APSA Celebrates Singapore Yachting Festival 2023!

Singapore Yachting Festival (SYF) 2023 was a testament to the strength of the Asian boating community and celebrated the vibrant and growing boating culture of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Held in the world-class ONE°15 Marina, Sentosa Cove, the attendance numbers exceeded expectations with over 9200+ visitors enjoying the four-day festival. With the emphasis on relaxed fun and family entertainment, this new style of Asian boat show is helping to engage the local boating enthusiasts and generating a new audience for the boating lifestyle.

Wade Pearce, founder of SG Marine Guide, and event organiser, said “We have had unbelievable support from the industry around the region, and we worked hard to deliver a quality event for our exhibitors. The short lead-in time was challenging, but the feedback has been fantastic, with brokers and exhibitors saying that they had strong leads from the show. I believe that the relaxed and friendly atmosphere provided a great platform for anyone wanting to be part of the boating scene – it’s about connecting, sharing and inspiring a new generation who appreciate the sea.

“Whether companies were looking to re-establish their presence in the region or expand into a new market, SYF offered the ‘stepping stones’ for anyone who wants to charter a boat, buy a jet ski, or move on to becoming a boat owner. From that experience and enjoyment, owners will generally want upgrade from the 20ft to 30ft with cabin, all the way to 70ft or even a 100ft tri-deck,” adds Pearce.

Arthur Tay the Chairman of ONE°15 Marina was equally delighted with the success of the SYF, and its engagement of the local boating community. “This event has proved that that Singapore is a yachting gateway and hub for Asia’s leisure marine industry. SYF is a key promotional tool and lead generator for the region’s yachting industry, and provides a powerful platform and opportunity for exhibitors to meet new customers as well as reach out to existing clientele.”

Over 70 brands and exhibitors were on the water and all the leading yachting brands were there, including Azimut|Benetti, Beneteau, Ferretti Yachts, Princess Yachts, Sanlorenzo, to name a few. Sailing and power multihulls were also on display, and included Iliad, Bali, Lagoon and Leopard catamarans, along with the ever increasingly popular day boats from Axopar, Nimbus, Saxdor and Regal boats.

The ‘Big Boats’ continued to shine at this year’s festival with APSA member Simpson Marine presenting an impressive line-up of yachts. Ewa Stachurska, the Global Marketing, and Business Development Director for Simpson Marine noted that, “the team was busy everyday welcoming clients to view the fleet of 11 yachts that included the state-of-the art Sanlorenzo SX88; Singapore’s first SX76 which features cutting-edge technology, plus the spacious and contemporary Bluegame BGX70 and the Asia Premiere of the BGX60 designed for boat owners who enjoy plenty of space for relaxation and entertainment.”

New APSA member Hong Seh Yachting, Singapore’s multi-industry yachting and automotive juggernaut, were equally busy with the impressive line-up of Ferretti Yachts that included the Asian premiere of the Ferretti Yachts 860, and Ferretti Yachts 780 with the best aerodynamically designed flybridge, and Ferretti Yachts 500. As well as other yacht brands that Hong Seh represent including; Riva, Pershing, Sunreef, Boston Whaler, Schafer and Zodiac Tenders. Edward Tan, Hong Seh Yachting Executive Director commented, that, “after a long 3-year hiatus, we are delighted to be a part of the event as it is a pivotal platform for us to show the public the great things that the yachting lifestyle can offer.”

Another new APSA member, SEABOB, the world’s leading water sled manufacturer from Germany, also used the SYF to launch its Asia-Pacific representation. Claus Gruner, Managing Director of CAYAGO Asia Pacific, the new SEABOB-CAYAGO Representation in APAC, said, “We have had over 60 serious enquiries during the SYF, and this initiative is the last several years organic evolution of the company’s strategic planning and growth, fostered over the course of the last years. “We have worked for many years with all major global yacht brands at corporate level, and this has laid a solid foundation for expansion of business in the Asia-Pacific Region.”

Many other APSA members were also present at the SYF and Southeast Asia Yachting Conference, including Azimut|Benetti, Cayman Islands Registry, Maritime Cook Islands, Navim Group, YACHTZOO, Travel Cue, AON, Asia Pacific Superyachts, Brookes Bell, The George Group (partners with Howden), SeedMarine Co, Global Marine Travel, Burgess, NABS Engineering, Spinnaker International, The Shipowners Club, Clearvac Engineering Asia, Sri Lanka Yachting Group (SLYG), Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA), Association of Marine Industries of Malaysia (AMIM), Singapore Boating Industry Association (SBIA), Thailand Yachting Business Association (TYBA), Asia Yacht Press, Asia Pacific Boating, Yachtstyle and The World of Yachts.

The APSA ‘Asia Superyacht Night’, held on the eve of the Singapore Yachting Festival and sponsored by Artworks, SG Marine Guide and ONE°15 Marina, was well attended with over 100+ APSA members, sponsors and friends networking and enjoying free flowing wine and beer courtesy of Wine Marvel. The Captain’s Lounge sponsored by Marinetek, Sevenstar Yacht Transport, Catalano Shipping Singapore and ONE°15 Marina, was another great networking venue for Captains, SG Marine Guide VIP Gold Pass holders and APSA members, and was well utilised over the four-day event with the air-conditioning being a great drawcard!

Asia has matured in recent years and established its own style. The Singapore Yacht Festival 2023 combined with the highly successful Southeast Asia Yachting Conference have played an important role in helping to reconnect the Asian Yachting community and given Southeast Asia regions more exposure in the global world of yachting. Asia is fully in action, which is great news for APSA!