What you hold in your hands is a special issue: we are celebrating YACHT STYLE’s 10th anniversary with our key partners and more importantly, you the reader. Since its acquisition 2 1/2 years ago, we have transformed YACHT STYLE while keeping its editorial integrity.
Given the number of supporting shipyards and curated anniversary plaudits (sadly, we only have so many pages to publish them) that have come in, I am pleased to say that we have, by all indications, developed into an essential companion to yachting lifestyles in Asia.
This festive issue goes to print as we come back from a busy month spent down on the French Riviera, visiting the industry’s vital events from Cannes Yachting Festival to the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS).
Cannes Yachting Festival in September traditionally kicks off the European boat show season, and this year no less than 108 models from leading shipyards made their global debuts. This is undoubtedly the most cohesive yachting event in the South of France, at usually the best time of the year, and I would definitely recommend it to any existing or future yacht lovers.
Southampton, Genoa and Monaco Yacht Shows followed in an extravaganza that spans only three weeks now, doubtlessly exhausting many of the sales people from the yards and brokerages. Monaco is the place for ultra superyachts, but we note that only 5 of the 125 berths available were taken up by vessels that met such a description. There is quality in-depth as well in the 50m to 70m ranks, and luxury brand parties abounded, but one wonders if the content and tone of the much-revamped MYS is not subtly changing.
All in all, from Azimut to YPI – celebrating 45 years this month – we were able to see first hand amazing yachts on display and get a clear idea of what will be available in Asia over the next 12 months.
Our annual Yacht Style’s Top 100 Superyachts of Asia-Pacific has been redesigned with a summary story in which Feadship’s Farouk Nefzi says that the much-promised arrival of Asia-Pacific as a heavyweight superyacht sector has now happened. His proof? Six concurrent orders. Hard to argue with that.
I hope everyone takes a hard look at Farouk’s insistence that not nearly enough marketing is being done in the region. Even some of the larger yards have been hesitant to commit to campaigns, and smaller ones are sporadic. It means, says Farouk, that build orders are being concentrated in fewer and fewer yards. Happy to leverage our print, online, social media and event expertise to interested builders, vendors and distributors who would like to become more involved: just drop us a note and we’ll see how we can help out.
The list this year hasn’t changed much, with Lürssen and Fincantieri in the top slots and New Zealander Graeme Hart’s Ulysses explorers also evolving, plus all the usual big boatyard suspects.
The cut-off level was 45m, up from 44m last year. The difference is that there are many more vessels in the 40m to 55m range now, and about one third of this year’s list has changed as vessels come and go. Each vessel appearing is updated with new text and sometimes photos.
Another new Top 100 section is Selected Stories following the list, to flesh out some of the more interesting developments, and to introduce new players.
In this special issue, we take another look at Sanlorenzo’s spectacular rise under Massimo Perotti’s leadership, once the former CFO of Benetti who ventured into Asia about the same time Mike Simpson was hanging a boat dealer shingle in Hong Kong. Our cover stars Seven Seas, inside features highlight the fast development the Italian shipyard and its product range are experiencing, as reflected by the already strong sales in Asia with Simpson Marine.
In a round-up of fishing news in the region, we look in particular at the opportunities for short fishing charter voyages to the oil rigs that now abound in the South China Sea, which become effective fish activation devices. A few possible sport fisher buys are discussed in what is to become a regular feature for the fishing fraternity, indulging in the world’s most popular pastime.
Regattas take up a substantial section as we cover everything from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia, where soon Asia-bound yachtsman and superyacht owner Lord Irvine Laidlaw took another premier gong, to the Hamilton Island prelude to the Rolex Sydney-Hobart, where Karl Kwok is again challenging, and also the regional regattas about to start, like the Raja Muda and Phuket King’s Cup.
With 40 issues under our belt and more to come, the future of YACHT STYLE certainly looks bright, thanks to your support!
Remember as well to mark your diaries for the PHUKET RENDEZVOUS (January 4 to 7, 2018), which will kick-off the year with the CHRISTOFLE YACHT STYLE Awards!