Chairman's Message 29 October 2021

The boat shows continue: it’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this week, along with the first Virtual Boat Show Sri Lanka, and in November it will be METSTRADE. We know that some of our APSA Members are at FLIBS, and we look forward to hearing their feedback about the show. If you plan to be at METSTRADE, please let us know as APSA Committee Member Gordon Fernandes will be there to represent APSA.

I would like to introduce a new APSA member: Superyachts 153° which has been established in response to the growing demand for yacht support to serve vessels arriving in Australia. The company aims to provide an elite+ level of service, and founders Corina Wilson and Dave Saul have picked a skilled team from representatives that have served on some of the world's largest and most exclusive yachts.

Travel restrictions are starting to be lifted around the region, albeit slowly, and in November it is planned that Australians will be able to travel ‘international’, but there will still be quarantine requirements for those returning home. Sri Lanka welcomes fully vaccinated visitors, as does the Maldives, and Thailand is all set to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors from 46 countries from November. To celebrate, top Phuket yachting companies including two APSA members (Northrop & Johnson Asia, and Simpson Marine) are collaborating on a unique event, PHUKET OPEN BOAT, that will be held on the 11 & 12 November and they will present a line-up of luxury yachts that are available in Phuket.

Unfortunately Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam are still closed to international visitors, but hopefully that situation will change soon.

Stay save and stay connected.