Leaders

Fraser’s take on record year

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Fraser’s take on record year

March 23, 2021
3:40 pm

Global brokerage house Fraser looks back on 2020, an extraordinary year for yachting that set new records for superyacht sales.

Raphael Sauleau, CEO, Fraser

In Fraser’s latest contribution to Yacht Style, CEO Raphael Sauleau commented on the remarkable record-setting year of 2020, which not only witnessed a spectacular recovery from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic but produced record sales in various sectors and parts of the world.

“Last year, more people turned to yachting than in any other year since records began,” Sauleau said. “In the recreational pleasure craft market, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recorded US boat sales reaching a 13-year high. This trend was also reflected in the 24m-plus sector, which recorded the most yachts sold and the greatest total value of yachts sold since records began in 2009.”

The number of superyacht sales was up 18.2% on 2019 and 2.9% on 2018 – the sector’s previous best year – and almost 40% higher than the average for the past 12 years, according to data supplied by Fraser. The total value of sales was up 15% on 2019, 1.6% on 2018 and 32.8% on the 12-year average.

“As the data shows, the 24-50m segment showed a strong increase, with many first-time buyers finally committing to enjoying the benefits of ownership last year,” Sauleau continued.

“The global trends were reflected in Fraser’s internal performance. Fraser brokers closed more sales for their clients than the previous best year (2017). In fact, sales in the last two years have seen the company outperform its 12-year average both in total value of yachts sold (up 45%) and the average asking price of yachts sold (up 40%).
www.fraseryachts.com

Phuket-based Sunseeker 86 joins Fraser sales fleet
Fraser Asia is selling the Sunseeker 86 Maxxx, which is lying in Thailand and features a hot tub on the flybridge.

Frank Coles on mariners suffering in a Covid world

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Frank Coles on mariners suffering in a Covid world

March 22, 2021
5:47 pm

Merchant mariners around the world are among Covid’s forgotten victims, as governments fail to deal with a crisis that prevents hundreds of thousands from returning to shore.

Coles on Genco Liberty in Shanghai in his role as CEO of Wallem Group

As people shop and eat each day, I wonder how many will think about how the produce reached the shelves and food arrived on their tables? How many will appreciate the industry behind the world continuing to trade and operate during the torrid period affected by Covid?

How many will appreciate the fact the goods have been delivered by an industry with 400,000 seafarers suffering human rights contraventions and mental health issues?

Since early 2020, ship owners, operators and managers have struggled against a wave of indifference from governments around the world to bring the plight of the maritime industry to their attention.

Of the 1.2 million seafarers in the world, over 400,000 have suffered from not being able to get home when their contracts are over or join a ship when their contracts were supposed to start. In many cases, seafarers have been on board ships for over a year, well out of contract. They are not even allowed to have shore leave when the ship arrives in a port.

They are the hostages of Covid and prisoners of government indifference. Safety at sea is a critical matter and mental health is part of this safety. The extended periods at sea have greatly increased the mental stress on the seafarers. In some cases, there have been suicides and in others, there have been dangerous accidents like the Mauritius oil pollution.

Despite many appeals to the relevant bodies and governments, it has been impossible to get any sort of traction for a uniform response to this crisis. Crew changes have been low on the priority of most governments and they have placed complex rules and restrictions on any ship, the owners, managers and its crew for such purpose.

Some countries have restrictions for certain nationalities; others allow crew changes but have no flights; others will penalise the owners if the ship arrives with an overdue crew but will not allow a crew change. Hypocrisy and irrational stupidity abound, while they enjoy the fruits of the seafarers’ hard labour.

Australia is strict on ships coming to the country with overdue crew, yet it places heavy restrictions on any sort of crew change. Some Australian ports require chartering a plane for crew as they won’t let them travel on commercial flights. Don’t forget, these sailors have been at sea and are generally physically healthier than anyone ashore.

For a long time, India wouldn’t even allow Indian crew to return. China only allows Chinese seafarers to change ship in China, so others are stuck waiting for a port from where they can head home.

Many have called for seafarers to be deemed ‘essential workers’ to enable a passage home. In fact, some countries have designated them essential, but it has made no difference. Borders are closed to the seafarers but not the food, drink and gifts they have delivered to that country.

Not only do merchant mariners find themselves being persecuted for their profession but those choosing to sail around the world as cruisers are also being prevented from free and safe passage. Hundreds of cruisers are also stranded by illogical regulations that do not consider the safety of life at sea or the fact that time at sea is effectively quarantine.

Merchant mariners stuck at sea are enabling others around the world to feast and carry on with their lives, but their own situation remains a case of hypocrisy and human rights abuse by governments far and wide.

FRANK COLES

Frank Coles, CEO of Wallem Group

Based in Hong Kong for the second time in his career, Frank Coles is CEO of Wallem Group and the owner of a Lagoon 46 sailing catamaran (see Owner, Issue 56). Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Coles moved to the UK after school and was a merchant seaman for 12 years before working as a maritime lawyer for Richards Butler in London for five years. From 1995-98, Coles was General Manager of Pacific Basin Shipping in Hong Kong and CEO of Canada-based Rydex, owned by Pacific Basin. In 1999, he moved to Florida to become President and CEO of Globe Wireless, a job he held for 12 years. He was President of Inmarsat Maritime in London (2011-14) and CEO of Transas Marine in Ireland (2015-18) before returning to Hong Kong in 2018 to join Wallem.

Frank Coles: Out of Africa, Back in Hong Kong /a>
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Frank Coles has since lived and worked in Europe, North America and is now in his second stint in Hong Kong, where he’s preparing to live on his new Lagoon 46 Kariwa with his wife Leslie, watched over by an African river god.

Nicolas Lapp on Sunreef’s green vision

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Nicolas Lapp on Sunreef’s green vision

March 9, 2021
2:39 am

In a Column for Issue 57, Nicolas Lapp explains why Sunreef Yachts is developing its own solar panels, batteries and green materials for its new range of Eco catamarans.

Nicolas Lapp, Sunreef Yachts

The yachting industry’s biggest and most important challenge for the years to come should be the development of green technologies. I feel that, all in all, we’re not doing enough to reduce the negative impact boating can have on the environment.

Being at sea has always been part of people’s lives. Whether it’s leisure, exploration, transportation or fishing, humans have always had a special connection with the seas. If we love and need the seas so much, we also owe them more respect.

As boat builders, we feel this sense of responsibility should be a fundamental element of boat design, build and use. Companies should do whatever they can to come up with more sustainable craft. Our response at Sunreef Yachts is the Eco range that we had been developing for quite some time before we outlined it globally in April 2020.

My father and I had long discussions with the team about the solutions we could envision for our Eco yachts. After launching two fantastic electric sail cats, we were ready for another big step forward: redefining solar panels for yachts.

The Sunreef 60 E electric sailing catamaran launched in 2019

Some time ago, my father had the idea to fit a mast with solar panels throughout. As we started working on this somewhat eccentric idea, we realised there was a way to integrate solar panels with composite.

This sparked another idea: solar panels all over the hulls, superstructure and every surface possible. It was a gamble, but today our R&D office has the know-how and integration is under way.

All of this wouldn’t be possible without top-quality cells. We found solar cells that ticked all the boxes for us: they are unbelievably light, flexible and shock resistant.

We now have a system that can maximise solar power generation and, on top of that, is easy to maintain and repair. We also wanted it to look nice as we didn’t want any compromise on aesthetics. If you want sustainability to be ‘cool’, the appeal of the product is vital.

Energy storage is just as important as energy generation. We wanted our Eco boats to be as efficient as possible, so we use custom-engineered batteries.

The 70 Sunreef Eco power catamaran

We considered a lot of factors in the process. Of course, capacity is vital and so is density. You don’t want heavy batteries, as this will impact the performance and autonomy of the boat. We reached a density that made our batteries close to 30 per cent lighter than those typically used in the industry.

Lastly, the lifespan of our batteries was also on the priority list. After 10 years of use they will still have 80 per cent of their original capacity. Durable components are what make your boat sustainable.

The manufacturing process is another crucial matter for bringing more sustainability into the yachting world. We’ve been studying the characteristics of basalt and flax fibre for some time and made some important progress towards building furniture using greener composites.

The process of sourcing flax and basalt is energy efficient and clean, and the physical properties of both are amazing. It’s clear to me that this is the way forward for composite yachts and we are already conducting tests to use flax and basalt for bigger structural elements.

The Sunreef 70 Eco sailing catamaran

While working on the Eco range, we did our best to make every aspect of our boats more environmentally friendly. We knew we wanted something more than catamarans with electric engines.

We also thought the moment was right to reassess the way we think of yacht interiors. Our team of designers did a great job sourcing sustainable décor materials. We realised it only takes a little bit of goodwill and some research to be able to provide our customers with a wide selection of sustainable luxury materials.

There are mineral and plant-based structures that can be used for sinks or bathtubs. We can use compressed recycled paper for our countertops. Tiles can be made of recycled monitors, while curtain fabrics can be made of old t-shirts and plastic bottles. It sounds incredible, but all of this is possible without any compromise on quality.

We are on the right path now. I feel optimistic because I can see that our client base shares the same point of view. Ultimately, it’s the owners who will shape the future of the industry. If the demand is there for sustainable yachts, then we’re bound to see a positive response from builders worldwide.

NICOLAS LAPP

Lapp is R&D Strategy Consultant at Sunreef Yachts, overseeing the green technology created for the Polish builder’s new Eco range of solar-powered luxury catamarans. He has been involved with the company since it was founded in 2002 by his father, Francis, the company’s President, and worked in various departments including design, construction and charter.
www.sunreef-yachts.com
www.sunreef-yachts-eco.com

Asia’s first 80 Sunreef Power
Polish catamaran builder delivers new unit to China.

Sharly and Stephen Chun on their Absolute 58 Fly

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Sharly and Stephen Chun on their Absolute 58 Fly

March 4, 2021
2:27 pm

Sports car lover Stephen Chun and his wife Sharly are hands-on owners of an Absolute 58 Fly, which they keep between Aberdeen and Sai Kung, and take out up to four times a week.

Stephen is an Absolute and Ferrari lover

When you see Stephen Chun at the wheel of his Absolute 58 Fly, you see a man who loves to drive. After all, before he and his wife Sharly owned a boat, Stephen owned a black Ferrari 430 Spider, a car notable for many things including a top speed of 315kmh.

The Italian sports car may have been Stephen’s pride and joy, but after the pair married, Sharly was quick to mention that the sleek speedster wasn’t the most family-friendly vehicle.

“Sharly told me a sports car is only for two people and we have to think about our family. It made sense to have a boat instead of a sports car, so we started looking into it,” says Stephen, who turns to his wife. “Then what happened?”

“We started having our own kids and our friends had started buying yachts, small ones,” says Sharly, not missing a beat. “We realised owning a small yacht doesn’t cost that much, especially if you get a licence and drive it yourself, like we do. You don’t need to hire crew, except maybe part-time to keep it clean.”

Both Stephen and Sharly enjoy driving their Absolute 58 Fly

As their interest firmed up, Stephen started researching yachts online just as he had researched sports cars. But before deciding on a yacht, they needed somewhere to keep it, so were fortunate when a friend offered them a swing mooring in Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter.

“It’s very hard to get a berth in Hong Kong, so we were very lucky our friend was able to rent a mooring to us cheaply,” says Stephen, who works in the garment industry. “This reduced one major cost.”

It also influenced the size of their yacht as the mooring only allowed for up to 50ft. After a lot of research, Stephen found a pre-owned Ferretti Yachts 500 that fit the bill, buying the yacht in 2013.

The pair both obtained a pleasure vessel operator licence, but needed a little time and help to become confident of making their way in and out of the crowded Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter.

Both Sharly and Stephen have powerboat licences

Says Stephen: “We had a part-time boat boy who assisted us for the first month as we were driving the boat. We were a bit nervous at first because the typhoon shelter is so tight, but after a month we got used to it and were confident enough to do it by ourselves after that. We drove the boat ourselves for five years.”

ABSOLUTE CONVERTS

During this time, the pair – who regularly attend the Cannes Yachting Festival – became increasingly aware of Absolute. Many of their friends owned models by the Italian builder, represented by Absolute Marine in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong since 2014.

“I’d seen many Absolute models such as the 45, 50 and 52 Fly because my friends had them. I found them very spacious. The 45 was bigger than our Ferretti 500,” Stephen says. “I started liking the brand and their designs. We found out the boats were very stable, with easy maintenance. Two of our friends had the 58 and we went on their boats many times.”

Stephen says the couple spent time on 58 Fly models owned by friends

Sharly recalls the 58 Fly making a strong impression on them, so they started visualising having their own. Then they began talking details with Thomas Woo of Absolute Marine, which has sold 40 Absolute yachts in the last seven years.

“When we were visiting our friends’ 58, we started looking at the options we wanted for when we moved into our own,” says Sharly, who works in finance. “Thomas gave us a lot of suggestions such as a hard top with an electric sunroof and an extendable sunshade at the back. The price was very reasonable, good value for money.”

The yacht arrived in 2018, just two months after they finally secured a mooring at Aberdeen Boat Club after being on the waiting list for six years. As the 58 Fly was brand-new and a bit bigger than they were used to, they hired a full-time captain and boat boy to drive and maintain the boat.

The couple met in Hong Kong, having both studied abroad

Stephen and Sharly still both drove as often as they could and said an initial challenge was switching from shaft drives to the Volvo Penta IPS system, then in its third generation.

“We weren’t too familiar with IPS, but once you get used to it, it’s easy, especially for the berthing,” Sharly says. “You can choose which side to be when you park because the flybridge helm is on the left and downstairs it’s on the right. Also, the visibility of the lower helm station is really good compared to other boats and I love having a door there because it helps with lines and berthing.”

FAMILY TIME

The family lives in Kowloon Tong, which has good tunnel access to Aberdeen, while in the summer, they sometimes berth the boat at Club Marina Cove for access to Sai Kung. After receiving the 58, they used it regularly, once or twice a week, yet last year they began to use it even more often, up to three or four times a week.

“We go out a lot. From Kowloon Tong, it can sometimes take only 15 minutes to drive to Aberdeen without traffic,” says Stephen. “From Aberdeen, we often cruise to Deep Water Bay or if we’re in Sai Kung, we love going to Tsam Chuk Wan. It’s a different experience in Sai Kung to the South Side.”

Sharly studied in Australia and New Zealand, Stephen studied in the US

Like many in Hong Kong, Stephen and Sharly have enjoyed many more overnight trips since last year and their favourite activities include fishing at night, including for squid in May and June.

The whole family enjoys swimming and playing with their water toys, which include a Sea-Doo jetski, paddleboard, kayaks and an inflatable Fiesta Island, which is ideal for kids – and adults armed with champagne.

“We do a lot of overnights,” says Sharly. “Our kids love it and it’s like going on a vacation. The kids love kayaking and paddling. All of us love the Fiesta – we let the kids go first and have fun, then once they’ve finished, the adults go in and drink our ‘bubbles’.”

Although it’s typically only the four of them who stay on overnight trips, Stephen and Sharly often invite their parents, brothers and sisters for the day and hook up with other boat-owning friends, many of whom have an Absolute.

The pair are regular visitors to the Cannes Yachting Festival

“Sometimes when we take my family and Sharly’s family, we can have 12 or 16 people on board in the day,” Stephen says. “Sometimes, friends join us and we all park together. It’s a fun crowd.”

HONG KONG FRIENDLY

Sharly enjoys hosting family and friends, saying the 58 Fly is ideal for entertaining in Hong Kong, where many enjoy the outdoors but not direct sunlight.

Just the flybridge itself has three separate social areas. Add in the large foredeck, the covered aft cockpit and the swim platform, and there’s plenty of places for cocktails on board, once you’ve had enough of floating in the Fiesta.

Says Sharly: “The extra cover on the flybridge is really useful, especially for me and my friends because there are many places in the shade we can go when it’s happy hour! It’s really good for my female friends, who don’t want too much sun. We have so many areas on the boat we can hang out.”

Sharly says the flybridge offers multiple areas for entertaining

As the couple have become comfortable driving the 58-footer by themselves, they’ve only had a boat boy look after the yacht since last year and don’t employ a captain anymore. Viewing the boat’s design from both the perspective of owners and crew, they highlight the engine-room access from the aft crew cabin as another key feature.

“A lot of other boats this size don’t have this and they need to enter the engine room from a cockpit hatch, which is not ideal if you have guests,” he says.

“Overall, it’s easy for us to take the boat out. Most of the time I drive while Sharly looks after the kids. Our only regret is not ordering the sky anchor (Dynamic Positioning System). When we ordered the boat, we thought a captain would drive the boat most of the time, but now we’re doing it all ourselves.”

As happy as the couple are with the 58 Fly, it doesn’t stop them casting an eye around for another yacht in the future. They’ve already taken a strong fancy to Absolute’s new Navetta 64, which debuted in late 2020. The model has already received over a year’s worth of orders due to many innovations including the option of an interior beach club in the stern that can convert to a waterfront cabin.

The large swim platform is a hub of daytime activity and another area for drinks

“We like the Navetta 64. We love the beach club. It’s the first time we’ve seen this,” Stephen says. “One day, if we upgrade our boat, we’d like to use it in and around Italy before it comes over to Hong Kong. We’ve been to the Cannes show many times and we love this part of Europe.”

After all, Stephen has a track record of upgrading within a brand. He may have given up his 430 Spider to get his first boat, but that didn’t stop him from buying another black Ferrari last summer, this time a 488 Spider, packing over 600hp and a top speed of 325kmh.

It seems like you can take the boy out of the sports car, but you can’t take the sports car out of the boy.
http://www.absoluteyachts.com
Note: The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 57

Absolute Yachts’ Asia appeal
Hong Kong-based distributor for Absolute Yachts, Thomas Woo took a leap of faith seven years ago after his first encounter with the brand’s Fly series.

Angelo Gobbi on Absolute’s spirit of innovation

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Angelo Gobbi on Absolute’s spirit of innovation

February 3, 2021
12:07 pm

Absolute President Angelo Gobbi explains why the Italian builder is inspired by the need to keep improving its boats along with its in-house design and production systems.

Absolute’s Asian dealers include Hong Kong-based Absolute Marine

Every creative process is driven by an inspiration of some sort. For Absolute Yachts’ designers, there exists just one well from which our work springs from – innovation.

The company’s business model requires the entire lifecycle of our products to be controlled by our own hands. This is rather unusual for the pleasure boat industry, where a handful of renowned naval architects dominate the mainstream creation of new yachts.

In Piacenza, an inland city in Italy’s northwest, my colleagues and I walk a different path, where consistency and independence motivate us more than anything else. It has worked, since this approach has rewarded Absolute with two-digit percentage growth throughout the last decade.

Gobbi has been President of Absolute since 2008, having founded Cantieri Nautici Gobbi in the 1960s

Sergio Maggi and myself lead the R&D team, which includes not only skills of genuine Italian style and décor but also deep knowledge of advanced engineering and lean manufacturing processes. Yet the leitmotiv Absolute has expressed since its birth in 2002 is innovation, as shown by recent developments.

At the Boat Builder Awards during METS 2018, our exclusive Integrated Structural System (ISS) won the ‘Innovation in a Production Process’ category. ISS is an effective, efficient method for creating the lightweight, robust, vibration-free, modular, scalable and serviceable structural body of our Navetta and Fly series of yachts.

The trick is as easy as only truly gifted ideas can be. At the early stage of manufacturing, the hull and deck are laminated in their own moulds, while an advanced 3D CNC machine prepares the components for the multiaxial internal grid.

Absolute’s new models included the Generation 2021 version of the 50 Fly

Once the latter is fully assembled and stiffened by structural bonding, it is inserted into the hull, where it is coupled to the stringers with millimetric precision. Then the deck is put on top, again with high-precision coupling with the structural grid, and eventually all these three pieces are sealed to one another.

The result delivers a lightweight body with all the benefits listed previously. Also, the internal grid deploys all the expected features – tongue-and-groove, holes, tracks and more – to host all the components of on-board systems such as pipes, hoses, electric junction boxes, lamps and so on, thus bringing a highly industrialised quality.

Another impressive feature is that hull number one of each new model is fully engineered before laying the first gelcoat surface on the moulds. No kind of improvisation is expected nor needed. Our technical office develops detailed handbooks for all the workshops and manufacturing departments during the early stages of design.

Absolute’s new Navetta 64 features the iconic beach club cabin

This is almost impossible when an outsourced, third-party designer drives the main development. It becomes totally unfeasible when one external consultant moves independently on external skins and layouts, and another on internal systems and arrangements. That’s why Absolute keeps full control of the products’ definition, concept design, engineering and manufacturing, under their own watch.

This also allows the company to have an incomparably short time to market. From the first pencil sketches to hull one hitting the water, Absolute spends no more than 12 months on units, even as large as 73ft. It also enables an impressive number of new products to appear each season, with no less than 28 truly new models hitting the marketplace in the past nine years.

Furthermore, during the next lifecycle of every product – essentially the season after its launch – Absolute has shown itself to be reactive by anticipating the new trends and adapting the existing products to new components, technologies and materials that become available.

The beach club sofa can be converted into a double bed

In one year, no less than 1,000 ‘minor’ improvements were made to existing models, with in-house product management allowing yachts to always reflect the most up-to-date innovations available.

ISS delivers not only the technical qualities mentioned above but also allows daring design choices not viable otherwise, such as awesome master cabins in the bow and full-beam VIP cabins midships, where you’ll find the master cabin on most other vessels.

It also enables large windows and windscreens for the main deck, the largest flybridges for yachts of their size, extensive use of sliding doors for the lower-deck accommodation, full-size square or rectangular king and queen-size beds in every cabin, and many other rare features.

Late last year, we launched the game-changing Navetta 64 featuring an aft beach club that converts into the fourth ensuite stateroom. This year, new models will include the 60 Fly and the 48 Coupé, the first model in our new range featuring solar power. To cut a long story short, for Absolute, innovation really is of the essence.

ANGELO GOBBI

Gobbi has been President of Absolute SpA since 2008, having joined the company two years earlier. He has been working in the marine industry since the early 1960s and was the founder of Cantieri Nautici Gobbi.
www.absoluteyachts.com

Absolute Navetta 64: Marrying rational and romantic
Scheduled to debut in Asia in 2021, Absolute’s new Navetta 64 has the clean, vertical exterior lines that characterise this distinctive range. However, on a design where logic and intelligence rule, a poetic touch shows that even the most rational of us appreciate the romance of life at sea.

Marco Valle: Pole Position

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Marco Valle: Pole Position

January 26, 2021
5:09 pm

After well over two decades with Azimut Yachts, Marco Valle is settling into his new role as CEO of Azimut-Benetti Group, overseeing motor yacht models ranging from 34ft-354ft and a family-owned dynasty that has topped the Global Order Book for 21 straight years.

Marco Valle officially began his new role at Azimut-Benetti CEO on September 1, 2020

After 24 years with Azimut including four years as CEO, how has your role changed now that you’re CEO of both Azimut and Benetti?

When the Vitelli family offered me the position of CEO of the Group, I was both anxious because of the complexity of the role and fascinated by the challenge. And it was the latter emotion that prevailed.

Leading the entire Group is much more than manging two brands. Benetti and Azimut Yachts are completely different entities and must remain so. My task today is to capitalise on the best practices of both, optimising flows and functions so there’s no unnecessary overlapping and the whole company becomes more agile and efficient.

I travel a lot between the two locations, Avigliana and Livorno, to actively participate in their main activities. Paradoxically, the restrictions linked to Covid that discourage international travel are allowing me to divide my work week equally.

Giovanna Vitelli, Vice President of Azimut-Benetti, welcomes Valle as Group CEO

Which parts of the new job have most tested you?

I’ve spent over two decades in Azimut Yachts, so I’m familiar with all the internal mechanisms and most of my senior colleagues. Benetti is a complex reality, with its centuries-old history and production logistics. I am trying to learn the ‘family vocabulary’, which is not to be taken for granted. At the same time, I feel I’ve already established a great relationship with my new colleagues, perhaps because I’m a familiar face.

Did the launches of the Azimut Magellano 25 Metri and Benetti Oasis 40M, soon after you started your new role on September 1, help provide a positive end to a 2020 plagued by Covid?

I think the whole company deserves credit for having had a particularly timely reaction when the pandemic broke out. We were all aware of the need for an immediate change of pace. Each initiative that resulted from this approach is the outcome of a precise strategy. I’m very satisfied with all the initiatives being a great success, which allowed us to close the year more than satisfied.

The Azimut-Benetti Group’s 2020 press conference and gala evening was held in Portofino

In late October, the Group announced an increase in annual turnover in Asia-Pacific including many Azimut Grande deliveries and four Benetti Oasis sales. Why do the Group’s large models hold such a big appeal in this region and how important are dealers such as Marine Italia in

Hong Kong?

I believe our success in Asia-Pacific can be attributed to three main factors. One, we know this market very well because we have been present locally long before our competitors. Two, we’re good at distinguishing the tastes and expectations of the market’s customers, so push those models that will most likely meet their approval. Three, we’ve built an excellent network of dealerships – Marine Italia in particular, but not only them – that oversees the area better than most of the competition.

How much has the Group’s overall business been affected by Covid?

Like all Italian shipyards and many other European ones, we stopped for almost two whole months in March and April 2020. When we got back up and running, it was extraordinary to see how much enthusiasm and passion each staff showed on their return, with the firm intention of doing their part to make up for lost time. And we ended the nautical year in substantial balance with the previous fiscal year.

Azimut closed the sale of an S6 at its first e-Boat Show

How did Azimut’s Virtual Lounge and its e-Boat Show change the way the shipyard communicates with existing and potential owners, as well as dealers?

When we realised many boat shows would be postponed or cancelled, we immediately thought we had to create a virtual experience for our customers, a space we could present our models in detail and an arena for interactive exchanges. That’s how the Virtual Lounge was born. It was then filled with images and videos, leading to a virtual boat show.

The Azimut e-Boat Show event gave interested and potential customers the opportunity to ask questions directly to dealers and sales managers, and we even closed the sale of an S6! As for our dealers, we’ve increased contacts and appointments through virtual meetings and sales-school sessions, and are developing introductions to the new models entirely dedicated to them.

Can you tell us more about Azimut’s use of BCool engineering?

Our collaboration with the company that produces the BCool system had already been in place before the Covid pandemic, yet we were happy to offer customers the option on the Magellano 25 Metri at a

time when they felt its real usefulness.

BCool engineering was first used on Azimut’s new Magellano 25 Metri

This innovative Marine Mechanical Ventilation System (MMVS) is based on a NASA patent and was originally developed for use on aerospace missions to sanitise the air on board. The system imitates and reproduces the process that takes place in nature, exploiting the combined action of the rays produced by a special UV lamp and a catalytic structure, without affecting the yacht’s power and consumption. After the success experienced on the Magellano 25 Metri, we are now evaluating how to extend this offer to other models.

Why did Azimut choose to work with Vincenzo De Cotiis and what has been the reaction to his interiors on the Magellano 25 Metri?

At Azimut-Benetti, we like to continually raise the bar. After about a decade of collaborations with designers from sectors other than ours such as retail, luxury real estate and hotels, we met Vincenzo, who is an architect, a designer and a prominent exponent of collectible art.

Vincenzo De Cotiis made his yacht-design debut on the Magellano 25 Metri

We were fascinated by his artistic use of fibreglass, the basic material for the development of yachts up to a certain size. Vincenzo put extraordinary passion and great enthusiasm into the project, despite it being his debut in the nautical world.

We worked with four hands, combining his poetic creativity and our constructive know-how, but at no time did Vincenzo forget that the result had to be a yacht, not a house, and he respected all the essential needs of on-board life. I guess this is why clients love the yacht and Vincenzo is already working on the bigger sister, the 30 Metri.

Is the Magellano range now more relevant because of the current desire for greater volume and economy?

The Magellano 25 Metri is selling well and we also proposed a ‘Timeless’ version customised by the Azimut style office to respond to US clients’ tastes. I believe that, like the whole Magellano line, this model meets the needs of those who love long cruises.

Magellano is a very seaworthy line. It has large spaces and immense windows. Usually, where there’s technology there’s little aesthetic appeal, but on this yacht, you are surrounded by beauty. The Magellano line is as silent and reliable as craft intended for long voyages should be.

The aft cockpit on the Magellano 25 Metri

The model features a great cockpit design that offers an infinity view when the aft panel is lowered. Will we see this on other models?

According to many customers, the cockpit is becoming increasingly important. I’d say there’s a great demand for a subdivision of spaces that blend external and internal areas, a request that arises from a less formal way of living on board. If the cockpit is well designed and finished, it becomes a natural extension of the main saloon, only closer to the waterline. So, for sure, we will see this on the next Magellano and other Collections of both brands.

How is the Azimut Grande Trideck progressing?

The Trideck will be launched in spring, hopefully during our annual Yachting Gala if it’s possible to stage it. It’s the largest boat ever built by Azimut Yachts, at 38.2m in length and with a 7.9m beam. It’s also the brand’s first three-deck yacht and a symbol of the shipyard’s capacity for design, stylistic and construction innovation. It has a highly innovative layout, designed for a contemporary owner who seeks constant contact with the outside environment and thinks of their boat as a place of conviviality. Informality, dynamism and flexibility of spaces are the fundamental concepts of this yacht.

Azimut completing Grande Trideck
The Italian builder is busy finishing the 38.2m Grande Trideck, its biggest-ever yacht, for delivery in early 2021.

What can you tell us about the new Azimut 53 Fly?

The 53 Fly is the new entry model of the Flybridge Collection, so part of a market segment in which Azimut Yachts is a leader. It’s a yacht of almost 17m that entails stylistic content and a layout typical of much larger boats. It offers large volumes while maintaining a sporty appearance and slender lines, with the characteristic Azimut style immediately recognisable.

Alberto Mancini has managed to create a yacht that is aesthetically very refined yet defined by functional, comfortable environments that allow the owner to live on board without needing crew. Maximum functionality is combined with refined aesthetics down to the smallest detail.

The upcoming Azimut 53 Flybridge

Which Collection is the most important for Azimut in terms of annual turnover?

The success of the brand is guaranteed by the good balance in terms of sales of all Collections. Indeed, one of the distinctive points of the Azimut-Benetti Group and the reason for its success is the breadth and completeness of its range, which starts from 34ft and goes up to 100m and beyond.

With three 100m-plus ‘gigayachts’ built by Benetti, how has the perception of the shipyard changed and are there more megayachts or gigayachts to come?

The ‘gigayachts season’ – as we’ve defined this extraordinary adventure – represents a milestone in the history of Benetti and an achievement that no one would have imagined possible for the Group even five years ago. Building three gigayachts over 100m in parallel and launching them in the space of just 100 days sounds like an epic tale, made possible only by audacity and supreme determination.

With a volume of 5,844GT, Luminosity is the biggest of three 100m-plus gigayachts built by Benetti

It rightfully brings Benetti into the Olympus of the international builders of gigayachts. The creation of these three giants required putting together a brilliant team of experts, a massive investment in terms of advanced industrial processes, and constant attempts to progress.

Numbers don’t lie. The FB272 Luminosity, which has a volume well above 5,500GT, required over 2 million working hours with spikes of more than 400 workers per day and the cooperation of more than 150 specialised international companies. Having acquired this know-how, we are now committed to repeating the experience and we already have something down the road.

Why do you think the new Oasis 40M has proved so popular?

The Benetti Oasis is in line with the changing tastes of customers, who are beginning to value peace and relaxation over formal opulence. In my experience over the last couple of decades, tastes have always changed, but I think we’re now looking at a bigger shift in what people want. They still want something unique but at the same time they want something more relaxed.

Four of the first 12 sales of Benetti’s new Oasis 40M are to Asia-Pacific

The owner and guests can have much easier access to the water, while services on board are much less formal, as are their lives. I think the Oasis platform jumps onto that at just the right time, evidenced by the number of units already sold. However, the yacht is more than a trendy floating beach club. The Oasis is also great for cruising between ports. It has a cruising speed of 14.5 knots, with a top speed of 15 knots, and a range of 4,000nm at 11 knots.

Which Benetti models are most suitable for Asia?

Benetti is a brand characterised by a great heritage that has always fascinated yacht owners from all over the world. Clients in Asia are no different, although large and custom models are the most popular in the region. In fact, we recently sold a 65m Custom yacht, FB270, which will be the first Benetti built under China Classification Society and Lloyd’s Registry rules. Yet I see Oasis holding a strong appeal, especially for young owners with an idea of life on board being closer to the Mediterranean lifestyle.

On the Oasis 40M, the sides drop to expand an already enormous beach club

What and who is the upcoming B.Yond series most suitable for?

The B.Yond is a new generation of expedition yacht. The project aims to offer an unprecedented level of rationalisation of onboard volumes due to the strict separation of the functions of each deck – lower deck for the crew, main deck for the owner and his guests, upper deck dedicated to the living area. It boasts volume like a 500GT yacht in only 37m and offers an open design for better views and closer contact with the sea. Yet I think its main feature is the use of new hybrid propulsion expressly created by Siemens for our Group. This meets the expectations of owners who love to live on board in full privacy and are particularly attentive to the issues of sustainability and energy saving.

Which designs or technologies are increasingly important to yacht owners?

Some common traits have emerged in recent years. There’s increased interest in proximity to the sea and making the area close to the water into a real beach club with seats, sofas and so on. Also, there’s a desire for greater connection between interiors and exteriors, using large windows and opening doors, and removing visual obstacles to create a flow. There’s also increasing attention to consumption and sea pollution.

The 108m Luminosity is the world’s largest hybrid yacht

We are the proud builders of Luminosity, the world’s largest hybrid private yacht, and the exclusive users of the best system developed so far in the nautical sector, created by Siemens. There’s growing interest in gyms and areas intended for yoga, even in prominent areas of the boat. Finally, luxury is now expressed more as attention to details than ostentation or overabundant aesthetics.

Finally, how do you expect 2021 to be different to 2020?

The Group already has a very promising order backlog and will also launch nine new products in the next 12 months. We have done our part, but if causes of force majeure intervene – changing not only the scenario of the nautical market but everyone’s future – we will have to deal with it. We can only do our best not to be caught unprepared.
www.azimutyachts.com
www.benettiyachts.it

Azimut finalising 53 Flybridge
The upcoming Azimut 53 features an Alberto Mancini exterior, a roomy flybridge, three guest cabins and a top speed of 31 knots with Volvo’s IPS propulsion.

Life Lessons: Paul Grange on yacht sales

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Life Lessons: Paul Grange on yacht sales

January 19, 2021
11:02 pm

Co-founder and Director of Azimut dealer Marine Italia, Paul Grange has spent almost three decades in yacht sales. In a Column for Yacht Style Issue 57, the Brit offers insights into the sales process, differences between European and Asian boating cultures, the benefits of technology for buyers and sellers, and why it’s sometimes worth setting two alarms …

Paul Grange (centre), Thomas Woo (middle row, third left) and Marine Italia colleagues at Marina Cove

I’ve been around boats since growing up on England’s south coast in Poole, a hugely popular boating area that has one of the world’s largest natural harbours and is the home of Sunseeker. When I was 18, my friends and I bought an old 16ft ski boat and during our first summer with it we proceeded to run aground on every sandbank in Poole Harbour!

The following year I went out on my first Sunseeker, a Tomahawk 37, which was being tested by my friend Sean Robertson (Sunseeker’s current Sales Director who has been with the company since 1986). At the same time, my father bought himself a 29ft sailing boat, so my passion for boating just grew.

In 1990, I was a young assistant manager selling unexciting building materials when my boss urged me to develop a career in something that interested me. I took his advice and followed up on a university course I saw advertised in a boating magazine. Eight weeks later, I’d left my job and was at Southampton University studying the water-based leisure industry and have been in the yachting world ever since.

I was initially focused on working in marinas, but knowing I wanted to be my own boss, I realised owning a boat sales business was more likely than owning a marina!

After a work placement in Salterns Marina, I started as a yacht broker in Poole in 1992, working for Tony Pauffley. Tony is the most upstanding yacht broker you could meet and taught me the importance of accurate information, attention to detail, honest advice and paperwork. In three years, Tony and I sold over 200 boats from Cobbs Quay Marina, and I learnt something new from every single negotiation, contract, survey and handover.

Woo and Grange at the 2019 Christofle Yacht Style Awards in Phuket after the Azimut Grande 25 Metri won Best Motor Yacht in Asia (25-30m)

As such, I already had great sales experience by the time I joined Sunseeker Sales UK in 1995. Harry Dodd, my boss, taught me a lot including the importance of setting two alarms when your boss is flying you in his private plane to meet a client to sign a new boat order. I was still asleep when he took off without me!

This incident was made worse because Harry didn’t know the details of the deal, the client or even where to meet – just which airport to fly to. Very sheepishly, I later did my part over the phone and the client purchased the boat as planned. However, as I wasn’t there to complete the sale in person, Harry kept that sale for himself, so that ‘lie-in’ turned out to be an expensive lesson.

In 1999, I fulfilled my initial career goal and opened my own brokerage, Grange International, a company that I eventually sold after I moved to Hong Kong in 2012 to join Simpson Marine.

BRIDGING EUROPE AND ASIA

Harry was the one who taught me to “ask for the order”. It sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed how often a salesperson doesn’t actually ask the client if they’d like to order the boat. Having managed international, multi-office sales teams in Europe and Asia, it’s an approach I’ve employed many times,

but in Asia, it can sometimes be difficult to convince local sales teams of this.

At the Shenzhen International Boat Show in 2014, I was helping one of our newer Chinese sales staff with a client interested in a new Azimut. The client was asking detailed questions about the purchase process, payment, handover and if we could fit additional equipment to the boat. To me, it was clear the client wanted to buy the boat, so I advised the salesman to ask: “If I can agree to the terms you’ve requested, will you sign a contract and pay a deposit for the boat today?”

The salesman point blank refused to say it, explaining it was rude in Chinese culture to be so direct with a client. I explained we were just trying to help the client buy the boat. I then told the salesman that if he didn’t ask, I would. Reluctantly, he asked the client. After a brief pause, the client said yes and signed the contract on the spot. The salesman was absolutely stunned.

Grange at the 2019 World Yachts Trophies in Cannes with Enrico Chiaussa of Azimut Yachts and Crystal Qian of Marine Italia

While in Asia, I’ve tried to be mindful of the cultural differences and one of the most interesting aspects of moving here was having to re-learn many aspects of how to do my job effectively in a completely new arena.

If I were to generalise differences in boating cultures, I’d say European clients are often more concerned with the technical operation and useability as many operate the boats themselves, with captains much less common on boats under 80ft.

In Asia, they might be more focused on how suitable and flexible the configuration might be for family use one day then corporate entertainment the next, rather than the technical details.

In addition, it’s more common in Europe to enjoy weekend and longer holidays aboard. In Hong Kong, even if owners do stay overnight, it’s not often for extended periods, so there’s often less importance placed on cabins, for example.

REPUTATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

In the Asian markets I’ve operated in, reputation is hugely important and normally well earned, whether good or bad. Even between mainland China, Hong Kong and Singapore, clients often have common connections, so having a professional reputation and simply keeping your word are crucial to ongoing success.

The level of attention and responsiveness are also especially important to local clients. They’re usually busy business owners and boating is often a small part of their lives, so they want and expect prompt, knowledgeable and efficient service (but then I guess we all do!).

Celebrating Azimut Yachts’ 50th anniversary in Shenzhen

After nearly three decades as a salesman, manager, company director and company owner, I can honestly say the level of attention and customer service that my business partner Thomas Woo provides to our clients is second to none. Thomas and I joined forces in 2015 to form Marine Italia and knew from our previous joint Azimut projects that we worked very well together and that our different styles complemented each other.

My style is very client focused and detailed, but Thomas is another level and he also has extensive technical knowledge. He builds fantastic relationships and client loyalty, which I’ve learnt can often make the difference in a close-knit, competitive market like Hong Kong.

Having such confidence in your business partner is a luxury that enables me to focus more on other aspects of the business. These include our relationship with Azimut, which is important for both parties as we are their largest dealer in Asia and among their most successful worldwide.

I’ve managed manufacturer-dealer relationships with leading brands such as Sunseeker and Azimut since 1995 and it’s one of my strengths. As Azimut dealers, we sometimes need their support and sometimes they need extra help from us. Understanding that it’s a two-way street is key to getting the best out of the relationship, which translates to better business for both parties.

If I had to highlight one element that determines success in this industry, it would be relationships. As the yachting industry is relatively small, relationships are more relevant than in much larger industries and strong connections can help you ride the waves.

AFTER-SALES AND DIGITALISATION

In terms of winning new business and retaining clients, I also can’t overstate the importance of after-sales support. In Hong Kong, we operate our own full-service shipyard company, Marinetec, so we can control the level and speed of our service.

In my opinion, second only to the actual choice of boat, after-sales service has the biggest impact – both positively and negatively – on a client’s ownership enjoyment. It can lead to repeat custom and good or bad referrals, all of which are crucial.

Woo and Grange are presented with Azimut’s Best After Sales Support (EMEA-APAC) by Marco Valle, now Azimut-Benetti CEO

For me, the overall sales and purchase process hasn’t changed that much since I started selling boats in 1992. I still show clients boats and brochures, discuss their requirements and help them choose the right boat for their needs.

However, the boats have got bigger and communication is now more digital. In fact, with the quality of 360-degree photography and walk-through videos, modern technology has made it very possible for dealers to sell a boat without the client seeing it in person.

The super-realistic quality of digital renderings of pre-production models make it easier for clients to understand and appreciate new models before they’re built, giving them the confidence to order without waiting. We use these technologies to assist our clients whenever possible.

Recently, in times of travel restrictions, Azimut’s online lounge and digital boat shows have proved effective resources for both clients and us. In the last three months of 2020, we sold new models in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Singapore exclusively by using digital marketing tools.

You have to learn to adapt. When the protests affected Hong Kong in 2019, we saw a drop in sales as the local business community waited to see what was going to happen. Then when Covid started, I feared the combined effect of this and the protests would impact the yachting industry to the same extent the financial crisis had on the US and European markets in 2008.

I was working in Europe when the financial crisis hit and couldn’t believe how quickly and extensively new boat sales were affected. I learnt then that in difficult times, boats are the first thing that people stop buying and the last thing they start buying again when times improve, as they are a luxury.

Fortunately, my worst fears were allayed and by March and April travel restrictions created a huge surge in demand for boats in Hong Kong. Ultimately, 2020 proved to be one of our most successful years and 2021 looks equally exciting, so it shows that no matter how much experience you have, you never stop learning.

PAUL GRANGE

With business partner Thomas Woo, Grange is a Director and cofounder of Marine Italia Ltd, Asia’s leading Azimut Yachts dealer, covering Hong Kong, Macau, southern China, Taiwan and Singapore. Grange and Woo also represent Absolute Yachts and Four Winns, and operate their own independent shipyard, Marinetec Ltd, in Hong Kong. Grange was formerly Head of Azimut Yachts for Simpson Marine (2012-2015), having started his boat sales career in the UK in 1992.
www.azimutyachts.hk paul@marineitalia.asia

Tommy Ho: HK shows yachting’s bright future

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Tommy Ho: Hong Kong shows yachting’s bright future

January 14, 2021
12:09 pm

In a Column for Yacht Style Issue 57, Tommy Ho says Hong Kong proves boating can be one of the great escapes from Covid, as more people spend time with friends and family on the water.

Tommy Ho is the founder and CEO of Voyager Risk Solutions

When Covid-19 started to spread around the world, I’ll admit that it didn’t look good for anyone. We had no idea how long it would continue. It has proved challenging for almost all industries across the globe, including yacht insurance due to the huge losses in the markets in the previous years.

And in all honesty, outside of Hong Kong, Asian yachting markets have recently been slow, sometimes due to the restrictions on boating in some countries and sometimes because of the unavailability of yachts or inability for yachts to be shipped to these markets. However, for many living in Hong Kong, yachting proved an escape, a way out of the stress and fear, a way out of the crowds and the urban environment.

Yacht sales in the city increased – a lot – which was unexpected for many, although not us. As people were unable to travel, they needed to find alternatives for their weekends and holidays. Furthermore, some owners started using their boat as a floating office. A yacht was an ideal escape, as it’s a private environment not bound by the virus-fighting regulations imposed by the Government.

As Covid unfolded, we foresaw that the sales of mid-size yachts would increase due to the travel restrictions locally and around the globe. Yacht dealers also became aware of this situation so many of them imported mid-size stock boats (up to about 100ft) around the second quarter of last year, which ensured that the increased demand was converted into sales.

Existing owners used their yachts more often than ever before and for longer periods. Some clients even mentioned they weren’t aware Hong Kong had so many beautiful islands as they explored more of the waters around our city.

There was a knock-on effect. As existing owners used their boats more around Hong Kong, more potential owners were exposed to the fun of having a yacht. As such, I met a lot of new boat owners during this time and assisted them with purchases and the buying process. Often, they decided very quickly, whether it was for a new or brokerage yacht. And inevitably, there were a lot of first-time owners seeking insurance.

Two Riva 110’ Dolcevita motor yachts were among new arrivals in Hong Kong last year

Sometimes when I was out at weekends, the sea was so packed with yachts and people water-skiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and jet-skiing that it felt more like we were in the busiest parts of Nathan Road!

We frequently focus on arranging insurance for larger yachts, with owners employing full-time captains and crew to operate and look after their boats. Yet because water-skiing and other water toys became so popular, this encouraged an increase in the sales of speedboats and towboats.

Due to the overall increase in demand for boats of all sizes, we noticed many more owners taking powerboat licence courses, which not only allows them to drive their own boat but also take out their speedboat for a ride or take their family and friends water-skiing and so on.

If we look at one of the positives of the pandemic, it has encouraged people to get outdoors and this has been positive for the whole leisure marine industry. Everything on the water is outside, generally in a clean-air environment, with people spread out across large areas. If you wish, you can choose to sail to areas where you won’t see anyone else.

Most water sports are a lot of fun and the entry fee is relatively low. Considering a new car can easily cost about HK$1-2 million (about US$130,000-260,000), a decent speedboat is about this price. However, with a speedboat, families and friends – not just a couple – can enjoy spending time together. It encourages fun and activity in natural surroundings. Also, due to its size, it’s easier to find mooring or storage space compared to larger yachts.

I think that we will have to live with Covid for at least the coming year in one form or another. And I believe the yachting market can keep growing in Hong Kong – and hopefully revive in other parts of Asia – as people seek to buy a boat in the knowledge that they might not be able to travel elsewhere as easily or as frequently as they used to.

TOMMY HO

With two decades in yacht insurance, Tommy Ho is CEO of Voyager Risk Solutions, which he founded in 2018. A Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club member for over 25 years, Ho is a long-time boat owner, a consultant of the Hong Kong Cruise and Yacht Industry Association, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Ocean Economy Chamber of Commerce.
www.voyfg.com cs@voyfg.com

Fairline COO on a remarkable year

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Fairline COO on a remarkable year

December 31, 2020
3:33 am

Fairline COO Peter McNulty on a remarkable year McNulty says exciting yacht designs, new interactive online platforms and fresh investment keep driving the company forward.

Peter McNulty was appointed COO of Fairline Yachts in September 2019, having been a long-time senior advisor to the Management Board

How was the reception for the F//Line 33 at Salon Privé, promoted as the UK’s most exclusive Concours d’Elegance?

The F//Line 33 was very well received. It proved a real draw for visitors who wanted to find out more about the boat and Fairline, as well as those who were attracted due to her sheer size and impressive appearance. This was the third year we exhibited at the event, but the first time we’ve presented one of our yachts and it was a resounding success.

The F//Line was the perfect boat to introduce to a high-net-worth, non-yachting audience, thanks to her stunning good looks and manageable size. And compared to the multi-million-pound cars on display, she offers great value for money, too!

The F//Line 33 was the first boat Fairline has displayed at the car-focused Salon Privé

We’re impressed with the new online configurator for the F//Line 33 (www.f-line.com). What drove this interactive website?

Thank you! We were inspired by the market-leading Tesla and Ducati online configurators and we wanted to offer the first boating equivalent. We have built an interactive tool that hands control of designing the perfect boat over to our customers.

With the fast-growing ecommerce market forecast to hit US$6.5 trillion by 2023, it’s important that our digital portfolio meets the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s boat owners. Ordering a new car online is now commonplace and over the last half a year or so, we’ve seen a sharp increase in online customer interactions at Fairline, selling new boats from our online video tours and this new configurator.

Customised videos have been added to Fairline F//Line configurator

F//Line is a natural fit in the digital space because of its fun, stylish and modern aesthetic. As our product offering and customer base expands, so will our configurator and virtual marina offerings.

The feedback from both our dealer network and their customers has been really positive. They appreciate that it’s another tool for them to understand more about the F//Line and how they can specify and design their own boat. It’s a simple yet incredibly innovative, powerful tool for customers to take control of the often-complicated specification process.

What are the standout features on F//Line 33’s outboard version, which debuted at Boot Dusseldorf in January?

The outboard version is one of our latest launches with Mercury Verado 300, 350 or 400 engines, some of the smoothest, quietest engines available. The boat incorporates the highly innovative Ascender bathing platform from H+B Technic.

The F//Line 33 (white) and the outboard version (blue) at Boot Dusseldorf 2020

The high/low platform surrounds the outboard engines, lowers to form steps to the water when submerged or elevates, allowing the engine propellers to be raised clear of the water, reducing maintenance bills.

Can you tell us about any future F//Line models and any potential new features?

I can confirm there will be future F//Line models. The drawing board currently includes both smaller and larger models, as well as a further development to the current 33. We are seeing great potential for this sporty line within the wider Fairline portfolio.

What are your thoughts on Asia, where Fairline expanded Simpson Marine’s remit from Hong Kong and the Philippines to include more Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan?

Expanding the Simpson Marine territory has given us a significant advantage. From a customer point of view, Simpson Marine has the depth of experience and detailed knowledge of our models to genuinely match the right product to the customers’ exact boating requirements.

Simpson Marine recently sold a Squadron 50 in Hong Kong

With its after-sales coverage throughout the region, owners are looked after quickly, efficiently and very professionally. We’re certainly pleased with this partnership and delighted that Simpson Marine has chosen to play a major part of our growth across Asia.

How has Fairline changed its marketing and customer interaction following the cancellation of so many boat shows this year?

We’ve been supporting our global network of dealers to host private events in their own territories, offering Covid-secure, invitation-only events, tours and one-to-one virtual meetings with clients. Additionally, this change in customer interaction prompted us to create new ways of engaging, such as through the F//Line configurator and our Virtual Marina website.

While our customer interactions have changed, we continue to ensure we’re offering a first-class service to meet the specific needs and demands of our customers around the world.

Fairline models were exhibited at the British Motor Yacht Show in August

What has been the feedback to the virtual Fairline Marina (www.fairline-marina.com) since its launch?

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge changes experienced, we’ve made a considerable effort to stay connected to our customers, fans and dealers. One innovative solution was launching our Fairline Marina, a new web platform offering a different way to engage with our audience whilst adhering to Government stay-at-home orders.

Launched on April 30 (2020), just a month after lockdown in the UK began, the Fairline Marina offers users a range of exciting and innovative opportunities to get up close and personal with our stunning yachts. Additionally, users can connect with our expert team via a live chat function, allowing customers to ask detailed questions about boat specifications, availability and costings, all from the comfort of their own home at a time that suits them.

Fairline has enjoyed overwhelming response to its virtual marina

The platform includes detailed 360-degree boat tours of all the yachts within our Squadron, Targa and F//Line ranges, as well as a regular calendar of livestream boat tours, which are hosted by our global dealer network.

Users are invited to tune in via Facebook for detailed tours of the boats, with each livestream taking customers from bow to stern, walking them through the boat in detail. Viewers are also invited to ask questions during the livestream to add further engagement.

A new Squadron 53 was sold directly from a live video tour

The feedback has been amazing, and we sold a new Squadron 53 directly from the live video tour hosted by our UK dealer. In the first week, the Fairline Marina received 10,000 engagements and 40,000 video views. In total, the tours have been viewed over 350,000 times.

How has the market responded to the Targa 45 GT, another of Fairline’s debuts at Boot Dusseldorf 2020?

Despite Covid-19 and the challenges it has presented, the Targa 45 GT has been very well received and we have taken a significant number of new orders. As an enclosed Targa with a large garage, it’s a winning combination. Customers all around the world genuinely love it, as it appeals to those in both warmer and colder climates. In fact, the 45 line has rapidly become the most popular model in our portfolio, and we have high hopes for this to continue for the foreseeable future.

The flagship Squadron 68 has sold around the world including to Hong Kong

How has the flagship Squadron 68 been selling, since the first three units sold to Europe, Asia and the US?

We’re manufacturing hull number nine. The geographical spread has seen Squadron 68s arriving in the US and Canada, northern and southern Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In fact, the most customised Squadron 68 we’ve built to date is currently berthed in Hong Kong, with a stunning grey hull and superstructure, two luxurious cabins and three – yes, three – fully equipped galleys.

Feedback is overwhelmingly positive for this model and, as with all our boats, development is a continuous process as we learn more about what our customers want from their boat. In fact, we’re focused on enhancing the interior, introducing even more luxurious, contemporary materials as well as maximising light and space internally. The design work on this model will set the tone for all our yachts moving forward.

The owner’s suite on the Squadron 68

Much of Fairline’s resurgence as a global brand has been its yacht designs by Alberto Mancini. Will he continue to work on all Fairline models?

We will certainly continue to work with Mancini on our new Fairline models and he is instrumental in the development of our F//Line model range. In-house, our Fairline Yachts Design Studio led by Wayne Huntley plays a crucial role in the design and development of our boats, and we work with various naval architects around the world including the renowned J&J Design.

Considering the economic climate in 2020, why was RiverRock willing to expand its investment in Fairline so it became the majority owner?

RiverRock values Fairline as a robust, sound business and was keen to support our future development. Outside of the pandemic, which has affected all boat builders, we have an extremely strong position in the global market and a really exciting future, which RiverRock is instrumental in supporting. New product development is imperative in our market, and RiverRock’s investment will help us to expand and accelerate our new product plans.

Fairline has caught up with production in Oundle after sales far outstripped production capacity following the brand’s rapid revival from 2016

Has Fairline’s production in Oundle managed to catch up with its order book and what’s happening with the Hythe site in Southampton?

We are on track with our order book and production is now at a manageable level for our factory. Our lead times are around six to nine months for a new build, which is an acceptable timeframe for boats with our level of customisation. We’ve been in Oundle for over 50 years and the site remains the home of Fairline. The Nene Valley factory is where the complete fleet is built and it will continue to be so.

Our boat building aspirations for the site in Hythe changed. That said, Hythe Shipyard – which includes a multi-purpose commercial slipway and provides both onshore storage and covered work areas – continues to contribute to the Fairline Yachts business. To date, this operation has serviced a range of clients including Carrington Boats, for Ben Ainsley’s America’s Cup project and Alex Thompson for his Hugo Boss Vendee Globe challenge, and commercial projects for Red Funnel, Southampton Marine Services and SailGP.

The first F//Line 33 in Asia is in Singapore and available through Simpson Marine

Finally, what else do you think our Asia-based readers should know about Fairline Yachts?

We have very strong dealer partners in the Asia region, from KLM in southern China to Simpson Marine. These exceptional dealers are highly committed to our brand – as we are to them – and we work together as partners to deliver desirable products and outstanding customer service. We have a steady flow of new boats coming into the Asian market, particularly in Singapore and Hong Kong.
www.fairline.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

British builder Fairline sells Squadron 50 in HKO
Simpson Marine confirms the first Fairline Squadron 50 in Hong Kong has quickly been snapped up, showing the demand for the builder’s blend of British craftsmanship and Italian design..

Buying into Yachting Paradise

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Buying into Yachting Paradise

December 29, 2020
4:02 pm

The Moorings and Sunsail offer the opportunity to own a boat based in one of the charter companies’ exotic locations around the globe and use yachts at any of them for up to 12 weeks a year, either for fixed income or a reduced purchase price.

The Moorings offers powercat ownership options within charter programmes

When the Moorings was founded in 1969, it had a total of six yachts in the British Virgin Islands. Five years later, Sunsail started operating, in Greece. Today, The Moorings and Sunsail – which merged in 2005 – form the world’s largest charter company, employing over 800 people globally and managing a fleet of 850 boats all over the world.

The Moorings and Sunsail have not only revolutionised the charter industry but also ownership options within charter programmes. In total, they’ve had over 5,000 boat owners between them. The companies offer a huge fleet of Leopard catamarans built by South Africa’s Robertson & Caine (only The Moorings offers powercats) and sailing monohulls built by iconic French brands Jeanneau and Beneteau.

In Asia, Leopard catamarans and Jeanneau and Beneteau sailing boats are owned and used throughout Asia, but The Moorings Yacht Ownership programme offers an alternative way of buying and using these yachts. So, how does it work and what are the advantages?

The standard contracts typically last five to six years depending on the location of the yacht. In Asia, The Moorings has a base in Phuket, Thailand, while other destinations around the world include Tahiti, Seychelles and right across the Mediterranean, Americas and Caribbean.

Thailand is the Asia home for The Moorings and Sunsail

The Moorings and Sunsail yachts are operated for a maximum of six seasons, with only limited numbers of boats extended longer. Almost all are individually owned and this obligation to the owners results in highly maintained yachts. The bases are staffed with employees trained to the highest of standards in customer service and technical expertise for maintenance and upkeep of the yachts.

The ownership programme includes the option of almost any ‘Leopard’, as well as sailing monohulls from Jeanneau and Beneteau, exclusively branded as The Moorings or Sunsail charter boats and with charter-specific options. Models available include the Moorings 4200 (with three or four cabins), 4500 and 5000 sailing catamarans, which are the equivalent of the Leopard 42, 45 and 50, respectively.

Powercats based on the Leopard 43 PC and 53 PC include the Moorings 433 PC (three cabins), 434 PC (four cabins) and 534 PC (four cabins). The Sunsail 41 (Jeanneau 409), Sunsail 44 (Jeanneau 44) and Moorings 48.4 (Beneteau Oceanis 48) sailing monohulls are among other models available within the ownership programme.

As for payment options, The Moorings and Sunsail offer the Guaranteed Income programme at most bases worldwide and the Option to Purchase programme in Greece and Thailand.

The Moorings catamarans are the same as Leopards, with a standard charter-friendly layout

Guaranteed Income requires 100 per cent payment up front and then returns fixed income paid monthly (not dependent on charter activity). At the end of the programme, an owner can either keep their yacht and sail away, sell it through the company’s in-house brokerage service, or trade it in and start a new programme.

At this time, it’s worth noting that The Moorings and Sunsail have continued to pay all its boat owners in full through the Covid-19 period, unlike many other charter companies.

Option to Purchase requires owners to pay only 45 per cent of the price of the boat to join the programme. At the end, they can either make a purchase payment of a further 20 per cent of the yacht’s original price and take clear title to the yacht or take a guaranteed cash buyback of the equivalent 20 per cent.

Prices for both programmes include the yacht’s equipment and charter inventory, delivery to the charter base and commissioning.

Within these programmes, owners can sail up to 12 weeks each year on their yacht or sisterships at any destination worldwide in The Moorings and Sunsail network. The companies have bases all over the world and owners have access to all of them and the option to pay for an upgrade to a larger model.

Owners have zero operating costs as The Moorings and Sunsail cover all of them including annual berthing, insurance and maintenance costs. Furthermore, professional management is provided for the yachts all year round.

The Leopard 53 PC released in 2020 is known as a Moorings 534 PC (four cabins) within the charter fleet

Another of the benefits of this global programme is that identical specifications of each yacht allow for maintaining interchangeable parts for various yacht models. Spare-parts inventory at all the bases allows for efficient and timely maintenance of all yachts. Consistent designs and specs also ensure owners are familiar with the yachts whether they holiday in Thailand, the Mediterranean, Caribbean or anywhere else around the world.

Owners are also reassured by the companies’ methodical and thorough ‘A-B-C-D’ maintenance programme. The A maintenance is scheduled for the end of any charter, following each charter debrief and repairing any minor issues. These are attended to prior to the start of the next charter. The B maintenance is the periodic oil, transmission and other fluid changes required for preventive maintenance. These are computer tracked for precision.

The C maintenance is the major maintenance that is scheduled periodically, with the boat typically hauled out and the hull below the waterline treated. ‘Major’ maintenance recommended by engine and transmission manufacturers is also undertaken, along with cosmetic work to hull and bright work. The D maintenance is the end-of-contract maintenance, during which the boat receives a full refit upon departure from the charter fleet or handover back to the owner.

One of the main advantages with The Moorings yachts coming out of the charter fleet, and either handed back to the owner or sold through our in-house brokerage team, is that the boat is never ‘as is’ but in a refreshed, ready-to-sail condition.

The Moorings and Sunsail yacht ownership programme offers a lower-cost, worry-free option of purchasing a yacht without the overheads, with the option of cruising for three months a year in the world’s most beautiful locations.

However, if owners want a yacht all to themselves, there are also the options of buying pre-owned from the companies’ brokerage arms or a brand-new, personalised version directly from Leopard, Beneteau or Jeanneau. The choice is yours.

KIT CHOTITHAMAPORN

Kit Chotithamaporn (left) pictured at the inaugural Thailand Charter Week with colleague Ikraam Galant

A Phuket native, Kit is Asia Regional Manager for Leopard Catamarans and handles all Asia yacht sales for sister brands Sunsail and The Moorings, which form the world’s largest charter company. He began his yachting career in Asia over 15 years ago, having developed his love for the sea and boats at a young age through his father, an avid recreational fisherman.
kit.c@thlmarine.com
www.moorings.com
www.sunsail.com

Frank Coles: Out of Africa, Back in Hong Kong

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

Frank Coles: Out of Africa, Back in Hong Kong

December 28, 2020
4:11 pm

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Frank Coles has since lived and worked in Europe, North America and is now in his second stint in Hong Kong, where he’s preparing to live on his new Lagoon 46 Kariwa with his wife Leslie, watched over by an African river god.

Frank Coles at the wheel of his Lagoon 46 Kariwa

Frank Coles has achieved a lot in his six decades living in various parts of the world, but one thing you won’t find on his career resume is why his Instagram handle is @cornflakes59. The ‘59’ represents the year the Wallem CEO was born in landlocked Zimbabwe, but the breakfast-cereal component begs an explanation.

“I was involved in a mergers and acquisitions deal a few years ago and the private-equity company wanted to give everyone codenames for the project,” says Coles, who has been living in Hong Kong since 2018, having first resided in the city from 1995-98.

“They assigned me the name Corn Flakes. When I asked why, they said it was an anagram of Frank Coles. I had never realised that, but I’ve used it quite often since then.”

Kariwa features the logo of the African river god Nyami Nyami

The Instagram handle for Coles’ new boat, @sv_kariwa, is a lot more illuminating. Kariwa is not only the name of his new Lagoon 46, delivered to Hong Kong in May 2020, but also the local tribe’s name for the town of Kariba, where Coles was raised.

Located on the northern Zimbabwean border with Zambia, Kariba is home to Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake by volume. Coles’ parents arrived in Kariba in 1957 after his father, a civil engineer, was posted to work on the dam project, while his mother was the matron (chief nurse) at the local hospital.

“I basically grew up by the world’s largest man-made lake. It was a special place to grow up,” says Coles. “I had a privileged, unique background and we lived a great life. We lived in Zimbabwe at thebest time.”

Frank and Leslie met in Kariba in northern Zimbabwe in 1974

Coles went to boarding school at the Allan Wilson High School in the capital of Harare, 280km to the southeast. However, his hometown of Kariba holds fond memories as it’s where he learnt to sail on the lake and met his current wife Leslie in December 1974, when he was 15.

“We’ve named our boat Kariwa as Kariba is where we met,” says Coles. “We were childhood sweethearts and it’s where our adventure started.”

As well as naming Kariwa after the town, Coles also honours the area by using the logo of the local river god, Nyami Nyami, on the hull, Code 0 and bright-yellow spinnaker.

Kariwa is berthed at the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter

“When they were building the dam to make the lake, the local tribe said the river god, Nyami Nyami, didn’t like it and they warned that there would be floods,” he says. “They were right.”

GLOBAL SHIPPING SUPREMO

As the political situation in Zimbabwe became increasingly unstable, Coles left for the UK when he was 17, while Leslie moved to South Africa, the pair living separate lives for over three decades.

“I just wanted to go to sea,” Coles says. “Leslie and I went our own ways, had our own lives, and each got married and had kids.”

Within months of arriving in the UK and staying with relatives, Coles started working as a merchant seaman, a job he held from 1977 until 1989, by which time the Master Mariner decided on a major career shift. “After 12 years at sea, I was married and had a kid, so I wanted to spend more time at home.”

Coles has taken a lot of photos and drone footage of his journeys on Kariwa in Hong Kong, where he first lived from 1995-98, during the handover period

Winning a scholarship to go to university, he studied Legal Aspects of Maritime Affairs at Cardiff University, then spent the first half of the 1990s working as a maritime lawyer for Richards Butler in London.

In 1995, Coles was spending significant time in Hong Kong – home to many of his clients – when a lunch meeting with Pacific Basin Shipping co-founders Paul Over and Chris Buttery resulted in a job offer.

As well as being Pacific Basin’s General Manager in Hong Kong, eventually overseeing operations for 50 ships, Coles also became CEO of Rydex as Over and Buttery invested in the Canadian email company on the cusp of the Internet revolution.

Coles thrived in the role that helped position him as a pioneer in the shipping technology industry, as he developed email communication for 2,500 ships.

“I was in the right place at the right time. For three years, I spent two weeks in Canada, two weeks in Hong Kong, like many Hong Kong Chinese were doing.”

Leslie sets off on the stand-up paddleboard in Double Haven

In 1999, he moved to the US to become President and CEO of Globe Wireless in Florida, where he keeps a house and plans to eventually retire. It’s also where he bought his first boat, a 37ft Wellcraft cabin cruiser, which he often used for flotillas to the Bahamas.

In his 12 years at the helm of Globe Wireless through 2011, he helped the company’s annual turnover increase from US$7 million to US$100 million and its client base grow from 1,000 ships to 10,000.

Since then, he has been President of Inmarsat Maritime in London (2011-14) and CEO of Transas Marine in Ireland (2015-18), during which time he was also a Principal Consultant of Cayman Maritime Innovation in the Caribbean.

In 2018, he returned to Hong Kong to take up the role as CEO of Wallem Group, a global operation with a shore-based team of 1,000 and more than 7,000 seafarers serving nearly all vessel segments.

The couple make the most of K2, Kariwa’s 3.4m Highfield RIB

“This is probably my last big job,” says Coles, who currently lives with Leslie in Quarry Bay, after downsizing from their apartment in Repulse Bay. However, the pair plan to live full-time on Kariwa in Aberdeen once solar panels and lithium batteries are installed.

AT HOME ON KARIWA

Coles also has Hong Kong to thank for his ‘second wind’ with Leslie, which started when the pair reconnected on Facebook over a decade ago. While still working for Global Wireless in Florida, Coles invited Leslie to join him on a business trip to Hong Kong in February 2010.

“I invited to meet her at the Excelsior on Valentine’s Day,” says Coles, who holds UK and US passports. “I travelled from Florida, she travelled from Johannesburg, we spent four days together and the rest is history.”

After decades apart, the couple reconnected in Hong Kong on Valentine’s Day in 2010

After moving to Hong Kong, the pair were keen to get a boat, with a view to eventually living on board. Having considered buying a sailing catamaran since his time in the US, Coles started exploring options in Hong Kong with Simpson Marine, which represents Lagoon and other brands in multiple Asian markets.

“Leslie and I are both avid divers and wanted to explore Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. I had wanted a sailing cat for a while and looked at various brands, then looked at Lagoon,” he says.

“In Hong Kong, I was able to see the 42ft and 45ft models, but once I saw the 46, I realised it was a big step up from the 450 (which the 46 replaced). Immediately it felt like the perfect-sized boat for us and what we wanted to do.”

The Nyami Nyami logo is seen on the hull, sail and even coffee cups!

Coles ordered a well-specced model suitable for year-round living, including teak decking for the cockpit and five air-conditioners to combat Hong Kong’s infamous humidity. The galley features four hobs and an upgraded microwave, fridge and freezer, plus he’s added a washing machine.

Along with the flybridge helm, Kariwa has a secondary helm station in the saloon, both with fly-by-wire controls for the more powerful 57hp Yanmar engine options. Most notably, they ordered a 110sqm Code 0 and a 199sqm, bright-yellow asymmetrical spinnaker – or gennaker – which both feature the Nyami Nyami logo, as does the hull.

The couple have already used Kariwa extensively in Hong Kong. Their highlight so far has been a four-day trip around the city’s furthest reaches including to the Soko Islands south of Lantau Island and Double Haven east of Plover Cove Country Park.

Kariwa is being fitted with solar panels so Frank and Leslie can live aboard

“We’ve already done some great trips on Kariwa and hope to live on board in a few months once the solar panels and lithium batteries are installed,” Coles says.

“We’ll initially stay in Aberdeen as it’s convenient for the city and offers great access to where we want to sail. The solar power will power all the hotel appliances, which includes running at least one air-con all night for some of the year.”

Once the yacht is fully equipped and tested, Coles has some grander plans for Kariwa such as trips into Southeast Asia’s most iconic archipelagos and beyond, rediscovering his teenage zest for going to sea.

“We want to be set to use all the new systems when we go travelling to the Philippines, Indonesia, the South Pacific, wherever we want to go.”
www.cata-lagoon.com
www.simpsonmarine.com

Mike Simpson on his new Oceanis 46.1
Simpson, founder and Managing Director of Simpson Marine, spoke about his new Oceanis 46.1 at the Boating Rendez-Vous display of Beneteau and Lagoon yachts in Hong Kong.

The Entertainer: Anson Chan on his Galeon 500 Fly

Leaders / yachtstyle2020

The Entertainer: Anson Chan on his Galeon 500 Fly

December 17, 2020
2:44 pm

Head of the Bonds Group of Companies, Anson Chan started boating again a few years ago, reviving one of his favourite childhood pastimes. Today, his customised Galeon 500 Fly is his welcome escape from work and favourite place for entertaining. By Andrew Dembina.

Chan has been using his customised Galeon 500 Fly almost weekly for much of 2020

In case running a large international conglomerate with the assistance of his two siblings isn’t hectic enough, Anson Chan You-cheung is also in his second year of part-time study for a PhD on

China-US diplomatic and strategic relations.

Chairman and CEO of Bonds Group of Companies, founded by his parents in the 1960s, Chan arrives at our interview during a business call, after which he ignores numerous incoming phone alerts as we spend time aboard his Galeon 500 Fly, which he strives to enjoy in a frenetic schedule.

Chan is Chairman and CEO of the Bonds Group of Companies

Due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, though, he has recently been able to nudge up his average frequency of use from monthly to weekly, allowing him to more frequently savour a pastime he first enjoyed as a youngster in Hong Kong in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

EARLY START

“My father (Dr Chan Shu-kui) had his own boats with full-time crew. He loved to go out with our family, but my mum (Dr Anita Chan) hated it,” says Chan, who later studied in the US and Canada.

The Galeon 500 Fly’s outdoor attractions include a rotating cockpit sofa

“Back then, there were only motorised Chinese junks available that took forever to go anywhere, going along at five-10 knots. It was an unusual luxury for a family to have a private boat. Up to when I was about 10, we went out quite a lot and I really loved it. But when my father passed away [in 1973], my mother quickly sold the junk.”

Chan was also exposed to sailing through his cousin Orlando Chan and still occasionally lends a hand as crew. “Orlando was one of the earliest non-expat members of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club,” he explains.

Chan’s company has properties across Asia, North America and Europe

“He’s 86 now and an incredibly avid sailor, along with his son. I still go out with them on their 38ft Beneteau, which is quite old now but beautifully maintained. I help with the ropes and the sheets, but I’m not an expert.”

NEW CHAPTER IN YACHTING

Following many boat-free years for Chan and his family, in 2013 he decided to buy his first modern motor yacht.

The side decks open to create a bar on port side and a beam of 6m

“After making a large profit on a merger and acquisition deal in the UK, I decided to reward myself a little bit and bought a Fairline 42,” he recalls.

“It was a nice boat, with a top speed of 32 knots, and I couldn’t believe how fast it was to get anywhere after all those years of patience in slow junks. It was very reliable, the finish was very nice and I had it for about five years, but it was a little small for entertaining guests.”

In mid-2018, he traded it in with Asiamarine, headed by Eric Noyel, and bought the iconic Galeon 500, whose drop-down sides and rotating cockpit sofa made the Polish-built ‘transformer’ a global favourite.

Chan with Eric Noyel, founder and CEO of Galeon dealer Asiamarine

“I only had to wait till early 2019 for delivery,” says Chan. “I would have had to wait for longer, but Eric has a very good relationship with the Galeon shipyard and heard that someone who had ordered a 500 had dropped out, so he called me immediately. I was pleased to go ahead and only had to wait six to eight months.”

Chan hadn’t heard of Galeon before he first saw 500 model in 2017 at a boat show in Shenzhen, China. “I was impressed with the way folded areas would open up; it was almost like Japanese origami.

Customisations included a retractable sunroof, the first one Galeon had installed on the 500

“I also liked that they were able to make customisations I wanted, like the retractable sunroof on the flybridge. It was the first one they had ever done and after that they produced more of these as an option.”

DAY CRUISE BELIEVER

Chan’s pleasure boating is always day cruising and his use is very sociable, sometimes with up to a dozen friends on board.

The flybridge and adjustable foredeck are other popular hangouts on Chan’s Galeon 500

“One of the great things about this yacht is that there are so many areas that people can use to break off into small groups,” he says. “There are a lot of sitting areas where you can chat, listen to music, have some drinks.”

A bar counter off the port side of the saloon has stool seating on deck, and when that space is extended with by dropping the bulwark, it becomes one of Chan’s favourite spots for a glass of something while gazing at the horizon.

Also much-loved by the owner is the signature Galeon rotating sofa at the cockpit, which can be positioned for any view of a locale that takes his or a guest’s fancy, as the circular platform beneath its base can turn a full 360 degrees.

Chan: “There are so many areas that people can use to break off into small groups.”

He and his guests are also fond of sitting at the large table on the flybridge deck and on the sofa and pop-up tables at the bow. Sometimes Chan cruises out to sea with a few other friends that bring their yachts. “Mine’s considered small,” he says. “Most of my friends have 70-footers or 100-footers.”

He selected most of the optional extras such as a stabiliser, luxurious leather trim upholstery and high-gloss eucalyptus wood panel detailing.

“Even though I don’t really use it, I like the master cabin, which is much larger than you’d expect for a boat of this size,” he says of the three-cabin yacht.

Chan is a fan of the master suite, which includes a mosaic decoration above the bed

For power, he took Asiamarine’s advice for twin Volvo Penta 725hp shaft drives, due to being easier to maintain than the Volvo IPS 950 with the same horsepower.

LOOKING FORWARD

Covid-19 may have allowed Chan to spend more time in Hong Kong and on his yacht, but it has also affected Bonds Group, a multi-national investment company with a wide range of businesses including real estate development and investment, property management, hotel operations and financial investments.

“Most of our hotels have had just 20 to 30 per cent occupancy for months,” he says. “It’s a tough time, but I’m trying to keep as many of those staff employed as we can – it’s real corporate social responsibility. Upward social mobility for our staff is very important.”

Chan says: “Galeon was able to make customisations I wanted.”

Chan also believes in moderation, due in large to the words of his late mother, whom he succeeded as head of the Bond Group following her passing in 2007.

“My mum always used to say, ‘There’s someone up there who determines how much you enjoy in your lifespan; if you enjoy too much, you’re going to shorten your lifespan – if you eat and drink too much, you’ll get a heart attack’,” Chan recalls.

“People should live reasonably modestly. They should enjoy life, but with some moderation, and pay their fair share of taxes, so governments can function properly and help those who are less fortunate.”

Chan, Noyel and others relax on the flybridge of the Galeon 500

Aside from yachting, art is another of Chan’s outside interests and he’s most keen on the contemporary and pop genres. Yachting aspirations for Chan include eventually up-sizing his boat and to cruise around the Greek islands one day. He’s also keen to finally get his Pleasure Vessel Operators Certificate of Competence (PVOCC).

“I’ve flunked it twice, so I’d really like to take it again and hopefully I could then do some of those trips,” he says. “I’ll always have a yacht. When I grew up, my dad always had one and, after a hiatus, I want to carry on that tradition. I’d really like to see more people in Hong Kong connecting to the water that we have all around us.”
www.galeon.pl
www.asiamarine.com

Galeon 400 Fly: The Mini Transformer
Now in Asia, the new Galeon 400 Fly is the yard’s smallest model offering its iconic folding balconies, opening a new chapter for outdoor living on a 41-footer..

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