Chairman’s Message mid-March 2022

The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) held at the new Dubai Harbour Marina was a busy and successful event. Our Executive Director, Suzy Rayment, was able to catch up with several APSA members including: Benetti, Travel Cue, Cayman Islands, Sail Lanka, Burgess, Rosemont Yacht Services, Superyacht Australia/AIMEX, Hill Dickinson, Cluster Yachting Monaco, Yacht Style, and World of Yachting. If we missed any members, we apologise; however, the trip was done at short notice.

I will attend the 40th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show which starts on 24 March 2022 and runs through to Sunday 27 March, so if any APSA members are attending this show, please let me know and hopefully we can catch up. The best way to contact me will be on WhatsApp, and Suzy can provide the details.

In this newsletter we cover the Middle East Yachting Conference and the Dubai International Boat Show. Highlights from APSA members include some new superyachts making their way to Asia, along with the new ‘Test & Go’ quarantine scheme for travellers entering Phuket by sea. Down Under, the third annual Superyacht Soirée, held in partnership with Benetti Yachts and Musson Jewellers at Jones Bay Marina, had a record number of participating vessels, sponsors and guests, even though it was a little wet on the day. We also want to send our best wishes to the APSA members who survived the flooding that affected both Queensland and NSW recently.

The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) has just announced the speakers for its upcoming annual conference, ASMEX 2022, to be held on Tuesday 17 May at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Hope Island, Gold Coast. This year’s theme is ‘Reconnecting with the World’, and will focus on the direction of the export, superyacht, and commercial sectors of Australia’s marine industry as they adapt to ‘living with Covid’, while continuing to face the challenges of ongoing positive growth.

Finally, the new dates for the Thailand Yacht Show Pattaya have been announced, with the show now taking place from 9-12 June at Ocean Marina, Pattaya. If you plan to attend any of these events, in the next few months please do let us know so that we can make sure that we catch up and reconnect.

Stay safe and stay in touch.