A captivating performance of song and didgeridoo by two of Australia’s renowned Indigenous musicians welcomed guests at an Australian Breakfast in Monaco.
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For the second year running, Superyacht Australia has hosted a true Australian-style breakfast at Monaco Yacht Show, welcoming over 70 key industry players to promote the magnificent cruising grounds of Australia and the readiness of Australian businesses to service the global superyacht fleet.
A highlight of the breakfast was a performance by talented Indigenous Australian entertainers, the original Yothu Yindi band member Wityana and his world-renowned son Yirrmal.
Guests were captivated by this traditional welcome which certainly set the scene for discussions about cruising in Australia. Interest in the South Pacific (or ‘Safe Pacific’, as it is becoming known) is extremely high, with the Australian stand at the Monaco show inundated with enquiries about cruising itineraries, refit and marina facilities and regulations. The breakfast was designed as an educational seminar for captains and charter brokers. It was clearly a hot topic as the venue at Stars ‘N’ Bars was packed with representatives from all sectors of the industry.
Tourism Australia’s global brand manager spoke about the high-end experiences Australia has to offer in terms of luxury lodges, fishing, world-class golf courses, vineyards and incredible walking trails.
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A panel of Australian industry experts spoke about key areas of interest to captains and charter brokers in attendance, including ports of entry, crew visas, refit capability and the world-class marinas on offer in all the key Australian destinations.
On the panel was Captain Ferdi Heymann, M/Y Pangaea, who spoke of the virtues of cruising in Australia. “One of the most amazing experiences for me was the time we spent in Western Australia cruising in the Kimberley region,” he said. “The Australian people are so friendly and nothing is ever a problem. They go out of their way to make life easy and the industry offers world class service and facilities.”
Captain Nick Smith of MY Eleni said, “there are so many key areas for cruising in Australia, depending on the experience your owner or charter guests are looking for. The Great Barrier Reef is iconic, and especially attractive now that there are a number of key anchorages for larger yachts ensuring owners get that unique experience they are looking for. Another key attraction for us was New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour. All cruising destinations in Australia are on many people’s bucket lists.”
The breakfast ended with the opportunity for networking as many guests stayed on to chat with the Australian stakeholders present.
There were representatives at the breakfast from all the key regions of Australia including Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Superyacht Australia CEO M. Edwards thanked everyone involved and deemed the event “a great boost to the Australian presence” on the international cruising scene.
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