Time to shine

On board two luxury charter yachts at SCIBS, the Ocean Club's Captains’ Conclave was an enjoyable afternoon of networking for industry leaders and captains.

Photography by Damien Bredberg

08 June 2021

Captains, given the demands and the sheer logistics of the occupation, rarely find a moment to connect with each other. A reality only bolstered by the trail of the pandemic.

So, within the setting of the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), the Ocean Club organised for a group of captains and industry leaders to gather on board the 27-metre M/Y Patriot and the 33-metre M/Y Corroboree.

Named the Captains’ Conclave, these industry stalwarts indulged in an afternoon of canapés and a collection of cocktails inspired and supplied by Inner Circle Rum, one of the partners of the event.

Additional partners included Penske Australia, Analu, Cotswold Furniture, Dockmate and Superyacht Group GBR, while the event itself was sponsored by Bvlgari, Burgess, Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Rolls-Royce, Hayman Estates and Pilatus.

The event was deemed an overwhelming success, one that Elite Sponsor Pilatus described as “fun, relaxed, and in a great setting.”

Sponsors of the Captains' Conclave.

Vale Lager at the Ocean Club Captains' Conclave. (Credit: Damien Bredberg.)

Ocean Club Captains' Conclave. (Credit: Damien Bredberg.)

Ocean Media, publisher of Ocean and Sails magazines, and The Great Southern Route. (Credit: Damien Bredberg.)

Ocean Club Captains' Conclave. (Credit: Damien Bredberg.)

As Trenton Gay from the Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard explains, “The marine maintenance business is people-driven.

“It’s about developing and maintaining great relationships with owners and captains so they’re confident in our ability to solve their problems and make their time on the water more enjoyable.”

Gay continued, “While there are many B2B, industry-to-industry events, the Ocean Club ones are unique.”

“They are an incredible avenue for us to connect on a more personal level with our existing and potential clients. Getting that face-to-face time and feedback is very powerful.”

Chris Stanton, Head of Burgess Australia, echoed these sentiments: “The Ocean Club Owners’ Coterie and Captains’ Conclave events exceeded expectations and set an extremely high bar for future events.

“The inaugural gatherings for both events were extremely well attended with excellent opportunities for meeting new and similarly minded yachting enthusiasts.

“We’re delighted to have supported the initiative as Elite Sponsors and are already excited about, and looking forward to, next year’s event,” he added.

While the event was a platform that celebrated captains, it stood equally as a testament to the resilience, perseverance and shimmer of the marine industry.

Sponsors of the Captains' Conclave.

“The Ocean Club’s bespoke superyacht events at SCIBS 2021 were a highlight of our group’s attendance this year,” said Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef Manager Joanne Drake.

“The chic occasions enabled lovely interactions within a luxurious and relaxed atmosphere. Conversations naturally flowed toward our world-heritage destination and its many unique experiences. Thank you, Ocean Media, for adding a very special element to the show this year!”

Andrea Gambacorti, Co-Director of interior design firm Analu, echoed Drake’s position: “We enjoyed the Captains’ Conclave very much and were able to finally see a lot of familiar faces again on the evening.

“Mixing with some of the world’s best and most recognised captains and professional crews was a refreshing experience. We sincerely look forward to being a part of exclusive Ocean Club events at SCIBS in future years,” he concluded.

Dominic White, Penske MTU Marine (East) Sales Manager, added: “Both the Ocean Club Owners’ and Captains’ functions allowed Penske Australia and New Zealand to showcase our superior network and the advantages Rolls-Royce Power Systems MTU engines bring to the marine market.

“The Ocean Club forum relates strongly with our brand. We were delighted to be a sponsor and look forward to working with everyone we met.”

Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard.

M/Y Patriot.

“At Ocean Media, we’re so fortunate to have so many amazing sponsors for our Ocean Club,” said Hillary Buckman, Managing Director, Ocean Media.

“We’re grateful for their support of these important events, such as hosting a relaxed afternoon for captains and crew so they can not only mingle with industry leaders but also so they can get a chance to relax on the other side of the bar.

“Their input to our industry is so important – they are our connection to the owners, and they make sure owners get the best experience from yachting.”