APSA Grand Tour 2021
Asia-Pacific Destinations for Superyachts
Australia Industry Overview: David Good (Superyacht Australia).
David Good, CEO of AIMEX, Superyacht Australia & the Australian Commercial Marine Group since 2018, believes that the Asia-Pacific region has a massive amount to offer. “The Asia Pacific region has it all,” says Good. Destinations. Service yards. Refit facilities. We would like the superyacht industry to know that they can come to the Asia-Pac, enjoy themselves with wonderful exploring and cruising, and not have to go all the way back to the Med for a refit, maintenance or paint job.”
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
New Zealand: Mark Wightman (Integrated Marine Group).
Mark Wightman reminds us that New Zealand boasts some of the most picturesque and even spectacular cruising scenery in the world. There’s unique fauna when you step ashore; mountains, volcanoes and fjords to visit, fabulous produce and world class wines to sample. The superyacht service industry is mature, top class, and world-renowned. The work ethic is “casual but professional – and owners like it.”
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Papua New Guinea: Angela Pennefather (Melanesia Luxury Yachts)
Papua New Guinea has hardly made a mark on the superyacht chart to date. Angela Pennefather is PNG-born, and aiming to change the misconception that PNG is a ‘difficult’ destination. PNG is an adventure destination calling for self-sufficiency. The diving in the Trobriand Islands is nothing short of spectacular, and the coastline is breath-taking. New Britain is the volcanoes-and-hiking sector, and everywhere is deserted, but above and beyond everything else, PNG is about the people. It is “the biggest anthropological museum in the world.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Australia: Trenton Gay (Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard)
Trenton Gay took the webinar audience on a whistle stop cruise around Australia, pausing in Tasmania, along the Victorian coast, nearby the Margaret River vineyards in Western Australia, and in the Kimberley (top left corner) where the land just falls into the sea, tides reach 14m, and the waterfalls are horizontal. Trenton Gay is very happy to be ‘open all hours’ at 27˚S. “The Gold Coast is (just) sub-tropical, so we really are a year-round operation.” Then of course there’s the Great Barrier Reef!
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
APSA History: Colin Dawson (Expat Marine)
This year marks APSA’s 10th Anniversary since the association was formed in response to comments aired at the 2010 Singapore Superyacht Conference. Building on the suggestion that the region needed one voice to promote itself the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA) was born.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Japan: Nigel Beatty (Super Yacht Logistics Japan)
Japan imposes precious few restrictions on visiting yachts: and when you go ashore the sights, sounds, food, culture, sports, history, people and scenery of this clean, safe, and friendly country are already legendary. Even better, the shipyards are squeaky clean, the quality of workmanship absolutely first class, imported parts can be easily moved around the country, almost every sizeable port (there are lots) is a port of entry, and crew can come and go with relative ease – visa, waivers, and passes are not a problem. “Come and visit Japan,” says Beatty.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Taiwan: Capt Paul Brackley (Central Yacht)
Capt Paul Brackley is quite right when he said “most people don’t know anything about Taiwan”. The island formerly known as Formosa has opportunities for cruising, but its real strength is in repair and refit facilities. Indeed, Taiwan is the 5th biggest builder of superyachts in the world. Some of the smaller yards are not so glamorous in appearance, but Taiwan permits easy access for foreign specialist contractors, and the skill level among local subcontractors is first class.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Hong Kong and Southern China: Mike Simpson (Simpson Marine)
Mike Simpson, the founder of Simpson Marine, talked about Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), Hainan, and southern China. “Hong Kong could be the Monaco of the East, if the government would only wake up to the possibilities…!” The GBA is opening up and Hainan is scheduled to be the main boating hub for China, and the island has been designated as a Free Trade Zone, with a particular emphasis on the city and surroundings of Sanya region opening up to “marine tourism”.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Southeast Asia: Richard Lofthouse (Catalano Shipping Services Asia-Pacific)
Richard Lofthouse presented an overview of the Southeast Asian region, and highlighted the recent easing in regulations to enter Indonesia. Thai regulations are also opening up and allowing yachts to enter the country, albeit with a quarantine rider. It is even easier to enter Indonesia – but not Malaysia, where the first port of entry when coming from the west (Langkawi) is still “in paralysis” but hopefully will be open to superyachts soon. Lofthouse also pointed out that the current increase in numbers of superyacht coming into the market, and the usage of local superyachts being seen in Hong Kong, will inevitably turn into an uptick in blue water cruising all across the region, just as soon as those boats are able to ‘push out’.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Thailand: Gordon Fernandes (Asia Pacific Superyachts)
Phuket is the first port of call for yachts travelling east from India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives – and before that of course, the Med. “Phuket is a draw card in its own right. Once upon a time it was an idyllic backpacker destination – sunshine, sand, smiles, cheap lodging and cheap beer. Today it is a highly sophisticated ‘lifestyle destination’ offering luxury villas, golf courses, innumerable spas, international sporting events (including sailing regattas), ‘cosmetic medical tourism’, beach clubs, and high-end brand shopping.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Singapore: Scott Walker (NABS Engineers/Asia Pacific Superyachts)
Singapore’s historical existence relied on the shipping traffic passing through the Singapore Strait, and that’s still a massively important industry for the tiny city state. Dry docks, graving docks, engineering facilities, repairs, painting, refits, bunkering – you name it, you can get it done here. Leaving aside Covid-19 complications, access to Singapore facilities is easy and hassle-free. Immigration and quarantine are straightforward.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Indonesia: Andy Shorten (The Lighthouse Consultancy)
“Indonesia is a magnificent, beautiful, wonderful, spectacular, thrilling, cultural and everything else destination. Shorten made special mention of the Raja Ampat region, which provides some of the richest diving environments in the world; expansive Cendrawasih Bay with its almost-tame population of whale sharks and where “the pace of life is zero”; the Banda Islands, historical heartbeat of the 17th century spice trade and especially nutmeg; and the Bali-Komodo region, well known as the home of the Komodo dragon – but still practically deserted, as is everywhere in Indonesia.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
French Polynesia (Islands of Tahiti): Manoa Rey (Tahiti Tourisme).
The beauty of these South Pacific islands is undeniable, and the Polynesian culture engaging. Tahiti a special place for superyachts to visit. Manoa Rey, works for Tahiti Tourism developing its strategy for Nautical Tourism, especially superyachts. The French Territory consists of 118 islands divided into five unique archipelagos: the Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands, and Tubuai Islands.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org
Cook Islands: Katrina Matheson (Maritime Cook Islands/Cook Islands Yacht Squadron).
Cook Islanders love to party, and there is no better place to stop off in the South Pacific. Our islands are where heaven meets earth.Consisting of a group of 15 islands scattered over 2 million sq km of the South Pacific. The main island is Rarotonga which is also the capital. Lying west of Tonga and east of Tahiti, the Cook Islands are self-governing and have a free association with New Zealand, which means the population are New Zealand citizens. English is the official language, and the native island language is Cook Island Maori. Tourism is the main economic driver, with over 150,000 visitors coming to the islands each year.
To watch the video click on the photo and for more information on APSA go to www.apsuperyacht.org