Now considered the ‘third superyacht region’, Asia is fast catching up to deliver exotic cruising experiences with high-standard marinas.

Thailand, the Andaman Islands (India), Malaysia, and the Maldives, along with Singapore, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia (Bali and Raja Ampat), are among the most sought-after destinations. Southeast Asia is undoubtedly becoming an even more attractive yachting destination. There are so many different cultures and cuisines to experience that there is much left to discover even when staying several months.

Unlike the superyacht playgrounds of summer Med cruising and the Caribbean in the winter, Southeast Asia’s sailing season is year-round, and more yachts are also coming eastward to lengthen the charter season and enjoy the balminess and friendly culture of the region.

Facilities are improving across Asia with new marinas and a growing skilled labour force. The easing of regulations in countries like Thailand also makes sailing smoother. Phuket is now a prime destination for yachts, and new marinas are in the pipeline.

Nestled strategically at the southernmost tip of Phuket island is the new ONE°15 Marina Panwa Phuket, the nearest departure point to the Phi Phi Islands.

“The new Phuket Marina Development is set to transform the Cape Panwa Peninsular at Ao Markham and the deep seaport”, reports Asia Pacific Superyachts co-founder Gordon Fernandes. “The Marina project will feature 171 berths for superyachts up to 200 feet and 25 hard-stand spaces with 80 dry-stack storage. The integrated marina club is a nautical lifestyle resort, equipped with yacht chartering, spa & wellness area and hotel facilities.”

Bali’s Port of Benoa is undergoing a major revamp. It will have a brand-new full-service superyacht marina that can accommodate 180 wet berths, including more than 50 superyachts up to 90 metres in length. The marina will have a modern yacht service area equipped with a travel lift capable of handling up to 200 tons and a high-quality fueling station.

Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia Captain Thomas Taatjes enthuses: “The new marina will attract even more global yachting enthusiasts wanting to explore Indonesia’s natural beauty in the biggest archipelago in the world.”

Amenities will include a prestigious yacht club, modern yacht service, luxury hospitality options and commercial areas with extensive retail, offices, entertainment and dining outlets.

The Maldives will mark a new era by introducing the first superyacht marina and fully integrated resort in the Maldives.

“Housing 120 berths, Atoll Estates’ new Zamani Islands will be an exclusive resort destination with the Maldives Zamani Islands Superyacht Marina in the Maldives.

Asia Pacific Superyachts Maldives Director & General Manager Mohamed Hameed commented:, “This cutting-edge project aims at transforming the superyacht experience into an exceptionally luxurious convenience. The project will encompass eight islands extending 5 kilometres into a natural lagoon, offering the country’s first Yacht Club and a 60,000 sqm Superyacht Marina.”

Sri Lanka’s new Colombo City Marina is designed to become the country’s new luxury maritime destination, housing as many as 250 mid-sized vessels alongside hotels, gourmet dining, retail outlets, entertainment centres, and recreational areas, according to Asia Pacific Superyachts Sri Lanka director Priyantha Perera. “The Marina will offer berthing space of 243 capacity for mid-to-large-size yachts and full-service facilities, including crew amenities, provisioning, maintenance and access to a yacht club.”

Original article appeared on TTRWEEKLY.com here

With the option to fully customize your own HX50 helicopter through the online configurator it has simplified the personalization process and created a more engaging experience for the buyer.

Not only has the exterior styling and guest comforts been upgraded but the entire instrumentation and flying experience has been totally redefined with a digital cockpit designed to make flying a helicopter as simple, convenient and intuitive as driving a car.

The clean, uncluttered cockpit delivers automotive levels of simplicity of operation, class leading pilot comfort and convenience, genuinely raising the VFR flying experience to new highs. The HX50, has partnered with a leading avionics manufacturer to deliver the game-changing, avionics flight management suite.

The HX50 produces a maximum of 500bhp and that, together with aircraft’s aerodynamic shape, gives a cruising speed of 140kts or 160mph. That’s extremely fast for a helicopter and to put it into context, the R44 has a cruising speed of only 109kts. Maximum range for the HX50 is an incredibly impressive 700 nautical miles, which is again phenomenal for a helicopter. Robinson also makes a jet version of its machine that’s badged as the R66. Its Rolls-Royce jet engine is substantially less powerful than the designed and built in-house engine in the HX50 and gives the R66 a cruising speed of 110kts.

Hill Helicopter’s machine has beauty and performance on its side, but also price. The HX50 without options is priced at £495,000 plus local taxes which compares with £385,000 for the Robinson R44 and £715,000 for the R66.
For more information about the Hill Helicopter HX50 visit their website www.hillhelicopters.com

Globalfast shall be packed with new features including an improved stabilization system to reduce roll at anchor and underway, a more efficient propeller and increased fuel capacity to bump the range up to 5,800 nautical miles.

Globalfast has been designed around a four deck arrangement with a dedicated ‘Owner’s Deck’ and then seven guest staterooms occupying the main deck level, resulting in direct access to the aft deck, ocean and sea views.

Construction of the 85.3m Globalfast began in 2020 at Silveryachts and is now just months away from completion with delivery expected later in 2022.

This article has been regenerated from www.superyachtimes.com

The shipyard chairman and founder, Paris Dragnis, stated. “You cannot aim for new horizons until you have the courage to leave known shores,” he says. “Our aim is to build yachts like this. I imagine them in Greek waters, the birthplace of naval mastery, with every detail taken care of to the utmost perfection. These yachts not only offer their guests an excellent stay, but the serenity of Greek nature too.”

Design partner Studio Vafiadis was drafted to continue the line of Golden Yachts with its familiar style of elegant proportions and flowing guest spaces. “I would define the exterior design as being like the Hellenistic philosophy of the ‘Apollonian’ and ‘Dionysian’ spirits,” explains Stefano Vafiadis.

He continues: “This combines rational thinking and order together with emotions and instincts. The straight lines of the decks are geometrical and give a cadence to the overall look, almost like a musical base. The remaining edgy and sportive curves are the most joyful part of the project, adding that little extra something to the character of O’Pari.”

The beach club leads out onto an expansive five-metre swimming platform which allows for an elaborate beach setup with enough remaining space for diving and watersports preparations. A louvre-style swim ladder leads guests into the water and makes for elegant water exits.

Step inside
For the interior, the Mediterranean once again served as inspiration for Vafiadis’ design. Defined by a contrasting theme with universal appeal, those on board are treated to deckhead heights of 2.9 metres and a gross tonnage of just over 2,700, all of which has been utilised to enhance the guest experience. The design of guest spaces establishes a balance between shapes, light and colours with curved wood panels and recessed mood lighting setting the scene.

The materials used include mother of pearl, onyx and various precious woods that define each cabin in a different style.

This article was prepared with information and images collected online from Superyacht Times and Golden Yachts. Photo credits to Jeff Brown of Breed Media.

M.Y. Stardust was launched in 2020 and is the latest in the popular Amels 206 series of yachts designed by Tim Heywood. This particular yacht features signature round hull windows and boasts 2 VIP staterooms on the bridge deck in addition to the full beam master suite on main deck level.

The yacht has recently arrived in Phuket, Thailand and berthed at Phuket Yacht Haven for its owners who are located within the region who have hinted at global cruising, which with a 5000nm range can easily reach off the grid destinations.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Length overall: 62.50 metres (206 ft)
• Beam overall (at hull): 10.30 metres (35 ft)
• Draught (full load): 3.55 metres
• Gross Tonnage: 1,161
• Design Exterior: Tim Heywood
• Design Interior: Laura Sessa
• Naval architecture: Damen Yachting
• Maximum speed: 16.5 knots
• Range @ 13.0 knots: 5,000 nautical miles
• Guests: 12
• Crew: 13 + Captain

The project took more than 3 years to complete and for the time ever, Feadship have unveiled the complete construction process and compressed it into a 5 minute time lapse video.

Lonian features four decks and some interesting engineering challenges including a swimming pool with translucent bottom to form the ceiling of beach club below. The yacht can reach a maximum of 18 knots cruise at 12 knots to offer a range of 5,000nm from the full hybrid diesel electric engines.

The accommodations for the owners and their twelve guests are of the very highest standards. The master stateroom is forward on the main deck and features private access to the flush foredeck with a jacuzzi and lounge area. The vessel shall be serviced by 27 crew.

Information and images for this article sourced from Superyacht times, Clint Jenkins and Youtube.

Sanlorenzo SL86 in Hong Kong
Image credit: Simpson Marine

Widespread regional government indifference to the marine leisure industry and yacht tourism and the subsequent lack of “Mediterranean-standard” marinas and other infrastructures in South East Asia (SEA) is something that we at Verventia have been trying to change for the past five or six years through all our lobbying efforts that go on in the background while we are organising the Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong Yacht Shows.

Our efforts to encourage governments and yachting’s major players to invest so that the area can open its doors to international yachting have gathered pace over the last decade since we launched the region’s main industry sales and marketing platform, the Singapore Yacht Show (SYS). And despite the COVID-19 crisis, which has seen the 2020 edition of SYS delayed from March to October, we are still confident that change, while not immediate, will eventually come.

Despite our best efforts, there is still nowhere near enough business being done in this region. It’s true that, while the number of marinas in Asia has barely grown, boat buying and the number of people who are attracted by the idea here has increased significantly. In a global context, the Asian market is estimated to account for only 10-15% of new business globally, so, given that roughly a third of the world’s private wealth resides here in Asia, there is unarguably a huge potential.

In that sense, we are still at the very beginning of the development of the market. It may have more than doubled in the last decade, but it could grow an awful lot faster if two things happened: first, all the key governments would have to fully buy into the idea and be prepared to change prohibitive tax and visa regulations; and second, the industry should also buy into the idea by uniting and collaborating, with key stakeholders prepared to invest.

Neither of those are easy to achieve but we remain optimistic that we will keep making progress, and we can foresee some good things happening in the next year or two, post-COVID-19.

THE YACHTING MARKET IN ASIA

The senior team at Simpson Marine, one of the region’s most established players and a founding partner of every single edition of each of our shows since the beginning, concurs with our optimism for continued growth in the sector – they have sold over 100 new and brokerage yachts in the last year.

“The Asia brokerage market is very active, particularly in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand/Phuket,” says Group Marketing Manager Ewa Stachurska. “There are some great options for clients looking for quick deliveries. Currently, the most active market size is 40-60ft flybridge yachts and 40-60ft catamarans. Since starting our business in 1984, we have sold over 3000 yachts, from 5m to 70m plus, most of them to Asian buyers.“

It’s encouraging to note that many others amongst yachting’s leading names worldwide are fully supportive in seeing a SEA expansion and are also nurturing new business in Asia.

“We’ve been working with Asian clients and expats living in the region for over 15 years, so it is by no means a new market for us,” says Y.CO co-founder and chairman Gary Wright. “We are seeing an increase in clients from the region across different areas of our business, including charter, purchase, yacht management and new build project coordination. Asian clients have specific expectations of their yachting experience and our team is skilled in meeting these and ensuring that both they and the onboard teams we work with are respectful and considerate to all aspects of Asia’s diverse cultures.“

Cultural considerations have proved to be a major stumbling block as historically, local populations have viewed the ocean as a trade route rather than a recreational zone to enjoy with family and friends. There has never been much of a cultural affinity with the sea as a leisure playground in these parts in the past – the sun is too hot, the climate too humid and the seas in previous generations were seen more as convenient for transport, fishing and dumping waste. However, that’s changing rapidly, and we are really trying to drive that change.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

The on-water lifestyle is one that Westerners have long enjoyed and there is definitely a growing appetite amongst affluent Asian lifestyle seekers to experience the thrills and adventures that come with owning a yacht or luxury boat. As wealth is handed down to younger, more adventurous and leisure-focused generations, we are starting to see more Asians buying big boats.

Ewa Stachurska agrees that attitudes towards yacht ownership are changing for the better: “In the past it was mostly for status and entertaining but that has shifted to genuine pleasure usage, enjoying with family and friends, fun with water toys and in an increasing number of cases, regional cruising,” she says.

With Thailand welcoming almost 40 million international tourists last year, making it the most visited among all ASEAN countries, the big question is what needs to be done to further drive forward a marine leisure industry which could generate many hundreds of millions of dollars in income as well as local employment opportunities and technical progress.

Phang Nga Bay, Phuket

At least part of the answer lies in enticing and attracting brokers to push owners and captains into considering SEA as a luxury superyacht destination. The more boats that come here, the more the latent market of thousands of potential charterers and eventual buyers would wake up and want to play too. However, existing owners – 90% of whom are based in the Mediterranean in the summer – are not going to be particularly motivated to invest in coming to Asia as a destination if punitive taxes and incohesive, unfriendly regulations are not changed soon

Despite the inherent problems and hurdles that inevitably lie ahead, there is much enthusiasm being generated by globally recognised brand leaders which already have a permanent presence in SEA.

An industry leader in pioneering unusual destinations all around the world, Fraser is keen to do the same for SEA. “Fraser has always championed new yachting destinations and we’re keen to see Asia develop and grow in popularity.” adds Lisa Peck, Global Marketing Manager at Fraser. “We all hope therefore that the governments will make the necessary changes to regulations so that this can happen. There is already increasing quality infrastructure to support the needs of superyachts, which is a good sign. We are excited to see Asia flourish, creating a greater choice for charter clients to experience the exceptional cruising grounds on offer throughout the region.”

Lies Sol, Charter Manager at Northrop and Johnson in Phuket, is convinced that charter market growth will continue in the region. She cites US, Canadian, European and Chinese clients among the keenest charterers in the region with 30% of these being Chinese.

“The market is growing and the size and quality of yachts permanently based in Asia gets better every year,” she says.”For example, in Indonesia after Patty Seery started the trend of 6-star luxury phinisi – traditional sailing yachts – with SILOLONA around 2003, others saw that it worked and followed in her footsteps. Now I can easily count more than 20 luxury phinisis, each with their own style and niche market, but all catering to the top end of the market.“

Raja Ampat
Image credit: Indo Yachts

“In Thailand, the number of charter yachts of 30-45m has more than doubled over the past five years. Although many of the yachts are a bit older, they are usually extremely well-maintained with their interiors and furnishings regularly updated.“

In sales terms, “consistent expansion” is the way Martin Holmes, Northrop and Johnson’s General Manager in Asia, describes the brokerage market, adding: “Asia is a fascinating market with a unique client profile.”

“In the last two years, we have sold several yachts of between 24m and 35m to Asia-based clients and are actively working on two new-build projects. Right now, the 30-35m segment is interesting as many owners are looking for more range and stability. There is also considerable interest at 50-65m for some experienced Asian clients.”

He believes Asian buyers are typically more interested in new builds, citing Feadship, Amels, Heesen, Cantiere Delle Marche, Benetti & Custom Line as the front runners for the sector. “Asian clients have high levels of expectation and prefer to avoid disappointment or too much risk,” Martin adds. “A new build can help deliver this providing it is closely managed.“

CRUISING IN ASIA

While government investment and co-operation, coupled with an overhaul of complex marine taxes and regulations is very much required – and will be examined in more detail in a forthcoming feature – one major advantage that Asia-Pacific possesses that is not in dispute is its abundance of pristine and largely uncommercialized world-class cruising waters.

The cruising grounds are spectacular, starting from Myanmar down to Thailand, through East Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and all the way to Australia. The entire stretch is beautiful and uncrowded. Indonesia alone has over 17,500 islands, many of which are completely untouched. The culture and biodiversity of Asia-Pacific is its single biggest strength; it’s a region unlike any other and this should be both celebrated and cherished.

Cruising Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Image credit: Wade Pearce

Clearly identifying its cruising season and position within the global calendar would really help to establish this region as the world’s third – and in our view, the biggest and best – destination for cruising and charter yachts of all sizes.

SEA is not in any way attempting to compete with the Caribbean. On the contrary, we are just trying to grow the whole market. The Caribbean is the best place for wintering in the world at the moment – but they are running out of clients, as is Europe. We could foresee maybe 10% growth in Europe of the number of owners and charterers, and perhaps 15% growth in the US, too – but with a third of the world’s wealth in Asia, yet less than 1% yacht ownership here, this is undoubtedly where the potential for global growth will come from.

When thousands of new Asian clients start trying the yachting lifestyle, which they would do if their governments allowed us to bring yachts here for them to charter, they will want to explore regions that are new to them – the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Some of the clients who have been sailing the Caribbean for the last 40 winters – and those numbers have halved in the last 10 years – will want to come to Asia for a change.  Every sector can benefit but for that to happen, governments here need to back us in our project to turning ASEAN destinations like Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia into the Mediterranean of Asia.

When those governments realise that the liberated yacht tourism we are pushing for is good, high-spending, yet sustainable tourism, and they change the regulations accordingly to allow yachting to happen here, the sky is the limit.

Meanwhile, as COVID-19 continues to dominate, we remain positive about progress continuing to be made in SEA once the crisis becomes more manageable. We were sadly the first international boat show to have to postpone, and we may well be one of the first to open again. We believe there will be renewed interest in boating generally after this horrible period is over. Being away at sea together with one’s close friends and family is likely to be an ever-more appealing idea for those who can afford to take up this lifestyle – and there are boats available for sale now that would meet any budget, large or small.

The huge latent market in Asia, coupled with the surge in interest we have seen over the last few years, has convinced us that, provided even just one of the more far-seeing governments here decides to open up their waters, the market will really start to take off in the region.

Despite the current chaos, we have at last been able to launch the new Hong Kong Yacht Show, completing the vital northern point of the Asian yachting market “golden triangle” and we are hopeful that the rescheduled Singapore Yacht Show in October, closely followed by the new Hong Kong Show in November, will give the industry the boost it will badly need by then.

Article sourced from Singapore Yacht Show website Here>>

Australian superyacht design studio Sorgiovanni Designs has presented a 99 metre luxury expedition yacht concept named Frontier.

Described by the studio as “bold and elegant” with the “soul of an explorer”, the yacht features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with a certified ice-breaker reversed bow.

Key features include a “unique” 15 metre x 15 metre helicopter landing platform. Mounted on hydraulic jacks, the platform is able to slide out to receive the landing helicopter and retract back in once the helicopter has taken off.

When retracted, the platform serves as an extension of the pool sunbathing area aft and can be used as a dance floor or second gym to the main gym, which is located aft of the bridge deck.

Al fresco living areas on board are plentiful and include an outdoor bar and Jacuzzi on the observation deck, a circular sunbathing area and a nine by four metre swimming pool on the private owner’s deck.

The double storey beach club has direct access to the sea, as well as a massage room, sauna, steam room and second Jacuzzi. The neighbouring garage meanwhile is large enough to accommodate two 25 metre tenders, two 15 metre hovercrafts, two 15 metre tenders and four jet skis.

Accommodation on board is for a total of 14 guests in six ensuite double cabins on the lower deck and a vast master suite on the upper deck, which includes a private lounge and office and direct access to the pool.

Crew accommodation meanwhile is for a total of 34 staff in 14 double cabins and three double staff cabins. Elsewhere, the main deck houses a cinema and dining area large enough to seat a party of 20. An observation lounge sits forward.

The interior design features a range of sustainable materials, including eggshell, seeds, fast growing woods, stones and barks. The studio said the interior would combine “timeless styling and beautiful furnishings”.

Equipped with two diesel engines, Frontier will have an estimated top speed of 19-20 knots and a cruising speed of 15-16 knots.

Article and information sourced from Boat International