dining table, which can be extended for extra capacity, making the yacht ideal for business entertainment or a large family gathering across all generations. It also has a huge galley with generous storage and first-class equipment suitable for preparing a special culinary experience.

The master suite forward on the main deck has panoramic views as well as a private study area and mini office. The lower deck has four luxuriously appointed guest cabins with additional pullman beds, so the yacht can sleep up to 10 or 12 people comfortably.

The vast main-deck interior

The aft beach club features a customised table that lowers to form a comfortable lounging area with the sofa, with the area featuring upgraded air-conditioning, a TV and media system, and a stylish cocktail bar and pantry area.

The superyacht-style transformer platform is a delight for any divers and watersports lovers. Again, this is a true highlight that allows all generations of the family – from more senior adults to young kids – to enjoy quality family time together not only in comfort but with the highest degree of safety and convenience.

Pininfarina supervised the exterior design

The enclosed skylounge features a large TV and advanced media system to convert this luxurious and private upper lounge into a versatile, fun entertainment and media room comparable to one on a much bigger tri-deck superyacht. Forward of the skylounge is an oversized custom spa bath offering panoramic views, again often only seen on 35m-50m superyachts.

What makes the Princess X95 suitable for regional cruising?

The X95 is a long-range superyacht that can easily navigate anywhere in Southeast Asia in comfort and style. Her incredible volume offers unparalleled luxury while cruising, while her advanced hull design ensures maximum efficiency and Princess’s renowned seakeeping.

The X95 is ideal for regional cruising

For example, she can cruise between Singapore and Thailand with one tank, allowing guests to enjoy all the wonderful islands and ports in between, or from Singapore and Thailand to the many amazing places in Malaysia and Indonesia. There’s plenty of storage on board and one of the most spacious galleys ever seen on a yacht of this size.

The crew area is also very comfortable, with three crew cabins and nice living quarters, and when crew are well looked after, guests will be well looked after! Furthermore, the access and movement between guests and crew are well thought out, with maximum privacy and convenience for both parties, so she’s ideal for long voyages.

The X95 is notable for its enormous volume

What has made Princess such a consistently popular brand in the region?

Princess has long been one of the world’s leading luxury motor yacht brands and is renowned for uncompromising build quality, advanced engineering and seakeeping that continues to lead the way. As part of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, Princess also offers timeless, elegant design, while the recent collaboration with Pininfarina, such as on the X95, has raised the styling to the next level.

Another of the most important aspects is the dedication and ongoing support of the shipyard’s aftersales service and technical team. Together with our own commitment, experience and the most investment among all Princess partners in Asia, this ensures the yachting experience of our valued Princess owners is unique.

The X95 foredeck can include a jacuzzi

Will there be any more X Class models coming to the region?

We’re proud to say that we’ll soon welcome not another one or two but three more units of this flagship model into Southeast Asia! Each will have a bespoke layout and customisation, with one geared towards a family who enjoy diving and watersports.

We’re also anticipating the arrival of the new Princess X80 into Southeast Asia this year, which at 83ft, offers the ‘Superfly’ experience to entry-level superyacht buyers. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to be bringing the world premiere edition of the Princess Y95, which is going to be absolutely stunning.

www.boatlagoonyachting.com

Köhler Power: Silent-Yachts founder shares his expertise

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Köhler Power: Silent-Yachts founder shares his expertise

June 2, 2022
2:42 pm

Founder and CEO of Silent-Yachts, Austrian Michael Köhler has been pioneering the use of solar power in yachting for over a decade and is now looking to share his company’s expertise and technology with other builders. Interview: John Higginson.

Michael, following a busy couple of years promoting, selling and building your new line-up of models, can you provide an overview of your current production?

Across our own facilities in Italy and with our partners in Turkey and Thailand, we’re currently building 19 yachts comprising 10 units of the 60/62 series, six 80 series, the flagship 120 and two Silent VisionF 82 hybrid catamarans.

Since late last year, we’ve already delivered the first three units of the Silent 60. This year, we hope to deliver about 10 units of the Silent 60, three of the Silent 80 and two or three of the Silent VisionF 82. We’re convinced we can achieve this.

In total, we’ve already put 15 boats in the water when you count the first three 60s, our Solarwave 46 from 2009 and the Silent 64 and 55, our first production models.

The Silent-Yachts facility in Fano, Italy, covers over four hectares

Can you give an overview of the Silent-Yachts facilities in Fano and which models you produce there?

The site has about 22,000sqm (2.2 hectares) of covered facilities in four big sheds and about the same area outside the sheds. It has a double set of moulds for the Silent 60 and a single set for the Silent 80. The number of workers is hard to determine because the Italian system uses a lot of sub-contractors, so it’s difficult to know how many people are working on our furniture, for example. I’d estimate there are maybe 200 people in Italy working on or for our boats.

Silent 60 models have also been built at the PMG Shipyard in Thailand for the last couple of years, but what led to your recent partnership with Turkish yard VisionF?

We met them at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September as they had a booth next to us and showed their VisionF 80 catamaran. It looks very sleek and we were pleasantly surprised about the high quality of construction and the clever layout, especially when you realise the dimensions of the interior. The only drawback is that it’s fully diesel powered, which really hurt us.

The Silent VisionF 82 is being built in Turkey

As we talked to them, they were enthusiastic about our solar-electric knowledge and ability to help them power all onboard appliances without using a generator. We quickly became friends and decided to pursue a partnership.

Several visits followed and in October we signed a contract to start the production of some of our boats, so we brought over moulds and even some finished hulls just to speed up production. They’re producing the Silent 60 and Silent 80, and are incredibly fast. They’ve also started on the production of two Silent VisionF 82s, which is the hybrid version of their VisionF 80.

Saloon of the Silent VisionF 82

Can you tell us more about the Silent VisionF 82?

It’s longer than the VisionF 80, the underwater part of the hull is new and the roof has been enlarged to fit more solar panels. It has a slightly different interior, with more European taste, and we’ve made big changes in the energy system. It’s the same system we use on Silent-Yachts models. For propulsion, the client can choose between diesel, diesel-hybrid or pure electric.

Is Silent-Yachts open to sharing its solar-electric technology with other builders?

Definitely. It’s hard to compare us to Elon Musk because he’s a few times bigger than us, to say the least, but he did the same. He opened all his Tesla patents and I think it was a smart move because we should share the knowledge for a better future. I think the market now demands less fuel-consuming boats and every day you read that there’s a gas and petrol problem in Europe.

Built at PMG Shipyard in Thailand, the first Silent 60 was launched in 2021

It was already obvious to me in 2009, when we produced the first fully solar-powered yacht, that it’s an advantage to have a boat that doesn’t require fuel. As a back-up, our first boat had an 88-litre fuel tank and at the end of the boating season, I emptied the entire contents into my car.

We challenged ourselves to not use the generator at all and we didn’t use it for three years, which proved that diesel isn’t required. However, in my opinion, it’s mandatory to have a generator on board because you could need it to get out of bad weather, for example, or if there’s almost no sun for days on end.

The Silent 60 Front Exit version was launched this year

The main message that we sent was that solar-electric technology works on yachts if you design the boat in a specific way. You can’t just attach solar panels on any boat. It must be designed so you can fit as many solar panels on the roof as possible. I’m not a fan of having solar panels on the hull sides because they’re in the shade or not in the right position. As such, if we were to work with builders, we’d also need to work on the design of the boat.

What led to you creating the Silent Group of businesses, which was announced earlier this year and includes tenders, charter, brokerage, management, Silent-Resorts and an online shop?

All the boats we’ve produced and are building are connected to the business divisions we announced. The tender division, for example, is because all our clients want electric tenders that they can charge on their boat, so they go hand in hand. We’re currently in the prototype stage and the tenders will be available for everybody, not only with Silent catamarans.

The Silent 62 3-Deck has a much larger flybridge than the Silent 60

The brokerage department simply allows us to help our clients sell their boats if they wish to upgrade, for example. We’ve been operating charters for several years and it’s a natural offering for our clients, so we offer the possibility for them to put their boat into charter with proper management. Same for yacht management.

So, while it seems like a big announcement, it’s just a logical development based on our orders and our relationships with our clients. We’ve been offering these services for a while, so it’s more a formalisation of our existing offerings. Furthermore, Silent-Yachts models are different to most other boats on the market, so other companies wouldn’t be able to handle a lot of these aspects.

Silent-Resorts is starting with a property in the Bahamas

We had already announced Silent-Resorts, which uses our solar-electric technology for low-footprint luxury resorts on pristine islands with moorings for solar-electric yachts, sharing an electricity grid. The first one is in the Bahamas.

If you see how resorts have been developed in the Maldives, for example, the centre of each island has huge generators and hundreds of jerry cans and barrels. Our developments will have a generator for emergency situations only, such as in the case of three straight days of really bad weather. But over a year, maybe 95, 99, even 100 per cent of the power needed for all the villas and facilities will come from solar power.

Silent-Yachts has an office in Port Adriano in Mallorca, where it also runs charter and management services

Right now, my electric car is being charged by the solar panels on the roof of our office building. Over a year, the building’s solar-electric system powers all the offices and systems in the building. Sometimes we produce enough to give to the grid, and sometimes we must take from the grid when there are days of gloomy weather.

Do you think the world’s leading production yacht builders should be doing more in terms of using solar energy and other sustainable technologies?

Firstly, I don’t like greenwashing. I don’t like brands who pretend to be as green as we are or say their boats are green or self-sufficient when they’re not. However, I do agree more builders should be focusing on at least reducing the fuel consumption, such as if they’re solar-assisted.

Even the likes of a Mangusta motor yacht could have some solar panels on the roof that could charge the batteries to operate the aircon and kitchen appliances, for example. Almost every brand could rethink their designs, although I don’t think all of them will.

The Silent 80 is available in standard, 3-Deck Open (above) and 3-Deck Closed versions

It’s happening in the car industry. A few years ago, a Mazda dealer told me the company would never build an electric car, but they’d obviously already been developing it because their first one then came out in 2019.

I think all the big yacht brands are discussing or developing it or at least planning to do so. It’s only a matter of time and to what extent they commit to this transition, such as at least covering power for the appliances. It just needs the design to adapt a little bit, so it depends on how flexible their designers and engineers are. However, I expected more to have happened by now.

http://www.silent-yachts.com

MICHAEL KÖHLER

Michael and his wife Heike are the founders of Silent-Yachts. In 2009, after years of testing solar-powered propulsion, they launched the Solarwave 46, a fully self-sufficient blue-water catamaran. Silent-Yachts started producing the Silent 64 in Turkey and Silent 55 in China before developing its current range including multiple versions of the Silent 60/62 and Silent 80, plus the flagship 120. Today, the company has its own production facility in Fano, Italy, and cooperates with shipyards in Turkey (VisionF) and Thailand (PMG) to keep up with production. Michael and Heike have received awards for their research on alternative energy production and consumption on boats, lectured on energy consumption on superyachts and published a book, Energy Supply on Yachts. The couple have spent over 5,000 days on board yachts and sailed more than 75,000nm around the world.

Captain’s cruising checklist: Goh Thye Hock

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Captain’s cruising checklist: Goh Thye Hock

April 20, 2022
6:33 pm

One of Asia’s most widely experienced yacht industry professionals, Goh Thye Hock offers boaters a checklist of items to consider before embarking on any overseas trip.

I’ve had the fortune to work in the marine leisure industry for almost three decades, from my young sailing and windsurfing days to becoming a superyacht captain; from working in marinas to becoming a Certified Marina Professional.

During my time representing Singapore in windsurfing from 1993-2005, training and racing took me around the world, exposing me to different boating cultures.

In Singapore, when I worked for People’s Association Sea Sports Clubs, I promoted watersports to the masses. Later I joined Republic of Singapore Yacht Club to revitalise its sailing heritage by organising keelboat courses, sailing events and the Singapore Straits Regatta.

As construction on ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove was nearing completion, I joined the marina to take on special projects like managing the luxury yacht charter fleet, The Yacht Harbour 5 Gold Anchor assessment, marina safe operational plan (SOP), boaters’ events, the former Boat Asia show and the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09 stopover – just to name a few!

Through those projects, I saw the importance of professional marina certification, so I signed up for a training programme with Marina Industries Association (MIA) in Australia and achieved an Advanced Marina Management certification in 2009.

Fast forward to 2018 and I became the first person from Southeast and East Asia to be accredited as a Certified Marina Professional by the Global Marina Institute. I hope this achievement can encourage others in this region to follow their aspirations in this industry.

CAPTAIN AND CONSULTANT

Back in 2010, as marinas and private boat ownership started to grow in China, I went over as a captain and fleet manager to manage four European-built yachts from 57-95ft that had been imported into Hainan. I singlehandedly trained local crew to be able seaman on those luxury yachts. It was also during this period that I experienced the true force of typhoons.

My marina operation and project management background landed me offers with Chinese corporations including as an advisor for a marina development in southern China, a director of luxury and super yacht charters, and a technical director for yacht management.

During the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Sanya in January 2012, I joined the Spanish team as a temporary technical support crew, translator and advisor. I was then invited to continue supporting them for the next two editions of the race as Sanya hosted a stop in 2014 and Hong Kong and Guangzhou did the same in 2017.

With keen interest to formally get an international boat licence, I enrolled for shore-based learning courses with the RYA (Royal Yacht Association).

To qualify for the minimum voyage log before taking the practical assessment, I joined a delivery team based out of Hong Kong and took on many assignments receiving and delivering yachts, sailing throughout southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and Singapore.

When a 140ft superyacht in China needed a First Officer, I went aboard, sailed to Singapore for the first Singapore Yacht Show in 2011 before proceeding to Phuket and back to her home port of Hong Kong.

Soon after, I attended the RYA powerboat assessment and secured a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. After this, I obtained a Please Vessel Operator (Grade I) certificate in Hong Kong and a China Class A1E powerboat licence.

PREPARATION IS KEY

Because of my sailing and power boating background, I regularly take on delivery assessments, guiding an owner’s full-time crew to prepare their yachts and safety requirements for a long ocean voyage. Most memorable have been sailing catamarans from Xiamen to Sanya during the peak of the northeast monsoon season (October-March).

In-between managing and delivering superyachts, I’ve made use of my marina operation knowledge and boat-handling abilities to provide practical advice for a marina redevelopment project in Taiwan.

Over the past two years, having returned to Singapore due to travel restrictions and border closures, I’ve seen massive interest in boating activities locally and in Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines. A growing number of people, including some of my friends, have taken the plunge to buy their first boat and used it extensively, exploring home waters.

I’m currently involved in an interesting side project by helping an industry stalwart with his first boat, a 58ft sailing yacht, and guiding him toward achieving his dream of cruising the high seas when borders reopen.

CRUISING OVERSEAS

It’s very important that owners familiarise themselves with their boat’s limitations, equipment, engine(s) and electronics before venturing into foreign waters, whether it’s from Singapore to the likes of Tioman or Phuket, or from Hong Kong to the Philippines, Phuket to the Andaman Islands, and so on.

Before a boat owner embarks on their first ‘overseas’ trip on their own yacht, there are many topics to consider. They include the following:

Safety check: Make sure your buoyancy vests, fire extinguisher(s), red hand flares and First Aid Box are in order.

Documents check: Carry your licence, proof of flag state and insurance to ensure the boat can venture out of port limits.

Seaworthy tests: Before travelling, run the boat regularly, check the equipment is in good working condition and perform any necessary system maintenance.

Clean up: Clean the hull, propellers, shafts and sea-water strainer.

Endurance checks: Long-distance cruising adds greater demand on engines, so consider changing the engine oil, oil filter, fuel filter and impeller prior to voyage.

Tighten up: It’s common for hoses and connection to loosen, so check, tighten or replace them.

Sea trial: Test different RPMs vs speed over ground (SOG) vs fuel consumption to find out the best speed for economical fuel consumption and running hours to the destination.

Plan the route: Set way points on your chart or chart plotters, calculate the total distance of voyage, estimate your cruising speed and total voyage duration.

Carry extra fuel: Running the fuel tank low increases the risk of water or dirty fuel clogging the engines, so allocate an extra 30 per cent of fuel for rough seas, strong winds, tidal flows and running the generator until the next fuelling stop.

Quality fuel: Fuel contamination can cause major engine issues, so only use fuel from a reputable supplier; most modern engines run on zero-sulphur fuel.

Become a mechanic: You are your own mechanic, so carry spares like oil, fuel filters, impeller, fuses and so on; know how to replace them.

Keep clear: Store or remove unnecessary items ashore to keep the weight down and alleys clear.

Night navigation: Check that your navigation lights are working and make sure you know the light systems on different vessels and areas.

VHF: Learn the basic VHF communication protocol.

Radar: Be knowledgeable on their settings and usage, especially at night or during bad weather.

Keep a log: Maintain an hourly voyage log of engine running temperature, fuel consumption rate, position, sea state and so on; any drop in boat speed or increase in fuel consumption or engine temperature may be an early warning sign.

Seek advice: Make a passage plan and consult any fellow boaters who have been on your route or to your destinations before.

Team up: Ideally, sail in a flotilla with experienced boaters and maintain close communication at sea.

Seasons: Know the seasonal conditions and sea states; be prepared for sudden changes in weather.

Call ahead: Contact the marina and make berthing or refuelling arrangements beforehand; find out the type of shore plug used, the electricity priority and ampere to meets your boat’s requirements.

Port notices: Research to see if any marine port notices may affect your voyage.

You’re the foreigner: Know the local customs, language, festivals and any places to visit by the sea; be friendly and respectful to locals, crew, boaters and seafarers.

Requirements: Read up on customs and immigration procedures, flag or visa requirements of departing and visiting countries.

Currency: Carry the visiting countries’ currency; it may be difficult to find money changers upon arrival.

Provisions: Estimate the duration you’ll be living onboard and store emergency food and water.

Teamwork: Everyone onboard plays an active role, so explain the route, passage, duration, things to look out for and keep a safety watch on other vessels.

Prioritise planning: Lastly, when it comes to voyage planning, I believe in the motto ‘Plan for

the worst and hope for the best’.

Good luck and enjoy your time at sea.

GOH THYE HOCK

Goh has been involved in top-level watersports and the yachting industry since he started representing Singapore in windsurfing in 1993. One of the first Singaporeans to obtain an MPA (Maritime Port Authority) licence to skipper superyachts, he holds several other boating licences around Asia and is the first Singaporean to be accredited as a GMI Certified Marina Professional. Goh has worked at the People’s Association Sea Sports Club, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Yacht Club, organised regattas, assisted the Spanish team during stopovers in three Volvo Ocean Races, managed fleets of luxury yachts in Hainan and Hong Kong, and completed well over a dozen international deliveries of luxury yachts around Asia. thyesin8@gmail.com

Owner: Kevin Quek on his Jeanneau Merry Fisher flagship
Having built confidence during trips from ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove to Lazarus Island, Singaporean Kevin Quek and his wife Alicia now look forward to cruising their Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1095 Fly to the likes of Malaysia and Thailand.

How Aquila made powercats mainstream: Yvan Eymieu

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

How Aquila made powercats mainstream: Yvan Eymieu

April 14, 2022
11:15 am

A decade since its launch by MarineMax and Sino Eagle, Aquila has become a truly global brand, with its entire range of power catamarans selling across Asia, as Yvan Eymieu explains in a Column for Yacht Style.

Aquila 44 Yacht; Photo: Nicolas Claris

Following the recent presentation of the upcoming Aquila 41 Yacht, it’s a nice time to look back at how the brand has grown around the world including in Asia, especially with the company celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

When Aquila was launched as a cooperation between MarineMax and Sino Eagle, it was initially perceived as a ‘challenger’ with innovative ideas and designs. Yet in only 10 years, it has become the leading brand in the fast-growing power catamaran sector.

Early models included the Aquila 48 and the 44, both inboard flybridge models, and the latter is still in great demand. In total, about, 180 units of the 44 Yacht have been ordered, making it the world’s best-selling inboard power catamaran.

EXPANDING RANGE

However, the brand started to really escalate from 2017 due to the introduction of its first outboard model, the Aquila 36 Sport, and the start of a global distribution policy.

Aquila 36 in Hong Kong; Photo: Simpson Marine

Aquila President Lex Raas appointed J&J Design to design the 36 Sport, an outboard engine crossover bowrider with two en-suite cabins. This unique, innovative design started a new trend and quickly became a reference in the industry, with nearly 200 orders for the model received in only five years.

The range then expanded with the Aquila 32 Sport, a smaller model with a similar design. Next up was the Aquila 54 Yacht, a flybridge model offering between three to five guest cabins and crew quarters, and which confirmed the brand’s leading position in the power catamaran segment.

This was followed by the flagship Aquila 70 Luxury, a fast cruising yacht produced in an adjacent yard from the other production models. The 70ft hull is vinylester infused in a single piece, while the interior features high-end finishes and Italian furniture.

The Aquila 41 Yacht will launch in 2022

The brand’s newest model in the water is the Aquila 28 Molokai, a bluewater fishing boat available with a centre console or in a Cuddy version. And at this year’s Miami International Boat Show, the company announced the 41 Yacht, which will launch later this year.

GLOBAL GROWTH

During the brand’s first five years, sales were nearly exclusively in the USA and the decision was made to grow the network of dealers. Aquila now has representation, stock availabilities and after-sales service in over 20 countries.

The most important aspect of the global expansion was selecting trustworthy partners that are service and customer-oriented, as internationalisation started from Australia, then focused on Asia and Europe.

The first Aquila 28 Molokai in Asia; Photo: Simpson Marine

Today, the brand has a solid, stable presence in Asia-Pacific. In Australasia, there are dealers in Australia and New Zealand, while Asia includes representatives covering South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

In Europe, coverage is still developing but already includes Spain, Italy, UK, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Germany and Croatia, while international growth also included appointing dealers in Canada and Mexico, USA’s neighbours.

BRIGHT FUTURE

In Asia, Aquila’s leading representative is Simpson Marine, which provides excellent sales, after-sales support and brokerage across much of East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Simpson Marine even sold the first Aquila 70 Luxury outside of the USA and the yacht is scheduled to be delivered to Singapore in the coming months before it cruises to Bali. The client added some nice customisations such as solar panels and lithium batteries that can run the air-conditioning silently.

A customised Aquila 70 Luxury has been sold to Indonesia

At the other end of the size scale, the first Aquila 28 Molokai in Asia was delivered to Malaysia at the end of last year and it sold within a week of successive showings in Penang and Port Dickson. Further units have been ordered for Hong Kong and Singapore.

To cater to Aquila’s growing demand, the factory is now almost 100,000sqm (10 hectares) in size and features three large production centres along with a brand-new three-storey office building. The shipyard has also invested in a private marina that facilitates testing and control quality.

Twenty years ago, power catamarans were a novelty. Even just 10 years ago, they were a niche market. Today, power catamarans have become mainstream, with catamaran builders producing more models and even ‘monohull’ brands beginning to produce twin-hulled motor yachts.

In fact, power catamarans have become the fastest-growing segment of the yachting industry, with many different sizes and styles that appeal to owners of monohull motor yachts, monohull sailing boats and of course catamaran lovers. Considering all this, Aquila’s second decade looks set to be as exciting as its first.

http://www.aquilaboats.com

Yvan Eymieu

A keen sailor who has lived in Asia since 2005, Eymieu has been Aquila’s International Sales and Distribution Manager since 2017, overseeing the global expansion of the brand’s dealer network.

yvan.eymieu@aquilaboats.com

Note: The original Column appeared in Yacht Style Issue 64

Aquila shows full line-up of powercats for first time
Aquila is displaying its full line-up of six powercat models at this year’s Miami International Boat Show.

Owner: From Sunreef 62 to Sunreef 70

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Owner: From Sunreef 62 to Sunreef 70

April 9, 2022
10:53 am

In a new video, the owner of the Caribbean-destined Sunreef 70 Capi IV explains why he stayed loyal to the brand for his latest sailing catamaran.

In a new video interview released by Sunreef Yachts, experienced owner Fernando explains why he upgraded from his former Sunreef 62 to a new Sunreef 70, the Polish builder’s newest model in a sailing range that also includes the 50, 60 and 80.

Sunreef Catamaran Owner Insight: from classic to modern luxury sail catamaran
An experienced Sunreef Owner, Fernando takes us abord his new Sunreef 70 sailing yacht to talk about his transition from sailing the shipyard’s classic Sunreef 62 to owning a new Sunreef 70 sail cat.

After chartering a Sunreef 62 a couple of times in 2007, he ordered his own, El Capi III, which was delivered in 2009. Fernando kept her in Luperon in the north of Dominican Republic, which shares an island with Haiti to the east of Cuba.

Fernando admitted he did his research before deciding to return to the Polish brand for his new Sunreef 70, Capi IV, which he recently visited during its launch in Gdansk, where Sunreef has been based since it was founded by Francis Lapp in 2002.

“I decided to stay with Sunreef because of its designs, customisation, materials and equipment,” Fernando said. “It also has good service and I’ve had a great experience building Capi IV. I think I made the right decision to stick with Sunreef.”

The yacht has been customised for use by Fernando’s family, which is evident in the warm, relaxed décor and particularly in the customised children’s room.

Fernando plans to first use Capi IV in West Palm Beach in Florida before heading home to the Dominican Republic via the Bahamas. He’ll again base his yacht in Luperon, from where he plans to cruise the north and south coasts of the country as well as explore some of the nearby Caribbean islands.

On the main deck, Capi IV features a light-filled saloon that will be used for relaxation and lengthy family dinners. To starboard, the lounge features a comfortable L-shaped settee, coffee tables and an elevated daybed with panoramic sea views.

The portside dining space can seat up to 10 people at a large dining table. The saloon also features a 55-inch flip-down TV, a fridge and two wine coolers.

There are four guest cabins in the hulls. To portside, the master suite features a double bed, a large custom-built dressing room with a vanity desk and a generous master bathroom. The starboard hull houses two guest cabins, both offering plenty of storage, elegant design and beautifully appointed en-suites.

The layout also includes a custom-designed cabin for children with three beds, lots of storage options, a TV and night tables.

The outdoor social spaces include an impressive flybridge with a generous dining and lounging space, a full-beam foredeck lounge, and a vast aft cockpit extended with the hydraulic aft platform.

http://www.sunreef-yachts.com

Sunreef power, sail catamarans for Palma show
The Polish luxury catamaran builder will show models from its sailing and power ranges at the Palma International Boat Show in Spain.

Owner: Eric Noyel happy on his customised Bali 4.8

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Owner: Eric Noyel happy on his customised Bali 4.8

April 6, 2022
1:55 am

Naming his birthday present Happy Fifty, Asiamarine owner Eric Noyel says his customised Bali 4.8 is a very comfortable fit for a man content with his place in life.

Happy Fifty is Noyel’s first sailing boat and catamaran

For a man who named his new yacht Happy Fifty, Eric Noyel appears to be living the dream. His Asiamarine dealership is going well but he also gives the air of someone who has found peace and is happy to share his good fortune with family and friends.

Noyel ordered the luxuriously customised Bali 4.8 as a 50th birthday gift for himself and since the 49ft sail cat arrived in Hong Kong late last year, he looks to have been enjoying his new present. And I’m not just taking his word for it.

The French entrepreneur is happy to share a video of himself and his wife on the boat having an alfresco breakfast on a sunny morning in Deep Water Bay, surrounded by sailing boats and superyachts, with early-rising rowers in the distance.

Noyel at the helm of Happy Fifty, his birthday present to himself

All around the bay, the sea is clear and calm, as Noyel pans the camera to show some of the toys he plans to use that day, including a kayak and a tender. It’s peaceful, quiet, relaxing and enough to make you want to dive into the screen and take a swim.

“I am very serene right now,” admits Noyel, who founded Asiamarine in 2013, having sold his previous company. “I just enjoy this boat. I enjoy sleeping on board and I enjoy diving into the water.

“I bought it because I wanted a boat that I could use myself and we use it pretty much every weekend, mainly in Deep Water Bay. We often invite friends over – so far, no one has rejected my invitation.”

Happy Fifty is the first Bali 4.8 fitted with a flybridge hardtop

The three-cabin Bali 4.8 is Noyel’s first sailing boat and first catamaran. His previous boats were all motor yachts and included three large models from Numarine and a Wellcraft speedboat, as well as a couple of mid-sized Galeons for a period to kick-start his representation of the brand.

“I was tired of having big boats. I had a 78-footer, a 105-footer and I was tired of having a lot of crew around. I like this Bali because I like being closer to the sea, more connected to the water. You can be less connected to the water on big boats. I also wanted to start sailing again, although I haven’t sailed too much so far. It’s more like a weekend house.”

SAILING AND HYPNOTHERAPY

Noyel grew up sailing in the south of France, where he said he was “a typical French kid”, learning the sport with other schoolmates, moving from Optimists to Lasers, 420s and later Hobie cats.

Noyel founded Asiamarine in 2013

A graduate of the ESSCA School of Management, he stopped boating when he began a career that brought him to Asia. As he started to gain some momentum in the business world, he returned to boating when he sought to charter boats to entertain clients.

“This was 15 years ago, when it was very difficult to charter a boat in Hong Kong. I always wanted to have a boat, but was more interested in fractional ownership and sharing costs. I was earning money, but I didn’t quite have enough …. yet I wanted a boat so bad,” he smiles.

After eventually selling his company, Noyel did have enough to buy himself a Numarine 78 Hardtop that was delivered to Hong Kong in 2013.

The Bali 4.8 can be skippered on Hong Kong’s Grade Two licence

Although he would later represent the Turkish builder, his initial vision for the yacht was not to start a dealership but to use the boat as a base to practice hypnotherapy, rather than receiving clients in an office.

Having studied hypnotherapy on and off for seven years, he named the boat Hypnotist and ordered the hull in purple because “the colour of the unconscious mind is purple”.

With enough money to not have to rush back into business, Noyel spent a lot of time and nights on the boat, eventually creating Asiamarine to charter the boat, which did 100 days of business in its first year.

Guest accommodation on Happy Fifty

“The business caught on and people started chartering it. I probably spent 100 days on the boat, sleeping overnight and living on board with a full crew including a very experienced French captain,” he says. “This period taught me a lot of things about maintenance. I became very hands on, so that was my apprenticeship, my boating university.”

ADJUSTMENTS AND LEARNINGS

Noyel eventually sold off the 78 HT in shares. Having realised flybridge motor yachts were more in demand in Hong Kong, he next bought a Numarine 62 Flybridge, which he again sold off in shares, although the yacht remains in Asiamarine’s charter fleet. Noyel’s third boat was a Wellcraft outboard he kept in Thailand, where he drove the speedboat himself and used it for fun day trips.

Noyel and Asiamarine have represented Bali since 2020

Having ‘downgraded’ twice, Noyel then embarked on a massive upgrade by buying a Numarine 105 Hardtop, Dolce Vita, which had four permanent crew including an Italian captain and up to six when it was chartered. Bought with his wife and another partner, the yacht was in Thailand for two years before later being sold.

It was around this time he secured the Galeon dealership and self-financed the purchase of a 500 Fly stock boat. The iconic model with the drop-down wings, portside bar and rotating cockpit sofa was used to launch the brand in Hong Kong in early 2017.

Happy Fifty is available for charter through Asiamarine

Noyel also dug into his own pocket to buy a Galeon 460 that was kept in Thailand, but the investments have since paid off, with Asiamarine selling over 40 units of the brand in the ensuing years.

“Everything was adjustments and learnings,” says Noyel, whose business has since grown steadily with the growing popularity of the Galeon brand, representation of Fraser since 2018, and the additions of Bali, Tige and Nimbus to the portfolio over the past two years.

“I feel Covid has helped give our sales a push, although we did not experience crazy growth. We sold seven Galeon yachts three years ago, nine two years ago and 11 last year, so it’s all fine, especially as we took advantage of this time to acquire new brands.”

Key Bali features include the solid foredeck, which increases social space

The company sold over 50 new and brokerage boats last year and has recently hired senior sales staff for its Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand offices, as well as a hugely experienced aftersales manager in Hong Kong. The company also has satellite offices in Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.

CUSTOMISING AND CRUISING

It was against the backdrop of Covid that Noyel ordered his Bali 4.8. Although his business was steadily gaining speed, he was looking to slow things down on the water when he ordered the brand’s second-largest sailing catamaran.

“After owning several boats, I understand very well the cost of maintenance, so I wanted a low-maintenance boat. I didn’t need speed, but I wanted space and to take my time sailing to Vietnam or Philippines or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.”

Happy Fifty heads into the Hong Kong sunset

Noyel focused on the 4.8 after assessing it was the largest model he could own and operate in Hong Kong with a Grade Two licence for skippering boats up to 50ft. Yacht Style reviewed the Bali 4.8 in Issue 59, but Noyel’s version is a cut above the standard model. For starters, Happy Fifty is the model’s first hull ordered with a hardtop above the flybridge, although the main changes are inside.

“Bali came from charter and has already made incredible improvements in the interior. They’re now doing even more, making huge efforts to make their boats more luxurious,” says Noyel, who wanted a completely customised interior in terms of furniture and furnishings, featuring brands like Minotti.

“However, I wanted something special, so I went shopping from the famous interior brands. The whole interior has been customised and includes some brands we don’t even have at home.”

Noyel sailed Happy Fifty along the Cote d’Azur with friends after receiving the boat from Bali

Noyel took delivery of Happy Fifty last summer at the Bali factory in Canet-en-Roussillon on the south coast of France. It was a nice starting point for a trip with childhood friends as they explored the Cote d’Azur, taking in the likes of Marseille, St Tropez and Nice before the boat was fine-tuned by Bali ahead of shipment from Genoa to Hong Kong.

Since arriving in Hong Kong, the yacht has been added to the Asiamarine charter fleet, although Noyel had no plans to charter it until colleagues convinced him.

In fact, Happy Fifty is extremely charter friendly with a catalogue of toys including a semi-rigid tender, underwater scooter, mini diving bottles with compressor, eFoil electric surfboard, paddleboards, kayak, snorkelling masks, inflatables, rackets, balls, frisbees and fishing gear.

Noyel said his Bali 4.8 is an ideal fit at a time of life where he’s more focused on ‘being’ than ‘having’

For her owner, though, they’re all just part of a package allowing him to enjoy life on the water with the people most important to him.

“I think there are phases in life. In psychology, there are two defining modes that structure our thinking: to have and to be. For some of my yachts, it was more about the excitement of owning the yacht, having it, but maybe with the Wellcraft and definitely with the Bali, it’s about being.

“I just enjoy being on it. Maybe I’m moving into the ‘being’ philosophy because I’m older, but honestly, I’ve never been happier.”

www.asiamarine.com

www.bali-catamarans.com

Note: The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 64

Asiamarine strengthens sales team
The regional dealer has strengthened its sales teams in Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

Profile: Yacht Sourcing making it happen in Indonesia

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Profile: Yacht Sourcing making it happen in Indonesia

March 30, 2022
3:58 pm

The Covid era has been challenging for Yacht Sourcing, but recent sales of new Fountaine Pajot catamarans, the launch of the 50m Vela, and Bali opening to international tourism point to positive times ahead.

Boum Senous (centre) and office staff at Yacht Sourcing’s head office in Bali

In contrast to some yacht dealers in Hong Kong and even in Singapore, Covid hasn’t given Indonesia’s Yacht Sourcing a record surge in boat sales over the past couple of years. With business led by the company’s two Bali sites and its shipyard in Sulawesi, the company decided to close its smaller Jakarta office.

“It has been tough,” admits Boum Senous, co-founder and Director of the multi-faceted company, which has been headquartered in Bali since it was formed in 2016.

However, due to a knock-on effect of the pandemic, Senous is quietly confident Yacht Sourcing and the general yachting market in Indonesia is on the cusp of a new wave.

Yacht Sourcing recently launched the 50m Vela from its South Sulawesi shipyard

Two recent sales of new Fountaine Pajot catamarans to clients in Bali have been among highlights, while the Belgian is also happy to announce that he plans to re-establish Yacht Sourcing in Jakarta by opening a new office in the current capital later this year.

“It has been a difficult time for the industry in Indonesia, especially on the charter side, but I feel like there’s something happening here. I don’t think we’ve ever had as many leads as we’ve had recently. I feel like people are more interested in yachting because Covid has changed people’s way of thinking,” says Senous, who has lived in Indonesia for well over a decade.

Yacht Sourcing’s recent sales to clients in Bali include a new Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42

“Post Covid, people are realising how appealing having your own boat is, to sail away and sleep in a beautiful bay instead of being confined in an apartment in Singapore or Jakarta. The awareness of yachting is building here.”

BALI’S STOCK RISES

While Jakarta remains the country’s business hub and its biggest city, with over 10 million people, Senous is most excited by notable changes in Bali, which has over 4 million people and will host this year’s G20 summit from November 15-16.

Senous believes Covid has led some high earners to move from crowded cities to the ‘Island of Gods’ in a bid for a more relaxed lifestyle, with beaches, mountains and water close by. Meanwhile, ongoing developments include the high-profile Bali International Hospital in Sanur, which is set to be the country’s largest international hospital when it opens in 2023.

Senous has lived in Indonesia for well over a decade and co-founded Yacht Sourcing in 2016

“I know plenty of CEOs and bosses of big companies in the palm oil, coal and mining industries who have moved to Bali with their families over the past year or two. Many have moved to Bali and commute to Jakarta by plane. I even know a senior employee of a major bank in Hong Kong who moved to Bali because he wanted the change of lifestyle,” Senous says.

“I believe Jakarta will continue being a business hub, but Bali will increasingly be the place to keep boats and sail from. That’s why we need offices in both places, while we’re also noticing more interest from Kalimantan.”

Yacht Sourcing’s head office is north of Kuta and oversees new yacht sales, brokerage, charter and yacht management, while maintenance and repairs are handled by the company’s well-staffed service facility in Serangan harbour.

The 16m Kelana was refit by Yacht Sourcing and is also available for charter

Compared to the likes of Hong Kong, Singapore and Phuket, Bali remains small-scale in terms of yachting infrastructure, which includes the likes of the superyacht-friendly Benoa Marina and the nearby Royal Bali Yacht Club.

Facilities in neighbouring Lombok include Marina del Ray in the southwest and Marina Del Ray in the northwest, while across the water from Bali’s western tip is Boom Marina in Banyuwangi, on the east side of Java.

However, the most exciting potential is within the enormous Kura Kura development on Serangan Island, which is linked by a bridge to mainland Bali and its capital of Denpasar.

Kura Kura is set to transform the yachting scene in Bali when it opens

One of the country’s largest master-planned communities under construction, Kura Kura is a 500-hectare, tree-covered ‘eco-development’ including housing, shopping, cultural hubs and a marina slated to have over 100 berths.

“We need a big marina for Bali to move to the next level in yachting,” Senous says. “It’s all part of the government trying to make the island even more appealing to locals, foreign residents and visitors, with international-standard facilities.”

CATAMARAN APPEAL

In fact, one of Yacht Sourcing’s new Fountaine Pajot owners is a newcomer to Bali who chose to move to the island from one of Asia’s big cities. The client ordered an Astrea 42, one of the two Fountaine Pajot sailing cats sold by Yacht Sourcing in the past half a year.

Yacht Sourcing sold a new Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47

The company’s recent sales also include the first unit of the Tanna 47 to be sold in Asia. The model is so new that the client, a long-time Bali resident, purchased it based on CGI renders of the model, which replaces the Saona 47.

“Both buyers trust the brand and bought models that suit the size they wanted for their family,” Senous says. “We’re having a lot of leads for Fountaine Pajot, both for sailing yachts and motor yachts.”

A Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 has also been sold to Bali

Senous says catamarans could have a strong future in Indonesia and follow the likes of Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, where catamarans have proved very popular ways of cruising and exploring long coastlines and island chains.

“I believe Fountaine Pajot will do really well in Indonesia and we do have huge interest, as people are attracted to the basic benefits of catamarans, such as stability and far more space,” he says. “The other major selling point for powercats is fuel economy, which is why I think the brand’s motor yachts will also do well. There’s a bright future for catamarans in Indonesia, but we’re still at the beginning.”

The MY4.S is the new entry model for Fountaine Pajot motor yachts

Senous attended last year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, where he saw the brand’s models and was particularly taken by the MY4.S, the new entry model for its motor yacht range, while other recent developments including an upgrade of the interiors of the MY5 and MY6.

“The new MY4.S is a beautiful motor yacht and I noticed they’ve really upgraded the interiors. I think their powercats work well for Indonesia because they’re ideal for people not that comfortable on a monohull, yet you’re not compromising on comfort because Fountaine Pajot has reached a high level of finish and luxury. We really want to push the motor yachts along with the sailing cats.”

Yacht Sourcing is particularly keen to promote the MY4.S in Indonesia

To build on the new interest, Yacht Sourcing is planning a major promotional event for Fountaine Pajot in Bali mid-year, having represented the brand in Indonesia since 2019.

STRONG BUILDS

Yacht Sourcing, whose portfolio also includes Dufour sailing yachts and Outborn RIBs, is distinguished from most dealers by owning a wooden-boat shipyard.

Yacht Sourcing also represents Dufour (above) and Outborn (below)

Located in Bira on the southeast tip of South Sulawesi, about 600km northeast of Bali, the shipyard builds yachts custom designed for clients and can work on up to three 30-60m hulls at a time.

Even during Covid, the construction and refit businesses have remained active and the shipyard recently launched the 50m Vela, which follows iconic charter phinisis such as the 55m Prana launched in 2018 and The Maj Oceanic, the 47m phinisi that splashed at the end of the following year.

Accommodation on the 55m Prana built by Yacht Sourcing

Prana and The Maj Oceanic are among yachts that Yacht Sourcing lists for charter, while the company still manages the 60m, 15-cabin Aqua Blue, set to resume operations on April 30.

In a similar way that the charter business has been slow during Covid due to the dramatic reduction in visitors to Indonesia, even local cruising has been hampered by changing regulations and different rules for different areas.

At 47m, The Maj Oceanic is among superyacht-sized phinisis built by Yacht Sourcing

Always looking forward, Yacht Sourcing has used the downtime to prepare for the future and is in the process of reorganising all its charter and management operations under a new company, By & Large, a collaboration with the company behind the popular Eight Degrees South restaurant in Bali.

“Yacht charter has been quiet for everyone here,” says Senous. “Now, with Bali opening to travellers from Singapore and elsewhere, I’m hoping we’ll receive a lot more visitors and people will start to look at chartering in Indonesia again.”
www.yachtsourcing.com

Fountaine Pajot extends Yacht Sourcing partnership
The French catamaran builder has extended its agreement with Yacht Sourcing as its dealer in Indonesia.

Simpson Marine’s Paul Whelan on Indonesia’s steady awakening

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Simpson Marine’s Paul Whelan on Indonesia’s steady awakening

March 22, 2022
5:31 am

In a Column for Yacht Style Issue 64, Whelan reveals that he has seen some positive signs for yachting in Indonesia during the pandemic and believes more influential people are recognising the benefits of developing the industry in the vast archipelago.

Paul Whelan, Simpson Marine’s Indonesia Country Manager

The Indonesian yachting industry has continued to flourish during the last two years despite the slowdown of so many other industries, in particular the travel industry, due to the pandemic.

Fortunately, the interest in marine activities has grown at a considerable pace as more and more people have stayed close to home and been looking for a safe, healthy activity they can share with their friends and families in a protected environment.

It has been nice to see considerable interest from new participants who have previously not been so interested in the yachting lifestyle. The pandemic gave them a reason to do something and now they’re hooked!

Sanlorenzo SL78

Unfortunately, the lack of inbound tourists damaged the liveaboard charter market, particularly in locations such as Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat. This was offset by the rising interest from the domestic market as people started to explore the wonders of their own ‘back yard’.

This was particularly evident in the high-end market where some of the leading vessels have had extremely good years despite virtually no inbound tourists.

Jakarta still has the largest concentration of yachts and is also home to many of our clients. It was a pleasure to help so many new boaters buy their first yachts. Two notable purchases were a new Sanlorenzo SL78 and a Sanlorenzo SL118.

Aquila 70 Luxury

It was nice to see more interest coming from other parts of the country including Manado in North Sulawesi and Bali, with the sale of the new Aquila 70 Luxury. This yacht will be setting a new standard for sustainability as it will be fitted with a large amount of custom-made solar panels contoured to the shape of the yacht that will make its generators almost redundant.

An interesting benefit of all these new yacht owners is that it has exposed the lack of marine infrastructure to a new level of people. I’m now seeing more and more influential owners starting to push and invest in the industry. This is a great development and exactly what Indonesia needs to take recreational yachting to the next level.

It’s only a matter of time before we see more marinas, better-quality shipyards dedicated to yachts, and local governments around the archipelago welcoming yachts.

Sanlorenzo SL118

The areas attracting the most attention are Jakarta, Bali, Flores and Papua. Growing infrastructure in these regions will be a huge boost to the industry and especially the regional economies through investment, the creation of new jobs, training for roles within the industry and so on.

Considering the country has a population of 270 million people and an enormous archipelago that provides sheltered, year-round cruising, we continue to see a very bright future for yachting in Indonesia.

PAUL WHELAN

Whelan is Simpson Marine Indonesia’s Country Manager, having previously spent six years with the company in Singapore. The Australian has over three decades of marine industry experience covering boat building, working on superyachts, business and sales. A qualified Master Class IV Captain, Whelan has logged extensive sea miles including lengthy periods in Asia on board 60m-plus yachts.
www.simpsonmarine.com

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Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti: Committed to the vision (Part 1)

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti: Committed to the vision (Part 1)

March 12, 2022
4:33 am

After taking over as CEO of Sunseeker in mid-2019, Andrea Frabetti announced a plan to double its number of models to 22 in three years. Then Covid struck. Despite widespread challenges, Sunseeker stuck to its strategy and the portfolio growth remains on schedule as the Poole builder continues a whirlwind series of new product launches. Interview: John Higginson.

Andrea Frabetti, CEO, Sunseeker

Andrea, you were promoted from Chief Technical Officer to Chief Executive Officer in June 2019, so after close to three years in the top job, how do you reflect on the huge ups and downs during this unique period?

It has been a very tough time, not only for Sunseeker but for most companies in the world. However, I’ll never forget how much we’ve done together as a team in a very difficult time. Personally, I’m happy with the fact we’ve delivered on all the promises we made in late 2019 and have stuck to our product development schedule. I’m really proud to be part of this exceptional group at Sunseeker.

In fact, as I’m Italian, I’ve been asked many times to have people from Italy come over to take over key positions. I never did. I think the best way is to select the right people that really love and know the company. Aside from myself, I think no other member of the Executive Committee has been at Sunseeker for less than 10 years. That means fidelity, that you love the brand, understand the mission, understand the people and are part of a family. I believe this has played a large part in the success we’ve had.

Sunseeker recently announced a forward order book of about GBP500m (about US$700m), the largest since Wanda Group became the majority shareholder in 2013. Considering complications with suppliers, shipping and trade, how has Sunseeker reorganised to try to keep up with demand in the Covid era?

Honestly, it would take two days to explain that. Since early 2020, we had to change our organisation hugely to become more flexible and make quicker decisions in a scenario that changes every day. We’ve been dealing with a situation nobody expected and a future nobody can predict. That’s why we dramatically changed our Executive Committee in the early summer of 2020 and started to work with a new approach – very pragmatic, quick, straight, fast and effective.

The Sunseeker Showcase opened at the shipyard in late 2020

The situation needs a management team that’s creative, knows its job well and can apply counter-measures to any situation. I’ve been very lucky to have the right people working for Sunseeker. As such, we’ve been able to come back strongly, probably stronger than ever, and have improved our production capability and better supported our supply chain.

We’re not looking to increase the overall number of boats. To give some perspective, we built 160 yachts in 2019 and in 2022 we expect to produce about 135 yachts. Instead, we’ve been focusing on increasing the portfolio from 11 models (in mid-2019) to over 20, with many of the main products now focused on bigger sizes. We’re less focused on overall volume of production and concentrating on quality, reliability, delivery time and enforcing our position at the top end of the market.

Having had to reduce numbers during the Covid era, are there plans to increase staff and apprentices?

During 2020, we had some reduction, then we’ve been coming back, hiring people and recently started recruiting 50 technical apprentices. We predict the overall financial turnover in 2022 to be a little bit more than in 2019, before Covid, so we’ve resized the company accordingly.

Sunseeker launched the Predator 60 EVO™ in late 2019

We’re not looking to increase the overall number of boats. To give some perspective, we built 160 The complexity of our product range now better matches the market position of this company. I think we’re coming back to where Sunseeker was historically, at the high end of the market competing with the right companies. This doesn’t mean big volumes. It means a good, strong organisation.

Your focus at Sunseeker has been on expanding and upgrading the product range, which had 11 models when you arrived. With four product launches in 2022, you’re on schedule to double the number of models to 22 this year, as planned, but how difficult has it been to maintain R&D during Covid?

Having announced the product strategy in 2019, we reconsidered it with our shareholder in early 2020 after the pandemic began. However, the decision was to keep going and I think we made the right choice. Many manufacturers in the yacht industry and even the car industry preferred to postpone the introduction of new models after the pandemic arrived. We preferred to keep going, presenting seven new models in 2021, which meant we hadn’t stopped designing and developing in 2020.

The only pause for production was in April and part of May 2020, but once the government allowed us to open, we first opened the Tech Centre then the production facilities. We believed it was very important for Sunseeker to be ready to offer clients what they wanted once the market returned.

The 60 EVO™ introduced a new interior design language for Predator

Today, we can say it was a good move, even though there were still some lockdowns in 2021. We now have a backlog of orders like we’ve never had before. Another important indicator is that the stock borne by our dealers is now almost zero. When I joined Sunseeker, the situation with stock was quite concerning, but now there’s hardly any. That means the product strategy is working, although it’s currently a very good market.

Why was there such a need for new models?

When I joined, the Sport Yacht range had only one model (74), so we added the 65 in 2020 and you’ll see another in 2023. I believe if you’re in a segment, you need to be strong. One product is not enough because a customer that loves Sport Yachts wants to move to a bigger one. We’ve been developing the Sport Yacht and Predator ranges, and since 2019 we’ve also added the Performance range with the Hawk (38) and Superhawk (55), which are part of the company’s heritage.

The 74 Sport Yacht is now offered with an XPS package

The Yacht range is unbelievable because we now have the new 88 Yacht and 90 Ocean launched last year and the 100 Yacht coming this year, plus the 90 Ocean Enclosed. The Ocean models (which span the Yacht and Superyacht ranges) start from 90ft today but will move into smaller models while ranging all the way up to the 50M Ocean. In the meantime, we’ve had to renovate existing ranges, like upgrading the Manhattan 52 to 55 and the 66 to 68.

What has driven your schedule for five new models in 2023 and four more in both 2024 and 2025?

The goal is to have constant renovation of a range of 20-25 models, mixing upgrades every four to five years with some completely new products. We don’t want to be launching seven new models each year – we only did that in 2021 because we had a lot of catching up to do.

Sunseeker launched the Predator 55 EVO™ in 2021

We must consolidate our models in every segment while maintaining innovation, but we must not upgrade models too quickly. One of the most important drivers in the market is the resale value of your boat. Sunseeker is the leader in that. If you walk into a brokerage and ask which brand maintains value in the market for the longest time, it’s Sunseeker.

The schedule is also based on regulating the investment we’re making into new products, which is GBP35 million (about US$47 million) over five years. If you launch eight new models in one year and two the next, you have these huge peaks and troughs in cash requirements. We had a big surge of investment to get the portfolio to where it is today, but we have a consistent investment profile over the coming years.

The Predator 60 EVO™ was launched in 2019 after you joined Sunseeker. Since then, the 55 EVO™ (2021), 74 XPS (2021) and 65 (2022) have been added to the Predator range. Have these models lived up to your ambition for the range to be distinguished not only by its exterior but also by its interior design language?

Yes – and this has been reflected in Predator sales, which have dramatically increased. For example, the Predator 74 was launched in January 2018, but after a year, sales hadn’t matched expectations. The boat is fantastic, so last year we launched the XPS version, which has a renovated interior that’s similar in feeling to the new 65 and 55 EVO™ and now we’ve covered the range.

The Predator 55 EVO™ was among last year’s ‘Famous Five’

Sunseeker is top-quality technically, in terms of performance and in exterior design, but when I joined, I thought the interiors weren’t at quite as high a level. We made the changes quickly and the sales rewarded us in a good way. I met some customers who said, ‘We were waiting for that because we love your boat, the quality and the exterior design, but when we entered the boat, we didn’t say ‘wow’. Now, we say ‘wow’.”

The 65 Sport Yacht is another ‘wow’ model and has attracted a lot of attention for its SkyHelm™. What was the inspiration behind this?

In April 2019 (when Frabetti was still CTO), I was at a private show for Sunseeker customers in Poole. I saw so many clients arriving in two-seat sports cars and supercars. The car park was full of brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, Lamborghini and Ferrari. I could see how much they loved driving these cars.

The 65 Sport Yacht joined the 74 in the sportbridge range

At the same time, I was aware of the speed limits in the UK, so I thought I’d like to give our clients the experience of driving something sporty in an environment where it’s safe to go at full speed. I decided to design the entire Sport Yacht concept around that, really underline the difference between a Sport Yacht and a Yacht.

Customers don’t want to compromise on the interior; they all want large spaces, large galley, comfort, everything! The ranges had different external lines, but it’s not enough. We needed to have an experience that starts from a different hull, different propulsion and a different way of driving a boat.

The 65 Sport Yacht offers a dramatic SkyHelm™

On a Sport Yacht, we need to feel the sport, feel the adrenaline, to drive it like it’s your sports car in an environment where you can enjoy it and not worry about red lights or speed limits. The SkyHelm™ was the result. You can turn full speed in a short space and feel low, close to the water. However, you still have a large volume and a lower helm where it can be driven like a Manhattan or a Yacht model.

www.sunseeker.com

Note: Part two of the interview will be online in the coming days; the full interview appears in Yacht Style Issue 64

Sunseeker Manhattan 68 Pacific for viewings in Hong Kong
The first-ever Pacific version of Sunseeker’s Manhattan 68 is available for viewings at Aberdeen Marina Club through NextWave Yachting.

Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti: Committed to the vision (Part 2)

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti: Committed to the vision (Pt 2)

March 12, 2022
4:08 am

The second and concluding part of an interview with Frabetti, who has stuck to his 2019 plan of doubling the number of Sunseeker models despite the challenges of the Covid period. Interview: John Higginson.

Andrea Frabetti has been CEO of Sunseeker since mid-2019

The Manhattan models remain a core of the brand and Hong Kong recently received the first Pacific edition of the 68 through NextWave. What are your thoughts on this layout, which has more seating in the saloon and a ‘grand master’ suite with private lounge?

I really like the changes. This was developed by Douglas Culverwell (Sunseeker’s Director of Distributor Development) with NextWave Yachting, the Hong Kong dealer. They asked us to consider this layout and it was great to hear how it could help our dealers in Asia. We listened carefully and I think they got it right.

In Europe, most people like to have four cabins and can compromise a little on the saloon, but the Pacific layout is great and still offers three wonderful cabins, which is probably more than most owners need. We didn’t call it an Asia version because we’ve also been selling the Pacific version in the US and even in Europe, too.

The Manhattan 68 introduced the ‘toy cupboard’

The Yacht range has been completely overhauled, with the 88 Yacht, 90 Ocean (and Enclosed version) and 100 Yacht launched since 2021. Do you regard the 90 Ocean as the most ‘radical’ Sunseeker design since you’ve been CEO?

When I joined Sunseeker, the plan was for the 90 Ocean to succeed the former 86 Yacht. Instead, we made a brave decision to continue with the Yacht design language on the new 88, while the 90 Ocean is a completely different niche, for a different customer.

Today we’re fully booked for production for both models despite many people saying the dimensions are quite similar; that’s because the experience and customer profile are different. The 88 Yacht is more formal, has a very attractive interior, while the 90 Ocean is larger and more practical. It was a brave decision, but it has proved the right one. We’re also developing smaller and bigger Ocean models.

A double X-TEND™ sunbed on the 90 Ocean (above); a single version is offered on the 88 Yacht

What has been the reaction to the X-TEND™ sunbed offered on all new Yacht models?

t’s an option because at the beginning we didn’t know many customers would want it, but I’d estimate 95 per cent of orders of models with the X-TEND™ option have chosen it. It looks like people want it!

How do you think the market will respond to the master suite on the 100 Yacht, where sliding ‘sunroof’ doors lead to the foredeck?

We patent the X-TEND™ but you can’t patent a style, a door or position of a door, so I’m expecting other yards to use this solution. This is my 32nd year working in the yacht industry, so I’ve seen many solutions become part of the industry quite quickly. It was my idea to put this option in the 100 Yacht, but all the boats ordered so far have chosen it.

The 100 Yacht introduces a master cabin on the main deck with sliding doors to a private bow lounge

However, this design doesn’t work if it’s simply added to an existing boat; it only makes sense if it’s integrated into the overall design. The guest area is designed to be on the starboard side, so on the port side of the foredeck, there’s a crew staircase directly to the galley because service needs to be quick – nobody wants a cold Espresso. On a yacht this size, it’s fundamental to separate guests and crew, but although the foredeck is a private area for the owners, it still needs efficient crew service when required.

Sunseeker has said the Superhawk 55 could become ‘the most desirable boat of 2022’. What’s so special about this new boat from the Performance range and how does it balance the brand’s history of performance boats with today’s demand for flexible, multi-functional designs?

If you look at the open market now, centre-console walkabouts are very popular. On older designs, going to the bow was quite uncomfortable because it was a runabout design, with no practical way of getting to or using the bow area. Today a large part of this market has been taken by the centre console, but some of these open boats are not practical because there’s not enough cover to use the boat if it’s raining or too windy.

The Superhawk 55 will debut this summer

The Superhawk 55 has a protected cockpit and two big side doors accessing the walkaround design, walking on one level to the bow. It has a wonderful design that recalls the aggressive Superhawk models of the past yet with the practicality you get from the centre console. It also has the option of a hardtop and the possibility of a fully enclosed cockpit.

As we say, customers don’t want to compromise so you must have everything on all the boats. We need to deliver the same comfort of a Manhattan 55 on a Superhawk 55, which is why we have an enclosed saloon, galley and two cabins on the lower deck.

How do you view Sunseeker’s position in Asia?

Sunseeker has a terrific footprint in Asia with very knowledgeable distributors on both the sales and service side. NextWave in Hong Kong was the biggest recent addition to the network and their investment in marketing and brand presence, especially with the new office, is really starting to pay dividends.

NextWave Yachting opened a Sunseeker Showcase in Hong Kong in late 2021

That said, we’re always looking to improve where we see opportunity for growth. Presently we see this in parts of Southeast Asia and in China, especially Hainan, as the market continues to develop.

Which models or ranges have the most appeal in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia?

The Manhattan and Yacht ranges are the most popular. Clients in Asia appreciate the large, air-conditioned space on the main deck and the shade under the large hardtops, plus access to the water for swimming and watersports is also very important. The Manhattan 55 and 76 Yacht have proved very popular, as has the Manhattan 68 and now with the Pacific version designed for Asia, we hope to see its sales grow further.

NextWave recently imported a Pacific version of the Manhattan 68

Sunseeker has historically done very well with the larger models, from 80ft to the 131 Yacht. A new 116 Yacht is currently destined for Asia, as is a 100 Yacht that recently began production. We also have leads for the 90 Ocean, which we feel is very well suited to Asia – perhaps the 90 Enclosed even more so.

Sunseeker Manhattan 68 Pacific for viewings in Hong Kong
The first-ever Pacific version of Sunseeker’s Manhattan 68 is available for viewings at Aberdeen Marina Club through NextWave Yachting.

How important has the US market become for Sunseeker since your dealer agreement with OneWater Yacht Group announced in early 2021?

This was another good move as our sales in the US exploded in 2021. Now, about 40-45 per cent of our production is for the US. OneWater is our master dealer for the US and oversees its own network of dealers. It’s listed on the stock exchange and Sunseeker is part of its growth strategy as it seeks to become the No. 1 yacht dealer in the US.

OneWater’s appointment as Sunseeker’s primary dealer in the US has spurred a huge sales growth

Prior to OneWater’s appointment, we had lost a little market share, especially in Florida. With OneWater, we’re getting back our market share and now looking for more. OneWater invested a lot in new facilities especially at the Roscioli Yachting Center purchased last year. Roscioli will soon have a year-round Sunseeker showcase for our yachts, which will make clients feel like they’re in a good family. This facility is essential for the US market as it’s very important for a US-based customer to have a local service department.

Sunseeker International still maintains Sunseeker USA Sales Co Inc, which is our company that imports our yachts into the US.

OneWater has a Sunseeker showcase at Roscioli Yachting Center

Fast forward to mid-2024 and what do you hope to have achieved in five years as Sunseeker CEO?

A company needs stability and sustainable growth, not vertical growth of 15 per cent or more every year. Vertical growth doesn’t allow your processes to be consolidated, because you’re always looking for more space or shipyards, personnel and so on. It becomes a game that doesn’t benefit the customer, who wants quality, service and value for money. In over three decades in the industry, I’ve seen that any huge, sudden growth can initially feel good but later can be a disaster.

Everything must be constantly consolidated, starting with the dealer network. Even before we started to consolidate production or introduce new models, we had to consolidate the dealer base. We need to ensure we’re looking after the dealer in each region and that they’re looking after the clientele and that they all still love the brand. Every part of the puzzle needs to fit, and you can only keep managing all the aspects if your growth is controlled.

Sunseeker’s new 90 Ocean was reviewed in Yacht Style Issue 63

So, my wish is that Sunseeker would have constant but manageable growth, to feed our production line constantly – so it’s not too much at once, yet you don’t lose slots – and to maintain our workforce, our position in the market and our clientele.

Note: The above article is the second and concluding part of a preview in Yacht Style Issue 64; to read part one, see pop-up link below:

Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti: Committed to the vision (Part 1)
After taking over as CEO of Sunseeker in mid-2019, Andrea Frabetti announced a plan to double its number of models to 22 in three years. Then Covid struck. Despite widespread challenges, Sunseeker stuck to its strategy and the portfolio growth remains on schedule as the Poole builder continues a whirlwind series of new product launches. Interview: John Higginson.

Lies Sol: Thailand missing the boat for superyacht charters

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Lies Sol: Thailand missing the boat for superyacht charters

March 1, 2022
3:46 am

In a Column for Yacht Style, Northrop & Johnson’s Lies Sol says Thailand’s waters are now at their most appealing, but unfriendly regulations mean many superyacht owners and charter clients are heading elsewhere.

Lies Sol, Charter Manager, Northrop & Johnson Asia-Pacific

As Charter Manager for Northrop & Johnson Asia-Pacific, I had wanted to present one of our exclusive charter listings to local agents before the start of Phuket’s high season this past winter. Motor yacht Xanadu of London, a 34m Moonen, was about to be relaunched after a multi-million dollar refit, so I planned a simple ‘open house’.

As I’m also a Retail Charter Broker, I realised local charter brokers and agents probably needed a refresher on yachts available in and around Phuket, so while having coffee with industry colleagues, I proposed to host an event at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina. They were all keen to join and before I could say “this is not a boat show”, I had a line-up of 17 yachts including a few for sale.

Billed as a ‘luxury yacht display’, the Phuket Open Boat last November not only proved successful but also provided a much-needed morale boost before the high season.

Phuket Open Boat was held at Yacht Haven

Captains and crew moved into top gear to get yachts charter ready and looking their best. Charter agents caught up with each other and were able to visit many yachts in one go. And new relationships were forged with, among others, luxury hospitality professionals who appreciated the chance to personally inspect yachts for their resorts and villa guests.

NEW CHARTER CLIENTS

Thailand’s charter market has shifted sharply over the past few years. I remember the days when clients eagerly booked boating holidays long in advance. Now, some requests for superyacht charter come in almost too late to be considered.

While a 15-20m yacht can be charter ready within a day or two, a superyacht will need much more than a week to finish or pause any ongoing maintenance work, deep-clean the yacht, and provision and prepare for a charter. Rather than enquiries for charters from 10 days to two weeks, we now receive requests for a one-day trip or overnight cruises for just two to three days.

Xanadu of London is one of Phuket’s premier charter yachts

Also, instead of tourists coming from overseas for a holiday, the clients are generally residing in Thailand or here already for a long-term stay. If it’s their first experience on a yacht, they may not want to commit to a long period on board before they know what luxury yacht charter is all about.

Thailand’s ‘regular tourists’ suffer frequently changing Covid entry requirements and fear the risks of travel, getting stuck in a far-flung destination and new Covid variants. It’s a heady mix for many people, who would rather wait and see what will happen.

LIMITED CHOICE

The island is also experiencing a lack of quality superyachts for charter. Several popular charter yachts previously in Thailand have been sold and shipped elsewhere, and some owners moved their yachts to Europe for easier access.

Marine border closings have made international charters, such as between Phuket and Langkawi, nearly impossible, halting charter activities for many foreign-flagged yachts. The much-heralded 2016 Thai Superyacht Charter Licence, enabling yachts of over 30m to temporarily charter within Thai borders, is not yet operational and sees yachts lingering with pending applications.

Phuket Yacht Haven

Countries like the Maldives and Seychelles have pulled yachts (and tourists) to their shores. It’s much easier to go there, with few requirements beyond showing proof of a negative PCR test on arrival. Easy entry regulations and charter permits for superyachts have swayed many a captain to head for the Maldives and Seychelles rather than Thailand.

LOCAL OWNERSHIP

From a different perspective, there are more Asian yacht owners. According to SuperYacht Times’ State of Yachting 2021 market report, the number of Asian-owned yachts over 40m has grown steadily, from 91 in early 2016 to 109 at the beginning of 2021. Hopefully this is going to trickle down to result in more charter yachts in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

We need more charter yachts in Phuket as there is still a strong demand. People look at alternative recreational activities away from crowds and a yacht provides a private platform for healthy, Covid-safe activities such as swimming, kayaking and exploration of remote destinations. In-between all the water sports, guests can enjoy five-star service, fantastic meals, spa treatments and luxurious lounging in complete privacy on board.

Phuket and its surrounding islands remain a world-class destination, with outstanding marina and leisure facilities, but best of all, beautiful cruising grounds that are now at their best, with even clearer waters and a resurgence in marine life following the drop in mass tourism over the past couple of years.

What we need urgently are more yachting-friendly immigration and customs rules because, in the meantime, superyachts are going elsewhere.

LIES SOL

A Board Member of the Thai Yachting Business Association, Sol has been Retail Charter Broker and Charter Manager for Northrop & Johnson (APAC) since May 2019, having formerly worked for the global brokerage in a different franchise from 2013-2018.
lies.sol@northropandjohnson.com / www.northropandjohnson.com

Charter in Asia 2021: Northrop & Johnson
Northrop & Johnson highlights several superyachts for charter in Asia, from Thailand to Indonesia and the Philippines.

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