In a landmark third edition, this year’s Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show – Festa Nautica featured a record number of visitors and yachts, as well as the event’s first mainland China exhibitors.

Words: Andrew Dembina; Photos: Lantau Yacht Club & As Credited

The third Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show – Festa Nautica attracted nearly 1,300 visitors over three days and featured 30 yachts, ranging in length up to 65m and including a handful of regional and Hong Kong premieres.

Opening-day highlights on the Friday included a high-profile opening ceremony that drew a strong crowd of maritime enthusiasts and industry professionals.

David Lee, Peter Lam, Victor Cha, Jackie Tang and Franklin Mak

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony featured the Honourable Dr Peter Lam, GBM, GBS, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board and David Lee, Director & Head of HK Property of CITIC Pacific Properties. HKR International Limited, parent company of Lantau Yacht Club, was represented by Victor Cha (Chairman), Jackie Tang (Managing Director) and Franklin Mak (Executive Vice President of Hospitality).

Lam said: “In the Policy Address last month, the Chief Executive [of Hong Kong] introduced initiatives to develop the yacht economy, including enhancing the amenities for the yacht industry and promoting prime yacht tourism. Festa Nautica 2025 presents valuable opportunities for collaboration and exchange among industry players across the region including the Chinese mainland. This reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a leading yacht hub in Asia.”

Many of the attending industry leaders then networked further at an onsite industry roundtable entitled ‘The Infinite Possibilities of the Yacht Economy: Seminar on Cross-Border Integration and Industry Upgrade’ as well as the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association cocktail event.

The show attracted visitors from across the region, with particular interest from yacht owners and marine lifestyle enthusiasts from the Greater Bay Area, as well as a sizeable party from Taiwan including Yu-Lin Hou, the Chairman of Argo Yacht Group, and about 20 members of Argo Yacht Club.

“The goal of Festa Nautica is to contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s yacht industry and establish an international yacht show for Hong Kong that ranks among the world’s top yacht shows,” said Franklin Mak, speaking on behalf of Lantau Yacht Club, Hong Kong’s only marina awarded 5 Gold Anchor Platinum Marina and Superyacht Ready Marina accreditations by the Marina Industries Association.

In an exclusive interview with Yacht Style, Mak added: “This year is a lot bigger than the previous two shows and we invited more visitors from Zhuhai, Zhongshan [Guangdong province districts] and Hainan. Several came from Zhuhai, where international yachting is opening up. We also continued to add family attractions and plenty of on-land entertainment.”

ON-GROUND OFFERINGS

On-land yachting exhibitors featured equipment companies including Express Marine Electronics and Grandtech International Engineering, which represents Volvo Penta, GoFilter and French Eaux.

“The Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show is a positive addition to the maritime landscape,” said Meme Poon, Grandtech’s General Manager. “In the lifestyle section on the lawn, we displayed our products, and yacht maintenance services and our specialty as the distributor of Volvo Penta. We hope to see enhancements for next year, including the club inviting more marine-related exhibitors to attract serious boat owners and valuable participants.”

Among first-time mainland China exhibitors, Zhuhai Jinwan Yacht Industry Development Association showcased the district’s yacht industry chain and services for international clients, notably optimised entry, maintenance and regulatory procedures for yachts from Hong Kong and Macau.

Outdoor food and drinks stalls were set up on and around the Clubhouse lawn, showcasing signatures from HKRI restaurants in Discovery Bay. Lifestyle stands included Vilebrequin swimwear, whisky tasting and investment, Jacob & Co jewellery and watches, and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan motorcar. The Yacht Style team was active on site and presented magazines at a show stand.

RECORD IN-WATER DISPLAY

Superyachts were out in force this year, including the 215ft Global. The converted expedition megayacht was one of three 100ft-plus brokerage yachts exhibited by Camper & Nicholsons along with the 37m all-aluminium Zeepaard (2003), built by the JFA shipyard in France, and the 32m Mirae (2023), the only MCY 105 Skylounge built by Monte Carlo Yachts.

“Global is the largest yacht in Hong Kong, and we are glad to have three yachts over 30m for sale in the show,” said Carmen Lau, a Senior Advisor at Camper & Nicholsons who represents all three yachts for sale.

Other superyachts displayed by global brokerage houses included the Azimut 78 Tranquility from Burgess and an IAG 100 co-presented by Northrop & Johnson Asia with China-based Zhuhai Jet Tern Marine. Osea Marine Tour showed Osea 1, a refitted 100ft steel yacht.

The core of event exhibitors were Hong Kong-headquartered regional yacht distributors including Absolute Marine, which exhibited 52 Fly and 56 Fly flybridge models by Italian shipyard Absolute.

Thomas Woo, Managing Director of Absolute Marine, said: “This year, I noticed more brands and yachts joined, so it’s exciting to watch the show grow year after year. Visitor numbers and potential clients are up, and I’m pleased our Absolute 52 Fly attracted strong interest from couples and young families thanks to its functional design and refined details. I look forward to an even bigger show next year, with greater visibility among yacht enthusiasts.”

Photo: Absolute Marine

Paul Grange, COO of Marine Italia Asia, added: “The show is growing in popularity each year. It was great to see our Aquila 42 Yacht generate a lot of interest from local families looking for a power catamaran that can match their lifestyle and budget without compromising on the space and quality.”

DCH Marine, the Asia-Pacific representative of Sunseeker, Saxdor and Williams Jet Tenders, staged the Asia-Pacific premiere of the Sunseeker 90 Ocean Enclosed – carrying a Williams SportJet 435 tender – and exhibited a Saxdor 320 GTO.

Photo: DCH Marine

“Quality of engagement has been exceptional,” noted Samantha Chan, Head of Marine at DCH Marine. “We’re seeing deep interest in our new models, particularly the Sunseeker Ocean 90 Enclosed.”

DCH Marine also provided a new Saxdor 400 GTC that supplied a complimentary shuttle service operating between the Discovery Bay Pier and Lantau Yacht Club on the Saturday and Sunday of the show.

Ben Cadman, DCH Marine Brand Manager for Saxdor and Williams Jet Tenders, said: “It’s a unique show in terms of the location. We get a lower foot traffic, but those who make the effort to come here are generally high quality. Potential clients and previous clients of ours can berth here as part of a day on the water.”

Photo: Ferretti Group Asia Pacific

Ferretti Group Asia Pacific had a strong display, comprising a newly arrived Ferretti Yachts’ Infynito 80, a Wally wallywhy200 (89ft) and a Ferretti Yachts 580.

Andrew Pitchford, Ferretti Group Asia Pacific’s Sales Director, said: “We were delighted to support this year’s Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show – Festa Nautica. We look forward to next year’s edition.”

Asia Yachting had a strong display with a Prestige X60 flybridge motoryacht and a Fountaine Pajot MY6 powercat, as well as two brokerage boats, a Four Winns HD240 and an Oceania 45WA. Marine Service Asia (MSA) offered sea trials on the Oceania 45WA for visitors to experience Cox Marine diesel outboard engines.

China Pacific Marine exhibited a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 and Merry Fisher 795 Sport Series 2, as well as a Yanmar EX28C. Other exhibitors included VP Yachts with a Dufour 41 sailing boat and Wah Hing Marine with a Parker 790 Explorer.

Asiamarine had a strong presence, with the well-staffed dealership staging the Asia premiere of the Beneteau Oceanis 37.1, the Hong Kong premiere of the Four Winns TH36 powercat, a Lagoon 51 sailing catamaran and an Axopar 37 Cross Cabin brokerage yacht.

Photo: Asiamarine

“This year we decided to come in heavy, as Asiamarine. We brought in our world-famous sailing brand, Beneteau, which attracted the sailing community; Lagoon as the world-leading catamaran brand; Four Winns from America; and an Axopar 37 XC brokerage unit, especially to appeal to people from Discovery Bay,” explained Eric Noyel, founder and CEO of the dealership, which also represents the Fraser superyacht brokerage house.

“This should be a bigger show with more boat owners visiting from around Hong Kong and beyond. On the superyacht side, I was impressed by the line-up, and we also will participate next year as representatives of Fraser.”

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