2017 Singapore Yacht Show leaves a tantalising taste

Vrit Yongsakul, Group Managing Director of Boat Lagoon Yachting and Princess Yachts South East Asia, commented, “It’s been a good show this year for Boat Lagoon Yachting – our biggest display of 13 luxury yachts has attracted a huge amount of interest from both seasoned and first-time buyers, particularly the Princess S60 which made her ‘In-Water World Premiere’ at the show.

“The event has certainly reinforced its standing as one of the best platforms in Asia for yacht enthusiasts, and it was a great opportunity to promote the leisure marine lifestyle.”

There was plenty of sunshine, and none of the tropical downpours that Singapore is known for! According to the brokers, dealers and manufacturers on the docks, visitor numbers certainly felt as though they were well up from last year.

There was also fantastic ambience around the Sevenstar Yacht Transport booth where, as Sales Manager Peter Staalsmid admits, “It’s been a great four days here at the Singapore Yacht Show – lots of interaction with show visitors. We’re looking forward to 2018 already.”

From Simpson Marine, Singapore Country Manager Nick Stratton reported the sale of the Lagoon 620 Essence and the Beneteau Gran Turismo 46, which premiered at the show.

“These boats proved very popular – there are more orders to come,” Stratton remarked. “Our charter program has proved particularly successful, with many bookings confirmed at the show – and our E-Power Marine Finance product attracted a lot of interest.”

Gulf Craft, a long-standing supporter of SYS, was present once more with a Majesty 48 and Nomad 65. “The Nomad attracted a great deal of interest,” said Mahmoud Itani, Communications and Marketing Manager.

“The one on display is subtly different from its predecessors. We have been gradually refining the interior in response to customer comments and suggestions. Gulf Craft have been present at all seven Singapore shows, and we intend to continue our presence in 2018.”

This year’s SYS opened its doors from 15:00 to 21:00, so that the cool of late afternoons ran into the numerous cocktail parties along the docks and on the boats. Azimut, Ferretti Group, Princess Yachts, Simpson Marine and Sunreef all hosted several popular social events.

British brand, Sunseeker, was one of the many returning exhibitors to increase its SYS showcase. Reflecting on this year’s event, Sunseeker’s Regional Business Manager, Douglas Culverwell, said “Last year we had a stand on the Esplanade, but this year we were able to display a brand new Sunseeker Manhattan 55, which attracted a lot of interest.

“We are continuously strengthening our presence in the region, and the Singapore Yacht Show is a key part of our strategy. We will be back with a much bigger presence next year.”

There were plenty of champagne corks popping at Azimut as they reported an exceptionally successful show, having sold a total of five boats straight off the dock. Choppy Tan commented “We are extremely happy that the show was able to attract guests from across the region. Our booth had no downtime and we were overflowing every day and night. We were delighted to grow the Azimut family here in Singapore and we look forward to putting on an even bigger display next year.”

For anyone who went the (conference related) distance – starting with the Asia Pacific Yachting Conference, followed by the Asia Boating Forum and the Singapore Yacht Show – it was a long yet informative five days. The amount of information generated at the conferences, followed by the increased number of exhibitors at the Yacht Show, meant that there was a great deal to absorb.

The SYS once again proved that ‘location, location, location’ is key.

ONE˚15 Marina Sentosa Cove is a first-class establishment that can accommodate superyachts, and is surrounded by luxurious bars and restaurants. At the end of the day, the Singapore Yacht Show is not just a boat show – it is also a luxury event.

www.singaporeyachtshow.com