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The eighth edition of SYS welcomed more than 15,000 visitors and over 90 yachts and superyachts, including 14 World and Asia premieres.
SINGAPORE – The sounding of the horns of nearly 100 yachts and boats at 8pm on Sunday 15th April signalled the close of the most successful run of the Singapore Yacht Show (SYS) yet. In its 8th edition, SYS welcomed over 15,000 visitors over the course of the four-day event at ONE˚15 Marina Club in Sentosa Cove, all of whom were potential buyers and charterers hailing from all around Asia.
Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder organisers of Singapore Yacht Events, explained, “Singapore is the geographical hub of an enormous region that is poised to become the third destination for the yachting and superyachting world, after the Mediterranean and Caribbean. The potential for a burgeoning yachting industry in a space stretching from Phuket to the Pacific is almost limitless. Asia has the cruising grounds and the scenery, and a whole rainbow of different cultures, that can be marketed to existing yacht owners as a new destination, and to potential yacht owners from Asia as a new lifestyle. All it takes to make it happen is support from the various regional governments.”
In addition to the yachts and superyachts on water, visitors were treated to a glamorous programme of yacht parties, networking events, gourmet food and jewellery stalls, pop-up bars and high-end entertainment. The Show was a sparkling affair which proved conclusively that yachting in Asia is on the rise and that SYS continues to be an unrivalled event in the region.
Spectacular premieres and announced sales
This year’s line-up hit new milestones with the most prominent local industry players and leading international brands showcasing their products for the first time in Asia. A total of 14 vessels made their way to Singapore for their debut during the Show.
Simpson Marine returned to SYS for the eighth year in a row with the biggest display – a total of 11 boats in their show fleet, including the premiere of Beneteau 51.1, Beneteau Grand Tourismo 50, Sanlorenzo 78 and Lagoon 50. Alongside them was an impressive showcase of 10 boats from Boat Lagoon Yachting, importer and distributor for Princess Yachts, presented for the first time in Asia the hydro-dynamic Princess 30M and the spacious Princess 55.
In partnership with Hong Seh Marine, the Ferretti Group showcased six yachts, two of which made their regional debut – Riva Perseo 76 and Ferretti 780, part of the Tai He Ban collection, a special new range specifically customized to meet the needs of the Asian market. Additional premiers included the extra-wide Grande 27 Metri by Italian yacht builder Azimut Yachts, French-built Fountain Pajot MY 44 by Australian-Thai company Multihull Solutions, and the Open 40 by luxury catamaran manufacturer Sunreef. Absolute 58 Fly, Palm Beach 52 and Maritimo 51 were also presented for the first time in Asia.
With plenty of sunshine and despite a couple of showers on Friday and Sunday, the brokers, dealers and manufacturers on the docks felt that visitors were enjoying all the activities the Show had to offer. There was certainly a happy mood around the booths when some of the brands started to announce on-site sales. Sunreef Yachts reported the sale of a 50 Amber Limited Edition – one of only 10 scheduled to ever be produced – on the very first day. Similarly, Simpson Marine sold a Lagoon 50 on the second day and an Aquila 36 on the last day of the show, whilst Princess Yachts reported the sale of a 68-footer outright, with contracts out for another four boats.
Yacht toys and live demonstrations
The Floating Leisure Hub, a dedicated area for boating enthusiasts and watersports fans located in the heart of the Show, was packed with the latest recreational watercraft and luxury retailers. Visitors joined a bumper schedule of live demonstrations, exhilarating sea trials, prize giveaways, and evening networking events. The Interactive Demo on Demand – with SUP, kayaking, fishing simulator, and boating basics demonstrations – was a major draw.
Exhibitors and industry partners
Major yacht builders, marinas, organisations and brokers were also present with indoor and outdoor booths to network and promote their latest developments and future plans. Famous shipyards like Lürssen from Germany, Feadship, Heesen, and Amels from Holland, Benetti and Fincantieri from Italy, Westport from the USA, and newcomers HeySea from China, were all flying their respective flags. Representatives from Ana Marina in Vietnam and Port Takola in Thailand. Marina builders Marinetek from Sweden and Bellingham from Australia. Brokers Camper & Nicholsons, Burgess, Fraser, Eastwinds, Y.Co and Edmiston; as well as industry partners and manufacturers Sunbrella, Seventstar Yacht Transport, International Paints and Boat Lift, amongst others. The Asia Pacific Superyacht Association and Monaco’s Tourism Office, Economic Development Board and the Monaco Yacht Show – SYS’s original Big Sister – all showed their support, demonstrating the importance of networking and creating partnerships during SYS.
For anyone who went the full distance – starting with the Asia Pacific Superyacht Conference, then the Asia Boating Dialogue and culminating in the Singapore Yacht Show – it was an informative six-day week that provided the perfect networking opportunity for industry players. This year’s list of personalities from the international yachting world included Herve Gastinel from Beneteau Group, Dick Van Lent from Feadship, Max Perotti from SanLorenzo, Rose Damen from Amels, Carla Demaria from Monte Carlo Yachts, Michael Breman from Lürssen, Jean-Paul Chapeleau from Jeanneau and Prestige, Jonathan Beckett from Burgess and superyacht designer Espen Øino, to name but a few.
Dazzling social calendar
Complementing the Show was a glamorous social calendar which included electric cocktail parties on board superyachts, a floating Lounge bar, the Boardwalk Retail Village, supercar parades, wine and gin festivals, and even wellness workshops from Chiva Som, one of the most famous Spa resorts in the world.
The nights continued with glamourous VIP dinners, chic yacht parties and networking gatherings. SYS opened its doors from 3.00pm to 9.00pm, so that the cool of late afternoons ran happily into the numerous evening cocktails along the docks and on the boats on display. Azimut, Princess Yachts, Simpson Marine, Lagoon and Beneteau, Ferretti, Camper & Nicholsons, Monte Carlo Yachts, Multihull Solutions and Cars & Yachts, all hosted several social events.
The celebratory “All That Glitters” Sentosa Ball opened the social proceedings on Thursday evening. Held in the Grand Ballroom of the W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, the glamourous evening brought together some of Asia’s most influential people and businesses to meet yacht owners and industry captains in an extravagantly stylish setting. A silent auction took place with proceeds going to the Biosphere Foundation.
Activities for families were also a highlight with the historic vessel Vega, built in 1892 in Norway, being a hit with young visitors. Vega’s humanitarian work sees her sailing some 7,000nm every year to collect medical supplies from donors in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and deliver them to remote islands and communities in eastern Indonesia and East Timor.
Other land-based activities included the Lamborghini and Ferrari Rendezvous, wine and gin festivals, a cigar and whisky party, and the VIP lounge which never fails to attract the many high rollers who came into town for Asia’s biggest and best yacht party.
The Singapore Yacht Show 2018 proved once again to be the most important event in the yachting calendar in Asia – it has truly become a “one-stop shop”, the principal hub of the business within the region.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
