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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

Aquila’s flagship 70 Luxury powercat sold to Asia
Simpson Marine has announced the first purchase in Asia of an Aquila 70 Luxury, one of several models by the powercat builder recently sold into the region.

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.

Fernando Alonso sees green light with Sunreef

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Fernando Alonso sees green light with Sunreef

February 13, 2022
5:24 pm

The two-time F1 world champion explains why he chose solar-electric propulsion as he awaits the first unit of the 60 Sunreef Power Eco catamaran.

Fernando Alonso is awaiting delivery of the first unit of the 60 Sunreef Power Eco, having commissioned a customised version last September. The catamaran will offer emission-free, state-of-the-art electric propulsion generated by the shipyard’s composite-integrated photovoltaic system and the industry’s lightest batteries. The two-time Formula One world champion explains why he chose the model and his boating plans.

Why did you choose to commission an all-electric yacht?

The world is moving in this direction. We are more aware and want more sustainability. We have seen important changes over the last years in global mobility, and to me it makes perfect sense to go for an electric catamaran. This type of vessel gives you a closer bond with the seas. The world is going electric and yachts should also follow.

It was a very easy choice. Sunreef is known for high quality and has earned a great reputation over the last two decades. I really wanted to build a catamaran because I wanted to enjoy more space and all the other advantages that multihulls bring. At the same time, my vision was to build a luxury craft of the highest quality. Sunreef matched all my requirements in terms of space, catamaran expertise, lifestyle and luxury. It was a no-brainer for me.

Name three must-haves on your future yacht.

The first would be a barbecue, which is a must for me. I really enjoy long evening barbecue parties with friends and family, so this is essential to me. I would also like to have a good sound system as music will be an important part of the lifestyle on board. Lastly, I will certainly have some water toys on board so we can enjoy both relaxation on the sunpads and sports.

Where will you take your yacht?

I will be probably based in Monaco. I will cruise in the French Riviera, Corsica and Sardinia. Generally speaking, the south of France and Mediterranean will be my cruising area.

What do you expect from a yacht as an owner?

This will be my first yacht, so I don’t have anything specific in mind. I want the yacht to always be ready to go. Sometimes I will go out into the sea spontaneously, so I want to make sure the yacht is reliable. I want a yacht I can trust. I know the technology on this electric yacht is complex, but I can also see the amount of effort Sunreef is putting into this, so I feel very confident. I am looking forward to spending time on board.

What is your vision of a perfect day at sea?

My perfect day at sea would not start too early. It would be a day off, starting with breakfast on board with friends and family. This would be followed by swimming and some water sports. After lunch, we would all relax, talk and enjoy the sun. Dinner would be a barbecue that we would prepare and cook ourselves and enjoy together.

www.sunreef-yachts.com

www.sunreef-yachts-eco.com

Sunreef sells second 100 Power
Polish builder Sunreef Yachts has announced the sale of the second 100 Sunreef Power catamaran, following the launch of hull one late last year.

Della Pearce on Singapore’s ups and downs

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Della Pearce on Singapore’s ups and downs

February 9, 2022
10:08 pm

It has been a stop-start couple of years for yachting in Singapore, with encouraging sales and initiatives offset by frequently changing restrictions on group gatherings that have frustrated cruising and charter activity.

Della Pearce is now Sales Director at Hong Seh Marine; Photo: Hong Seh Marine

It’s about two years since Covid spread around the world to become a global pandemic. In Singapore, regulations have frequently been updated from the initial ‘circuit breaker’ in April and May 2020, when most workplaces closed, and schools moved to home-based learning. Once the circuit breaker was lifted, the restrictions on the number of people you could meet see-sawed from groups of five to eight or down to two – and even back to home confinement again for a month.

In 2021, watching around the world as more countries were opening to visitors, big events restarted and stadiums were full, you couldn’t help but feel a little anxious and frustrated being cooped up in a small country with restrictions changing regularly.

Even in late November, dine-in and social gatherings were limited to two people. At time of writing, it was back up to five, irrespective of whether group members were from the same household or not. All this and almost no international travel from April 2020 to June 2021. Even since then, quarantine and the increased complication of travel have limited overseas trips.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

With sweeping changes to people’s day-to-day lifestyle since early 2020, many started to feel frustrated, unable to travel and having to look more closely at spending all holiday or leisure time in Singapore. With the tourism economy heavily hit by the pandemic, there has been a growing focus on ‘domestic tourism’.

Yachts at Lazarus Island; Photo: Next Tide Consultancy

Interestingly, it has been a lot easier for yacht dealers to reach new boat customers who had previously been busy travelling or had some other prior engagement. During the lockdowns, having no time was no longer an excuse!

Overall, it helped with connecting to boat owners and new leads, sharing new digital assets from shipyards, and allowing more time to go through the buying process.

Dealerships who had stock boats and support from yards were definitely better off. We had stock boats that opened the conversation with many potential leads. These customers would have the opportunity to get a real feel for new boat qualities, resulting in either buying the stock boat or ordering a customised new boat from the yard.

That was typically the goal with stock boats in the past, although most dealerships and shipyards would align their stock boats to arrive in time for a boat show. These were good occasions for showing off a new model, but sometimes the stock boats wouldn’t move if the market had changed.

Hong Seh Marine delivered two Ferretti Yachts 780s in late 2021; Photo: Hong Seh Marine

Now, the dealers who buy stock boats are more actively seeking buyers any time of the year, which has resulted in more new boats hitting the water in Singapore.

BROKERAGE BENEFITS

Singapore has seen a significant increase in brokerage boats exchanged in the past year. At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed everyone wanted to offload boats for any price as there was some fear in the global financial markets, coupled with the uncertainty of the pandemic and how that would affect people’s livelihoods.

The next wave was people relocating or moving away from Singapore. Both situations brought a healthy amount of relatively affordable boats into the market. The main beneficiaries of this were families or couples that saw boat ownership as an escape from the usual activities in Singapore.

Within six to 12 months, boats were being sold as quickly as they were being listed. Anyone looking to buy a boat would almost have to put a deposit ‘there and then’ to hold off another potential buyer.

Hong Seh Marine’s office in ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove

Another significant factor in the brokerage market has been the uptake of Singapore’s local boat driving course (PPCDL), which has encouraged and enabled new boaters to the market.

CHARTER CHOPS AND CHANGES

The emphasis on domestic tourism has spilled over to the yacht charter and boat rental market. Despite an unprecedented situation for charter operators, the market has grown substantially since the beginning of the pandemic.

Despite not being able to have a full number of guests on board, charter operators took the opportunity to provide different experiences aligned with Singapore culture such as ‘Staycation at Sea’, ‘Catch and Cook Fishing’ and ‘Heritage and Culture Ride’, to name a few.

However, restrictions on the number of guests allowed on board were sometimes revised overnight, meaning charter guests had very little option but to reschedule their charter or go ahead with a smaller number of guests. Not only did guests have to put off their charter plans, but there were also occasions when drinking or eating was not allowed on board and masks had to stay on.

WATER SPORTS GROW

Just like before Covid, day trips out to the Southern Islands have been the mainstay of boating activities. Getting away from the hot, humid bustling city of Singapore, you’re greeted by refreshing clear waters, clean air and no crowds, making it an ideal break from city life.

A Ferretti Yachts 720

Fishing is also a popular boating activity. Singapore has diverse marine life, coral reefs and big structures that are home to grouper, trout and snapper. When the currents are fast, there are numerous locations to target pelagics like trevally and queenfish.

Overall, all boating activities have picked up during the pandemic, with regattas full, dive trips happening weekly and wake sports as popular as ever.

Each weekend, you now see a lot more kayaks, paddleboards, jet-skis and boat charters going out than ever before. There has also been a big emphasis on marine life sustainable and conservation, which has shed light on the efforts of Narks (National Parks Board) and other groups making a difference in Singapore.

DELLA PEARCE

Pearce (née Rugdee) started working in the boating industry in 2005 and is Sales Director at Hong Seh Marine, which represents Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Boston Whaler and Schaefer in Singapore. For more details, see Asia’s Yachting Leaders 2022 (click to open):

www.hongsehmarine.com.sg

dellarugdee@hongseh.com.sg

Hong Seh Marine announces record annual sales
Based at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, the dealer’s record 2021 included the first Custom Line sold into Singapore and two Ferretti Yachts models.

The Story Behind Recluta: A resurrection by Germán Frers Jr

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

The Story Behind Recluta: A resurrection by Germán Frers Jr

February 3, 2022
2:52 pm

The Story Behind Recluta traces the tale of a 1901 Camper & Nicholsons build that ran aground in Argentina during World War II and was recently rebuilt by Germán Frers, with the 67ft wooden classic linking three generations of his family, from his father to his daughter Zelmira.
Words: John Higginson

Germán Frers Jr skippers Recluta at the 2021 Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez; his son Mani and daughter Zelmira are on board; Photo: Kurt Arrigo

When Zelmira Frers sailed with her father Germán Frers Jr on the 67ft Recluta at several Mediterranean regattas in Spain and France last autumn, it marked 120 years since the first version of the ketch was launched by Camper & Nicholsons on England’s south coast. Almost 80 years since the original Recluta ran aground during a race in Argentina in 1942, her eventual rebuild in Buenos Aires and return to competitive sailing last year linked three generations of the Frers family across eight decades.

Zelmira has captured the yacht’s story and her family’s connections with it in The Story Behind Recluta, a 200-page book launched during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez where her 80-year-old father was skippering the restored version of a yacht his father first worked on during World War II.

Zelmira was initially unsure about her presence in her father’s boatyard; Photo: Ezequiel Diaz Ortiz

While Germán has since spoken with pride about his daughter’s first book, Zelmira admits that he was initially unsure about her presence in his boatyard as she began capturing the revival of Recluta over a three-year period.

“From the beginning I was certain this book was going to be very atypical. I wanted it to be very atmospheric, to hear sounds, voices, smells, to really communicate all what was happening in that boatyard,” said Zelmira, an architect, creative director and photographer.

Zelmira describes The Story Behind Recluta as an homage to her father; Photo: Ezequiel Diaz Ortiz

“At the beginning, I don’t think my father was comfortable with me going to record and take photographs of all the carpenters and the place. He would rather be discreet. However, I think he is happy now. In a way, this work is an homage to him.”

ENGLAND TO ARGENTINA

Launched in 1901 at the historic Gosport shipyard opposite Portsmouth, the original yacht had multiple owners of varying nationalities before arriving in Argentina in 1940. She was bought by Charlie Badaracco, who asked Germán Frers Sr (1899-1986), an engineer and self-taught yacht designer, to adapt her rigging to a Bermuda style.

Germán Frers Sr (1899-1986) founded his studio in 1925; Photo: Archivo Familia Frers

In 1942, Recluta – Spanish for recruit, as in young soldier – competed in one of Argentina’s historic ocean races, from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata, with newspaper articles playing up expectations of the “big yacht from England”. But just past the halfway mark, a violent storm led to the yacht running aground in the shallow waters off Cape San Antonio.

The crew was able to free Recluta, but while making the manoeuvre, a crewmember fell overboard and as they turned the yacht back to rescue the sailor, she ran aground again. Badaracco salvaged what he could from the stricken yacht and the remains became a tourist attraction.

The original Recluta runs aground in the 1942 race from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata

However, Recluta’s story hadn’t run its course. Determined to hoist her sails once more, Badaracco turned to Frers Sr to recreate the yacht adapted to his own design, using parts rescued from the original to construct what would be the largest yacht ever built in South America. Despite the initial enthusiasm, the build was continually delayed as the ravages of the Second World War led to a shortage of the required materials. Eventually, the project was suspended indefinitely. Recluta had ‘run aground’ once more.

Born on July 4, 1941 – soon after Recluta had arrived in Argentina – Germán Frers Jr followed in his father’s footsteps as a yacht designer. At 16, he created the 10m racing boat Mirage, the first built in Argentina from fibreglass.

Germán Frers Jr followed his father into yacht design; Photo: Archivo Familia Frers

In 1965, he was summoned by Olin Stephens to join the legendary Sparkman & Stephens firm in New York, where he became one of the team’s main architects. In 1970 he returned to Argentina to take over his father’s studio in Buenos Aires, later adding another in Milan, designing for Nautor’s Swan since 1981 and establishing himself as one of the world’s most acclaimed boat designers.

LINKING THE GENERATIONS

After coming across his late father’s drawings and designs for Recluta, it was Germán’s decision to rebuild the yacht that drew Zelmira to the family industry, even if only as an observer.

Germán Frers Jr beside Recluta in 2017; Photo: Zelmira Frers

“My father started working with his father at a very young age. He would go to the studio and listen to his father speak about different projects. My grandfather was a romantic, a very good storyteller and kept the coloured blueprints of Recluta hanging on the wall for many years, saying he wished he could have rebuilt it,” Zelmira says.

“One day my father had a chat with his fellow naval artisans, about his dreams and Argentina’s political condition. I think he saw the Recluta project as a way of giving the carpenters more work, to keep with the tradition, but also a way of getting closer to his father, and later to have a classic yacht to sail on with friends and family.”

Recluta in 2017; Photo: Zelmira Frers

Although the rigging and other elements were initially saved from the original yacht, over time they had been used on other boats and projects, so Germán had to start the project from scratch, buying the wood from Rosario and using Alaskan wood for the masts.

Zelmira says she was interested in documenting the build as soon as it began, visiting the boatyard with her father soon after she had completed a photography workshop in Spain with Hisao Suzuki, who writes the foreword in her book.

Germán Frers Jr with Recluta in 2018; Photo: Zelmira Frers

For three years she recorded and photographed the build, immersing herself in the working routine of her father and his team of craftsmen including the lead craftsman ‘Tito’, now in his mid-80s, as they revived woodworking skills used during the country’s golden era of yacht building.

“I realised what was happening in Argentina with those craftsmen was unique. For them and my father, maybe it was normal, very natural, but for me it was new. I had never seen construction of this kind,” said Zelmira, who has also studied photography under Aldo Bressi and Gaby Messina.

Recluta in 2019: Photo: Zelmira Frers

“I was already convinced of doing something because I found it beautiful, then my father told me what had happened with the original Recluta. There were historical articles, photographs of the wreck, the plans of my grandfather. I had a shock of adrenaline and excitement. I had to tell this story. I was moved by this desire to build something that was transmitted through generations. It was very poetic.”

Zelmira’s early multidisciplinary career reflects the artistic and creative nature of her grandparents, who include poet and writer Elvira Orphée and artist Miguel Ocampo. However, she says the Recluta project allowed her to find out a lot more about her grandfather Germán Frers Sr – whom she never met – as she read everything that he wrote about the boats he designed.

Zelmira discovered her grandfather “was a very good photographer”; Photo: Archivo Familia Frers

“I read my grandfather’s book Viajes, Diseños, Regatas (Travels, Designs, Regattas) and found a wise man with a special sense of humour. He had a particular relation with time, a particular rhythm. I think he was a slow person, but he managed to put time on his side,” she says. “I also discovered he was a very good photographer. It was nice to get to see everyday life scenes from his point of view.”

EXTRA CONNECTIONS

Zelmira also says the project has been a source of inspiration for her sister Mia, an artist. “Through Recluta, she has also found a way to connect with our grandfather and express through drawings and paintings all that has moved her about this story.”

Germán Frers Jr with Recluta in 2021; Photo: Zelmira Frers

While Zelmira admits she was personally drawn to the Recluta story and rebuild, enjoying how it strengthened connections to her family history, she soon realised she was capturing artisanal skills on the wane, boatbuilding skills and craftsmanship that once thrived in her country.

“The book started as a personal motivation, but I realised very soon the story was beyond me. It’s an important documentary for our naval culture, especially in Argentina,” she says. “Recluta is testimony to a thriving period in Argentina, when the marine industry was at its peak, the time of my grandfather. In this book I wanted to immortalise a small part of the beautiful history of Argentina’s nautical development and a few of its silent protagonists.”

Father and daughter on Recluta; Photo: Ezequiel Diaz Ortiz

For the book’s launch in Saint-Tropez, Zelmira was joined by her father, her brother Mani and his son Germán, and her sisters Mia and Victoria. The first edition of The Story Behind Recluta is published in both English and Spanish (A Través del Recluta) and balances photos with words.

Despite focusing on what might be perceived as a niche topic, Zelmira intended for the book to be accessible, not only to sailors but also fans of architecture and design, areas she herself has specialised in for much of her career so far, creating a wide network of friends and associates.

After arriving in Spain from Argentina in August 2021, Recluta sailed in many European regattas

As well as working with the Zen architect Paul Discoe in the USA, Zelmira co-founded the machimbre® studio (2013-2017), designed furniture and objects that exhibited at the Maison&Objet Paris 2016, and worked on branding and art direction for fashion brands.

Now a self-employed architect, she has spent much of the past few years working on The Story Behind Recluta and is delighted that it’s now in print, earning positive feedback from inside and outside sailing circles.

The Story Behind Recluta, by Zelmira Frers

“The launch of the book was long awaited and went very well. It has had a very good reception by both sailing lovers and friends who are not so involved in that world, because above all it is a design object with a very nice story,” she says.

“I’ve also tried to make it accessible, easy to read. I always imagined children reading it, so I tried to ensure it catches people’s attention and is pleasant to read. There are many photographs, but also text and dialogue that build a special atmosphere. I want it to be a very pleasant, easy experience for the reader, while at the same time I wanted to send a deep message.”

To find out more about the book or place an order, visit:
www.thestorybehindrecluta.com

Swan 58 proves “fit for purpose”: Germàn FrersO
It’s very hard to ‘improve’ a Swan design, especially when the last one in line came from the drawing board of the inestimable Germàn Frers. But it is possible. By Guy Nowell.

King of Carbon: Michael Schmidt of YYachts

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

King of Carbon: Michael Schmidt of YYachts

January 25, 2022
4:46 am

An Admiral’s Cup winner and former owner of Hanse Yachts, Michael Schmidt launched YYachts in 2016 to build 70-100ft carbon-fibre sailing yachts that are fast, luxurious and easy to operate, with sales rising for the upcoming flagship Y9.

Michael Schmidt developed YYachts to build carbon yachts

Michael, can you give a brief overview of your yachting life, in building, selling and racing?

I have been involved with boats since I was a little boy. I grew up on the water in Kiel and I went sailing whenever there was time … or not! Later, with the brokerage company Schmidt & Partner, I traded in yachts of all sizes, then with Yachtwerft Wedel I built some of the fastest IOR racers of the 1980s (including Pinta, Düsselboot, Outsider and Container).

In 1985, as skipper of Rubin, I won the Admiral’s Cup for Germany. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, I moved to the former GDR (East Germany), founded a new shipyard in the historic Hanseatic port of Greifswald in 1990 and gradually built it up into a big player. When I left there and virtually retired, the YYachts brand slowly emerged as I was looking for a yacht for myself.

Over a dozen units of the Y7 have been built

What exactly what were you looking for?

I was looking for a light 80-footer with a good design that I could even sail alone. When I didn’t find anything like that on the market, I started with my own concept. The real challenge is to reduce a yacht to the essentials. That way, there are fewer sources of error and only a very small crew is needed.

Our credo at YYachts is ‘the simpler the boat, the purer the sailing experience and the greater the pleasure’. In addition, a yacht must be as light as possible so that it already sets sail when others are still motoring.

Schmidt built Cool Breeze (the first Y8) for himself

Having decided to build your own yacht, why did you choose Lorenzo Argento for the design of Cool Breeze, the first Y8?

Lorenzo, who worked for Brenta Yacht Design at the time, won the design competition. At YYachts, we like to work with Italians. Their understanding of design harmonises perfectly with the demands of us and our customers.

It seems like a major investment to start a new shipyard and brand, so what led to the desire to create the Michael Schmidt Yachtbau facility on the Baltic Sea and the YYachts brand?

I have not only invested in yacht building but in different areas and industries. The construction of the shipyard was necessary because there was demand. And only in a modern shipyard can production be as controlled as is absolutely necessary for such yachts.

Michael Schmidt Yachtbau began operating in late 2016

The entire production facility was built from scratch in record time in 2016 and was ready for production in December of the same year. We are passionate about building light, fast sailing yachts from 20-30m offering maximum comfort. Everyone at the shipyard loves the sea, just like our yacht owners do.

Can you tell us about your facility and production methods?

We build the hulls, decks and rigs exclusively in carbon-fibre and use our specially heated paint shop to finish them to perfection. Each yacht is oven-tempered to permanently bond the many layers of carbon-fibre and resin together, giving the hull strength and solidity.

The specially heated paint shop

The production area is equipped with modern, technologically advanced systems, but at the same time simple and straightforward to live up to YYachts’ ‘keep it simple’ philosophy. We develop concepts that simply work but do not sacrifice comfort or good design.

In the production process, the various components and interior areas of the boats are built in modular processing to optimise production time, efficiency and precision of assembly. This allows YYachts to reduce production times and avoid downtime. Production time is around six months for the Y7, 11 months for the Y8 and no more than 18 months for the Y9, YYachts’ flagship.

What are the advantages of carbon?

Carbon-fibre is the forward-looking material that will revolutionise yachts in the coming decades. It was the preferred construction material in aerospace and was then successfully used in high performance sports such as Formula 1, America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.

The Y7 is YYachts’ best-selling model

Today, YYachts uses this advanced material to produce lightweight yet luxurious carbon yachts that are very easy to sail. In the design and manufacturing of our yachts, the hull, deck, entire structure, bulkheads and rigging are made of carbon-fibre, predominantly epoxy resin. This achieves very high strength and rigidity with a low weight.

Compared to conventional builds, our yachts are up to 50 per cent lighter, which improves sailing performance. Our yachts are optimised for low weight in every detail, so they sail at very good speed even in light winds. This also means transfers under engine can be largely dispensed with, which significantly reduces fuel consumption, an example of our focus on sustainability.

Why is sustainability important to you?

Because the wind is free, sailing is one of the cleanest, most ecological ways to travel and enjoy your holiday. We make concrete efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels on board and minimise our ecological footprint.

The custom-built Tripp 90 uses eco-friendly Lignia wood for its decking

YYachts has introduced many innovations over the years such as replacing teak decks with Lignia wood, a natural wood with a much lower ecological footprint. This wood is an alternative to the classic Burmese teak, which is heavily affected by deforestation.

Other new, innovative developments at YYachts include using sandwich materials made from flax or recycled PET bottles to replace traditional construction materials.

Instead of implementing complex high-voltage propulsion systems, we run the yacht with two engines, each with an additional alternator that charges the large battery banks in less than 10 hours. In addition, we install solar panels on the fixed bimini that provide another 4-8kW of charging power during the day.

Interior of a Y7

Why did you choose Bill Tripp to design the Y7?

Bill Tripp is one of the world’s best designers and naval architects. He’s very experienced and the yachts he has designed have won numerous regattas. His standards are the same as ours. By using carbon-fibre and lightweight material in the luxurious interior of the Y7, we achieve a high sail-carrying capacity and a large keel weight, which results in a fast 70-footer.

Due to the modular construction, the layout can be adapted to the owner’s wishes. The stern garage is installed transversely in the stern, completely watertight, which creates more volume in the interior. The crew has separate access to their cabins in the cockpit. All halyards, sheets and extensions run directly to the steering columns, so the helmsman can always operate the Y7 alone.

The new Y8 offers 20 per cent more volume than the original

What are the main differences in terms of space and features on the Y8 and the upcoming Y9?

We are currently launching a new Y8 with 20 per cent more interior volume than its predecessor. This results in many different layout options. For example, the owner’s suite with a separate saloon can be located either in the bow or in the stern where it has direct access to the cockpit. The galley can be installed open or closed, and three or four cabins can be fitted. (For more details, see link below)

Germany’s YYachts developing new Y8 designed by Spain’s Surge Projects
YYachts by Michael Schmidt Yachtbau is building a new Y8 designed by Palma studio Surge Projects that offers 20 per cent more volume than its predecessor.

With the Y9, we have built a yacht that combines both sailing performance and large interior spaces. The Y9 resembles a 100ft ship in terms of speed, interior space and her long, clean look. The owner has a suite with a private saloon and dressing room. A Y9 can also be highly customised in terms of layout. We already have three Y9s under construction and two more orders (as of December 2021).

Set to launch in 2022, the Y9 is YYachts’ flagship production model

What was the reception to the Y7 and Tripp 90 (Review, Issue 62) at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival, and how do you believe YYachts is positioned to expand including here in Asia?

We had a very good response in Cannes, which is the most important show for YYachts. We have a good position in the market with our philosophy, our construction and our design. We sell all over the world and Asia is a market that can develop even further.

www.yyachts.de

Y focus on carbon: Custom Tripp 90 by YYachts
Specialising in luxury carbon sailing yachts from 70-100ft, Germany’s YYachts has launched its custom-built Tripp 90, which features an exterior by Bill Tripp and a richly detailed interior by Winch Design – and will be followed by the Y9 model in 2022. By John Higginson.

Kudanil Explorer offers adventure in Indonesia

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Kudanil Explorer offers adventure in Indonesia

January 20, 2022
1:48 pm

Kudanil Explorer’s bespoke charters around remote areas of Indonesia have attracted royalty, sports stars, actors and musicians, justifying Remi Epstein’s bold decision to convert a 1978 ocean-going tug into a luxury expedition vessel that’s “built to go anywhere – safely and comfortably”.

Kudanil Explorer in West Papua

What’s nicer than waking up next to waterfall? How about waking up to a waterfall when you’re not expecting to. Remi Epstein recalls this while cruising on Kudanil Explorer, the 50m luxury expedition vessel he owns but usually only stays on for important engagements with customers or agents.

The Frenchman was hosting a major surf operator for a mix of recce and promotion in a remote area of Indonesia, the vast archipelago where the eight-cabin Kudanil Explorer has been chartering through Camper & Nicholsons following an extensive three-year conversion completed in 2018.

Surfing in West Papua

“The surf group were great professionals and shot some amazing footage, but on this occasion, we probably stayed a bit too late. It started to rain and the sea became rough,” recalls Epstein, who lives in Singapore.

“It was dark by the time we reached the unmarked narrow channel that led to the lagoon where we planned to spend the night. However, it was well described in the admiralty pilot book, so we decided it was safe to enter using radar bearings.

“In the morning, when we awoke, we discovered we were near a big waterfall. It almost seemed that the notion of time had disappeared.”

Surfing in Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara; Photo: Armand Perez

Epstein smiles at the memory, adding that they even found a primitive harpoon at the foot of the waterfall. “This is what this ship has been designed for,” he says proudly. “And I think the operator was also impressed. Today he’s one of our major clients.”

FOR THE LOVE OF INDONESIA

For 35 years, Epstein owned a 48ft Dutch-built steel trawler called Morroch 2 and sailed a total of 65,000nm, first in Europe and then in Southeast Asia, where he recalls first travelling through Indonesian waters as far back as 1976.

Kudanil Explorer in Wayag, Raja Ampat

Currently, he owns a 70ft steel motor yacht called Keinvor, which he had built to his specifications in Singapore and typically cruised for three or four months a year (before Covid), sailing extensively in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

He has also used Keinvor to explore potential destinations in Indonesia for Kudanil Explorer, the hardy, 1,000GT ocean-going tug built by the Teraoka Shipyard in Japan and launched in 1978. A ship owner, Epstein provided marine services in offshore oil exploration and production, and bought the 164ft Japanese build from Swire Pacific in 2004.

Remi Epstein, owner of Kudanil Explorer

However, in 2015, he decided to semi-retire and sold all the ships he had except for Kudanil Explorer, as he looked to fulfil his dream of converting her into a luxury charter yacht operating in Indonesia.

“When I bought her, I always thought she could be the ideal platform for a true ‘go-anywhere’ expedition yacht. I always had that project in the back of my mind and finally decided it was time to undertake it,” says Epstein, who had regularly cruised between Singapore and Papua province in the far east of the Indonesian archipelago for two decades.

The 50m charter yacht was originally an ocean-going tug

Designed and built for hard work, not pleasure, Kudanil Explorer was not the most obvious vessel for converting into a luxury charter yacht, yet Epstein’s vision was clear.

Aware he was taking an unusual route into the high-end charter industry, he says his commitment was reinforced when he was able to hire his nephew Thibaud Epstein to lead the charter expeditions.

The 1,000GT 164-footer is equipped to explore remote areas

“Thibaud had been working with me for several years and I knew he could take over. Having a family member in this key position allowed me to take risks I might not have otherwise.”

Other key personnel staying on for the new journey including Captain Wayan, an experienced skipper whose early career included time in the Netherlands with Weissmuller Salvage, one of the world’s biggest salvage companies.

There are multiple outdoor and indoor guest areas, and toys

Having known Wayan since 1992, Epstein hired him in 1998 when he founded his company and has now worked with him for well over two decades. “I have complete trust in his judgment with respect to operating safely.”

CONVERSION EXTRAORDINAIRE

For the technical aspect of the conversion, which involved cutting the superstructure and rebuilding the accommodation, Epstein hired two Asia-based stalwarts he’d previously worked with – British naval architect Simon Jupe and French project manager Bertrand d’Alencon.

Alix Thomsen

For the interior and overall decor, Epstein’s search eventually led him to select young French designer Alix Thomsen, a former fashion designer who moved successfully into interiors, with a portfolio featuring well-known boutique hotels in Paris and the homes of A-List celebrities.

“I asked her to develop a style that fuses a Parisian boutique hotel and an Indonesian home, bearing in mind it was for a ship which had an industrial past,” he says. “She visited me in my home in Brittany to present a preliminary idea. It surprised me, but I thought it was spot on and we went from there.”

Library on the main deck

As is so often the case in yachting, the conversion project proved to be more complex, lengthy and costly than expected. Much of this was because of Epstein’s desire for the yacht to be approved by its original classification society, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Converting a 1978 tug to a commercial expedition yacht complying to 2017 safety regulations required submitting 185 drawings, which were subject to more than 80 comments and clarifications.

The spa is near the saloon on the main deck

Finally, after three years, Kudanil Explorer was finally ready for her new life – and the only ABS classified yacht in Indonesia.

FOUR DECKS, EIGHT CABINS

The conversion was remarkable. The ship’s hardy hull and functional superstructure bely a truly elegant boat onboard, where she offers a remarkable 11,000sqft (1,000sqm) of guest areas.

The large saloon and bar

On the main deck, the saloon includes multiple dining areas and a bar, with the use of wood, bamboo, rattan, plants and flowers providing a stylish tropical vibe. To starboard is the spa, while forward of the saloon is an elegant library lounge and a wine cellar by the stairs.

The upper deck features arguably the yacht’s defining feature – eight almost identical guest cabins, each spanning 330sqft with a sea-facing king-sized bed and a spacious balcony with daybed.

Each of the eight upper-deck guest cabins has a balcony

It’s a unique offering in the archipelago where the yacht is typically chartered by one booking party such as a family or families, an agent or a special expedition group like the surf operator.

“Having a lot of experience of yachting, I had seen that in many yachts, some guests had pretty nice cabins and others much less so,” Epstein says. “I felt it would be better for everyone to enjoy the best possible accommodation and I believe it has been a plus for our guests.”

Al fresco dining on the top deck

The top deck has the key outdoor areas for guests. The covered skylounge restaurant and bar is beautifully designed, with the use of natural materials linking it nicely to the open aft sun deck, which is dressed in sofas, sun loungers, parasols and plants – and will soon feature new furniture as part of an upgrade.

The aft sun deck

Forward, on top of the wheelhouse, is a beautiful, wooden-floored jacuzzi deck, a secluded area with lounging space.

“We generally pride ourselves on space, comfort and unrivalled safety,” Epstein says. “Guests love the mix of the ship’s reassuring sturdiness, the large social areas and the warmth of our crew.”

The jacuzzi deck is the highest guest area

ACTIVITIES AND EXPLORATION

Royal families, NBA basketball players, Indonesian tycoons, Silicon valley entrepreneurs, and famous actors and musicians have been among guests of Kudanil Explorer since she started chartering, typically with a 21-strong crew. Prior to charter activity winding down early last year due to Covid,

Kudanil Explorer had hosted about 40 expeditions, almost all featuring bespoke itineraries reflecting guests’ preferred activities and guidance by the yacht’s management team. Trips are planned in detail, with discussions starting long before the trip does.

Kudanil Explorer is built to explore

“Expeditions have involved surfing trips, diving, flyfishing, fishing, photography and cultural expeditions – or a combination of some or all of these! The real attraction is Indonesia, with its 17,508 islands, which is spectacular for all these activities. It’s the ultimate playground,” Epstein says.

“However, if an opportunity arises and is economically viable, we welcome long-range expeditions in faraway places. The yacht has been built to go anywhere, safely and comfortably, and this is where she really stands out. In the future, we’re considering venturing further, such as Papua New Guinea, to keep off the beaten track and do what she does best: explore new territories.”

Diving is a popular activity

With Thibaud in charge of most charter expeditions, Epstein is only aboard Kudanil Explorer for special occasions and he’s happy to share lasting memories of another recent trip.

Just ahead of the onset of Covid, he squeezed in a cruise with his extended family to relocate Kudanil Explorer from Raja Ampat to Ambon in the Spice Islands, prior to the ship’s annual dry dock in Makassar. The journey provided a fond reminder of just why he chose to risk converting a 40-year-old Safety Standby Vessel into a luxury charter yacht.

Guests enjoy exploring Indonesia

“Many of the family had come from France, others from Thailand and Singapore. It was really unique, cruising at leisure, with amazing diving, exploring and hiking,” he recalls. “We all remember that trip, the time we had together and agree there cannot be a better way to organise a family reunion. Everyone is waiting for the next opportunity.”

http://www.camperandnicholsons.com

Charter in Asia 2021: Camper & Nicholsons
Camper & Nicholsons highlights some of its top superyachts for charter in Asia, as published in Yacht Style’s annual feature in Issue 60.

Martin Lo on the evolution of CL Yachts’ innovative CLX96

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Martin Lo on the evolution of CL Yachts’ innovative CLX96

January 13, 2022
4:31 pm

The Director of CL Yachts reveals the design inspiration behind the brand’s newly launched flagship, CLX96, designed by Jozeph Forakis. Interview: John Higginson.

Martin Lo, Director, CL Yachts

Martin, you showed Yacht Style the CLX96 model during a visit to the shipyard in 2019. Having started working on the project long before that, how did it feel to finally see the brand’s new flagship in the water at the end of 2021?

It was a special moment. It was like giving birth to a baby – after a long gestation period. I’ve been supervising the construction of this boat, from start to finish. When we moved the boat into the paint shop and they started applying the topcoats, I was thinking, ‘this is going to be nice’, especially as the interior built up and I started looking at all the details.

When I walk through the boat and into the various rooms, it feels exactly as I imagined after seeing all the designs, even the windows and the amount of light coming in. Although the boat may look simple, there are a lot of new things happening in there.

The Jozeph Forakis design includes reverse-angle glazing aft (CGI shown)

The interior details are amazing, so I needed to make sure our engineers and workers understood and interpreted all the drawings correctly. I’m quite proud of my team. They’ve executed what the designs intended, if not 100 per cent, then maybe 98 or 99 per cent.

How have you worked with Jozeph Forakis during Covid?

Jozeph used to come over with his team every three or four months, but he has been unable to come to the shipyard during Covid. As such, since Chinese New Year of 2020, we’ve been having weekly online meetings with him and his team in Milan, as well as with Earl Alfaro (naval architect) and Al Horsmon (structural engineer).

Martin Lo and Jozeph Forakis during the build of CLX96; Photo: Lightseed Studio

What are the immediate plans for the yacht?

We’re planning to have the boat in Hong Kong in March, showing the boat to potential customers and to Camper & Nicholsons (appointed as sales agent), and doing some photo shoots and media work. After that, we plan to ship the boat to the US and hope Jozeph will be able to visit it with our Florida office.

When was CLX96 conceived and how did Jozeph become involved?

We started working on it in 2017, which is when we created CL Yachts. The management spent time at the Fort Lauderdale show in late 2016 and looked at our yachts compared to others and realised we had an image problem. We were just getting stale, so we looked at how to revitalise the company within the luxury yacht sector.

Forakis (left) visited regularly pre-Covid; Photo: Lightseed Studio

Before that, I had been in touch with Jozeph, so I asked him to consider working on our new project with a fresh mindset from outside the yachting industry but with reference to the heritage of our shipyard. I basically gave him a clean sheet of paper.

However, I asked him to visit as many boat shows as possible. He did a lot of thorough research and had to imagine several years ahead to ensure the yacht was relevant when it was launched. I gave him some pointers for how long it would take to design, do the mould, build the yacht and release to market. I also gave him a crash course on boatbuilding.

CLX96 prepares to launch in December 2021

How did the designs evolve?

I told him to use his imagination and come up with something unique based on his research. He came out with many concepts. Some of the ideas were way out there, really Starship Enterprise out there! We finally settled on the current design because the robust, functional design has a very strong reference to the history of the parent company.

Our shipyard was one of the pioneers of fibreglass construction and we helped Lloyd’s write the rule books in the 1960s. In the 1970s, we produced the world’s largest fibreglass motorsailer, the 130ft Shango II, to full Lloyd’s classification. In the 1980s I worked with Lloyd’s on the quality-assurance programme for fibreglass construction. We were the first to embrace vacuum-bagging technology. We embraced sandwich construction and so on. We wanted CLX96 to embrace that spirit – innovative, daring, adventurous.

CL Yachts’ new flagship touches water

Why did you bring in Earl Alfaro and Albert Horsmon for naval architecture and structural engineering, respectively?

I’ve known Earl from his days working for Tom Fexas. For CLX96, we had considered using an existing hull to speed things up, but as the design progressed, we realised we needed to design a new hull and Earl is responsible for that.

Reverse-angle windshields on the main and upper decks (CGI shown)

As Jozeph came up with the interior designs and details, it was quite dramatic and he threw away a lot of conventional thinking, so for the composite structure and engineering, we needed a new kind of thinking, which is why we turned to Al Horsmon, who I’ve also known for many years. He’s very open minded and innovative in terms of composite technology, so I asked him if he wanted a challenge and some fun.

All of us, including Jozeph, worked together closely on the best solutions for this boat. We’d bounce ideas off each other, such as Al would suggest using carbon, and each time I’d have to look at weight, construction time, labour and so on to gauge each solution.

The salon offers panoramic views (CGI shown)

Jozeph had all these crazy ideas like an open salon without any pillars. If you look, you can see all the way to the bow with no interruptions. There are no supporting pillars and that’s a challenge, so Earl and Al would have to work out how to make it. It was a very interactive process.

What was the thinking behind the reverse angles on the superstructure, both fore and aft?

Jozeph was challenging the convention. He asked why we always need the superstructure angled forward to support the aft end of the flybridge. Why can’t we do it this way? Then it became another challenge for the structural engineer, but we worked it out. We often asked ourselves, ‘Why not?’

The versatile Piazza del Sole (CGI shown)

What led to the distinctive Piazza del Sole on the foredeck?

Jozeph is a multi-disciplinary industrial designer. He used to be a Design Director at Motorola and created the V70 with the swivel cover, while one of his light designs is in the permanent collection at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York. He’s very open minded and had studied boats, so was predicting what the trend would be in the future, so this multi-functional layout fits with that thinking.

What about the extendable aft platform?

The platform can serve as a dive platform, as a swim platform and as a passarelle when you berth astern. The platform also has the capacity to move the water toys up and down, in and out of the water. On the port side of what we call the beach deck, there’s a hidden davit, so you can also use this.

The beach deck offers a variety of arrangements (CGI shown)

Can you tell us about the skylight in the VIP suite?

Jozeph said he was inspired by an art installation by James Turrell. In CLX96, we call it a virtual skylight and it may be the first time this has been used on a yacht. We have a camera mounted at the top of the mast, facing the sky, and this transfers a signal down to a monitor above the bed in the VP suite. As soon as you turn on the room lights, the virtual skylight turns on.

It changes colour according to the time of the day and the weather, so if it’s a blue sky, the virtual skylight will show blue. If it’s overcast, it will show grey. It’s bringing the sky view outside into the VIP stateroom.

VIP suite with the virtual skylight (CGI shown)

As you say, Jozeph was asked to think ahead with his design and the enclosed skylounge is increasingly popular, with many leading Italian and British luxury yacht builders now including it in yachts around this size. Do you see this growing in popularity?

I think so. With an enclosed pilothouse, you can have just one helm station and it has the best view. You don’t need to duplicate equipment and use up extra space below, so you create more living space on the main deck. If you’re cruising with a captain and you want privacy, he’s up on the flybridge with the protection of the skylounge while owners and guests have the main deck to themselves.

Skylounge on the upper deck (CGI shown)

You’ve always emphasised that CLX96 is a floating vessel taking you on a journey and shouldn’t look like a home on the water. Do you feel you’ve achieved that?

My team and my workers have delivered exactly what Jozeph has designed, so when I enter the master stateroom and the VIP suite, it’s exactly that – a living machine. It’s functional, it’s elegant, it’s clean and comfortable. You don’t have unnecessary details or extensive trims or décor. Everything is down to the core – less is more.

We’re not hiding the structures; we’re celebrating the structures. There are enough details to make it interesting, such as how the lines are joined together and accentuate the hull form. And it’s not cold – it’s a warm, inviting living machine. The interior is not trying to be the star. The owner is the star. The design is supposed to give the owner the feeling that he can spend a lot of time on board without worrying too much about high maintenance. The interior design is like a good supporting cast in a movie.

Recent sea trial for CLX96

What reaction are you expecting when CLX96 is in the US, including its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October?

Honestly, I’m expecting, ‘Wow!’ CLX96 should be the talk of the show when we introduce her at FLIBS. We’ve been at Fort Lauderdale many years and we usually berth next to important competitors with much bigger marketing operations. Those who know us know we prefer to have the quality speak for itself.

But honestly, I think CLX96 merits a lot of attention. She is a more studied, purposeful-looking boat for a reason. I believe CLX96 is far more innovative and advanced, more refined and thought-out in terms of unique style with real substance: what you can see as well as what is not so obvious.

http://www.clyachts.com

Hans Lo on Why CL Yachts is Using a First-Time Yacht Designer
Hans Lo explains how CL Yachts hopes to “shake things up” with the crossover-style CLX96 by first-time yacht designer Jozeph Forakis.

Ione Astondoa: Looking to the future

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Ione Astondoa: Looking to the future

December 17, 2021
7:31 pm

Ione Astondoa, a member of Astondoa’s Management Board, is the fourth generation to work at her family’s historic shipyard but is focused on implementing a modern vision.

Ione Astondoa is Marketing Manager and a Management Board Member at Astondoa

You’ve become the fourth generation of your family to work at Astondoa since it was founded in 1916. How did your role evolve to you joining the Management Board this year?

I started working in the shipyard 3½ years ago and wanted to learn about every department with a view to eventually joining the Management Board. I studied business and did a master’s in digital marketing, so used this knowledge to improve the shipyard’s communication.

Day to day, I head the marketing department, but I also work with the production department, which helps me connect the shipyard’s external and internal sides. I spend a lot of time with my father (Jesus Astondoa, CEO) and with clients, working on contracts, so I’m involved in a bit of everything.

How did you face the initial stages of Covid?

We had to go digital or we didn’t exist. When Covid stopped boat shows and clients from visiting the yard because they couldn’t leave their countries, we sat down and mapped out what we had to do. We changed and upgraded the website and all our social media, and invested a lot more in digital media and physical media.

Astondoa debuted the As5 at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival

We even premiered the new As8 by Zoom. It seemed crazy that dealers couldn’t visit the boat, but we had good feedback. Even now that boat shows are returning in Europe, we’re maintaining our digital focus. Both can co-exist and support each other.

Has it been challenging to be the first woman on Astondoa’s Management Board?

I want to say that as a woman, I don’t have any trouble. I have more challenges because of my age (28) as I’m very young for this position. It can be hard to make the rest of the team, especially the older staff, listen to me. I can push my dad to understand my vision.

If we mix his 40 years of experience with the new vision of young people, it’s a win-win and that’s what I’m trying to make everybody understand. It’s a challenge, but it’s okay when we see the results.

Ione is still in her 20s

As Astondoa has a strong history and reputation, is brand exposure a priority?

For sure, we’ve had to work on communication because we already had the product, the design, the build quality. They’re the result of over 100 years of experience. But the communication must support the product, so we needed to make Astondoa better known for potential clients.

I think we’re doing fine. We have very good dealers around the world, in Europe, the US and Asia, who trust our brand and product. We’re looking to combine it all now.

Spain is such a great place for boating, so why aren’t there more luxury yacht builders?

We used to have more, but many had to close after the financial crisis in 2008. Astondoa also had some bad years, but my father didn’t want to shut the shipyard. There were so few Spanish clients because everybody was broke so he chose to look abroad and focused on the US.

Astondoa’s superyachts include the 110 Century

Before the crisis, most of our clients were Spanish, then after the crisis, most were American. Now, the European market is recovering – the owners of the As5 and As8 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival are Spanish.

Today, we have about 160 staff in the main shipyard in Alicante and facilities in Andalusia and near Madrid, and can produce about 30 boats of different sizes each year. Once you see the facilities, you understand how we can build yachts of this quality.

Your boats range from the 377 Coupe to the 125 Century superyacht, but what are your key models for sales?

The best-selling segment is from 52-83ft, which is our 52 and 66 Flybridge models, and the new As5 (57ft) and As8 (83ft). Many customers will start from 52-66ft and after five or six years go for the As8 or on to the Century superyacht range (100, 110, 125).

Ione believes Astondoa competes with the world’s top luxury yacht builders

Can you tell us more about the As5, which debuted at Cannes?

The As5 has very modern lines like the As8 and the features of a much bigger boat, with the same finishes seen on the 100 Century. It’s very spacious as it has an almost 5m beam, over 16ft, so is much wider than its competitors. The saloon is very large, it has three cabins and three bathrooms, so it’s a very comfortable boat for 57ft.

Which brands does Astondoa compete with?

The most famous ones – Azimut, Ferretti Group, Sanlorenzo. These are the biggest. I really think our product competes with them.

What are sales like in Asia, where the Astondoa 102 For Your Eyes Only charters in Thailand?

There are a few Astondoas in Asia, mostly in Hong Kong where we have a dealer and I know the market is moving again. Asia is complicated, with so many cultures and languages. I know it will take time for some clients in Asia to switch to a Spanish brand, but if we follow the right steps, we’re going to get there.
www.astondoa.com

Yacht Style Issue 62: The Superyacht Issue
Yacht Style Issue 62 features Top 100 Superyachts of Asia-Pacific 2022, seven yacht Reviews, Simpson Marine, Lantau Yacht Club, Ferretti Group’s Stefano de Vivo, Rolex Middle Sea Race, SailGP, Cannes and Monaco shows, Jeanneau Merry Fisher owner Kevin Quek, interviews with HSBC’s Jyrki Rauhio and Cirrus Aircraft’s Zean Nielsen, and lifestyle articles on IL PICCO residences and Art Works Group.

Gordon Hui on yachting’s new opportunities in Asia

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Gordon Hui on yachting’s new opportunities in Asia

December 13, 2021
10:57 pm

As Camper & Nicholsons Senior Sales Broker Gordon Hui reveals in his Column for Issue 62, it’s an exciting time for the Asian market, with plenty of new yacht models coming out of Europe’s shipyards, many destined for local waters.

Yachting in Hong Kong is as popular as ever

I’ve had the opportunity to discover many exciting new products on the market since I started working as Senior Sales Broker at Camper & Nicholsons this year. One thing I’ve really enjoyed is meeting many Asian offices and distributors of European brands to learn about their latest design and technology.

From the Ferretti Group, models that come to mind include the Riva 90’ Argo and 100’ Corsaro, the new Ferretti Yachts 1000, Custom Line’s 106’, 120’, Navetta 30 and Navetta 33, plus the Pershing 140, the brand’s stunning flagship.

I’ve also been introduced to Sanlorenzo yachts including the SX76 and SX88, which provide a revolutionary beach club and explorer styling. These are just some of the fantastic yachts coming out of Italy, while British builder Princess is also particularly popular in Hong Kong. The present market is full of exciting products, the likes of which we’ve never seen before.

Most marinas in Hong Kong are full

In Hong Kong, the main marinas and berthing areas in Aberdeen, Gold Coast and Sai Kung are full. Fortunately, the new Lantau Yacht Club (Marina, issue 62 – click to read) has almost 150 berths for yachts from 10-60m, while Delta Marina (click to read more) is now arranging moorings in the Government Typhoon Shelter at Hei Ling Chau.

At Camper & Nicholsons, we’re helping to sell brokerage yachts in Hong Kong to help owners upgrade to some of these popular new models. For new build superyachts, I’ve focused on several shipyards building custom yachts including Italian and Dutch yards such as Benetti, CRN, Baglietto, Admiral, Dynamiq and Heesen.

Most of these custom yachts are built in aluminium or steel, and many have the latest X-bow, Fast Displacement Hull Form, allowing smooth, efficient travel with reduced pitching in rough seas.

Render of the B.Now 50M, among Benetti’s new models

The hull also allows the option of the latest hybrid diesel-electric generator propulsion system, which enables travel at 10 knots using only generator power, without switching on the main MTU or CAT diesel engines, so reducing the carbon footprint with a 3,000-4,000nm range.

INDONESIA’S POTENTIAL

Owning a superyacht in this region allows owners to plan extensive trips around Southeast Asia rather than just cruising locally. Asia has beautiful cruising areas from well-known hot spots such as Thailand and the Maldives to lesser-known destinations such as Sri Lanka.

Indonesia is one emerging destination I’m very excited about. In the past couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the Indonesian Government to explain the advantages of reducing import tax. Currently it’s 75 per cent, but I would recommend it drops to 20 per cent GST, like the EU’s VAT.

The 65m Lamima charters in Indonesia through Camper & Nicholsons

Although that figure isn’t as low as in Thailand and Singapore (both 7 per cent), it’s a good start to encourage foreign investment in Indonesia and try to follow the example of Thailand, where Phuket quickly became an exciting hub with yachts, marinas, hotels, villas, golf courses and fantastic infrastructure, creating job opportunities and contributing to a booming economy.

I hope to see parts of Indonesia head in the same direction because it has thousands of beautiful islands surrounded by crystal-clear seas and would be another great yachting hub for Southeast Asia.

AROUND CHINA

There’s also plenty happening in Greater China. Last year, China’s government announced the zoning of Hainan as a tax-free port including for luxury yachts. This will encourage buyers from across the country to base their boats in Sanya, which has the warm climate and clear water ideal for a boating hub. I see Hainan becoming the ‘Monaco of China’.

Agile Clearwater Bay Marina in Sanya

Like Phuket, Hainan is established as a popular holiday island full of beautiful hotels and villas. Its tropical location means it holds a similar appeal in China as the Mediterranean does for Northern Europeans. In fact, Hainan is sunny all year round, so it’s an ideal place to have a tax exemption for yachts.

In Hong Kong, many new boat buyers have emerged due to the lockdowns, travel restrictions and limited entertainment in restaurants and bars since Covid began. Yachts became sanctuaries for many families by offering Covid-safe activities like swimming, wakesurfing, wakeboarding and water-skiing in a clean, outdoor environment.

Many leisure sports facilities and clubs were under lockdown, with restrictions limiting golf and tennis, so many of these members also turned to boating. By 2022, hopefully with travel restrictions easing, many more new boat owners will have adopted to their new lifestyle and the yachting market will continue to grow.

GORDON HUI

Based in Hong Kong, Hui joined Camper & Nicholsons as a Senior Sales Broker earlier this year, bringing his huge experience of selling yachts and superyachts in Hong Kong and across Asia. Hui has owned multiple yachts and previously headed Sunseeker Asia from 2003 to 2020, selling over 130 yachts in Hong Kong – including 15 over 100ft – while another 100-plus units were sold across the region through the dealer network.
ghui@camperandnicholsons.com / www.camperandnicholsons.com

Camper & Nicholsons marketing Tecnomar, Admiral in China, Hong Kong
Owned by Hong Kong-based Lai Sun Group, C&N has been appointed to market The Italian Sea Group’s two yacht-building brands in key Asian markets.

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