This is our second newsletter in March, and increasingly members are taking full advantage the APSA news channel to get their news out to the global superyacht community. Again, we have a surplus of news (which is all on the APSA website) but the newsletter is restricted to a dozen stories; if your story is not in this newsletter, then it will be in the next in a couple of weeks’ time.
The APSA Grand Tour 2021, Season 2 will start in the South Pacific on Tuesday 13th April 2021 atn1700hrs HKT (GMT +8). The panellists for the first webinar of Season 2 are Manoa Rey (Tahiti), David Jamieson (Fiji) and Katrina Matheson (Cook Islands).
The Cook Islands Yacht Squadron (CIYS), an incorporated society, was established in August, 2006 to further the recreational and competitive sailing objective of Maritime Cook Islands, the flag state administrator of the Cook Islands register for ships and yachts.
Asia-Pacific Boating (APB) is a leading source for news and features on luxury yachting, and marine environment and conservation in Asia-Pacific both in print and online. Asia-Pacific Boating delivers timely breaking news and in-depth feature articles to an engaged readership of yacht owners, and marine industry insiders. While continuing to feature beautiful yachts, Asia-Pacific Boating has pivoted to become a leading voice for marine conservation, with a focus on biodiversity, the marine lifestyle and tourism.
Early March saw the delivery of the stunning[Sanlorenzo](https://www.simpsonmarine.com/manufacturer/sanlorenzo/)SL118 into Hong Kong, one of many Sanlorenzo arrivals due into the city over this year and the next. The Sanlorenzo SL118 has a modern style and innovative features throughout the yacht. Her ergonomic helm stations include four control system interactive touch screens, each individually standing, and a navigator corner just as on a commercial aircraft.
Title: New Zealand Yachting Industry: Duthie Lidgard
Hong Kong has over 10,000 registered pleasure yachts as of 2020, and out of approximately 100 yachts are over 30m. There are only a small number of berths with proper marina shelter and berthing facilities available for big yachts in Hong Kong, and the spaces available can only accommodate half of the existing superyachts.
The past 12 months have proved to be very special for the Sanlorenzo shipyard which has launched three of its Yacht Division flagship models within the same year. Late 2020 saw the extraordinary introduction of the[Sanlorenzo SX112,](https://www.simpsonmarine.com/newyacht/sanlorenzo/sx112/)the ultimate crossover yacht that is a smart synthesis between a classic motoryacht and an explorer vessel allowing for regional cruising in unmistakable style. Her many features include an extensive sea lounge area on the water level, allowing owners and their guests to stay close to sea and enjoy its serenity and beauty throughout the day.
Benetti Yachts, Italian excellence in superyacht construction since 1873, is brilliantly riding the wave of market growth in a season that promises very satisfying results. Despite the complexities caused by the global pandemic, Benetti Yachts possesses 34 superyachts orders at a value of €700 million, accounting for units both under construction and planning to go on construction before 2021 spring time, reaching a portfolio worth exceeding 1 billion euros in total of Azimut | Benetti Group. Despite the present COVID-19 restrictions, the nautical market has enjoyed a busy season originating from the widespread desire for escape, freedom and safety of the sea. Consumers’ lure of escaping to the open water has led to an uptrend in yacht orders.
Travel Cue’s holding company, Connect Group, has been recognized in the latest Financial Times ranking as one of the High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific in 2021, earning a position in the exclusive ranking amongst the top 500 companies within the region.
