Singapore Yacht Show 2017 Seals Position as Asia’s Premier Boat Show
As the horns blew to signal the end of the 2017 edition of the Singapore Yacht Show, the mood was jubilant amongst exhibitors. Over the course of the four-day event, SYS welcomed a total of 14,286 visitors through its doors for what was widely considered its best ever edition. In addition to the 94 yachts on water, visitors were treated to a glamorous programme of supercar parades, fashion shows, yacht parties, gourmet food stalls and an array of pop-up bars.
The SYS 2017 line-up hit new milestones with the largest ever yacht on display – the 77m Silver Fast, and a record number of World and Asian premieres. Prominent brands such as Boat Lagoon Yachting and the Ferretti Group chose SYS as a platform to debut their newest yachts and concepts to the Asian market. Boat Lagoon Yachting had the largest exhibit, with a total of 13 boats on display, including the first ever in-water showing of the sporty but elegant Princess S60, and the Asia premiere of Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey 349. In partnership with Hong Seh Marine, the Ferretti Group showcased five yachts, three of which - Ferretti Yachts 450, Pershing 5X and Ferretti Yachts 700 - made their regional debut.
Vrit Yongsakul, Group Managing Director of Boat Lagoon Yachting and Princess Yachts South East Asia, commented, "It's been a good show this year for Boat Lagoon Yachting - our biggest display of 13 luxury yachts has attracted a huge amount of interest from both seasoned and first-time buyers, particularly the Princess S60 which made her In-Water World Premiere at the show this week. The event has certainly reinforced its standing as the best platform in Asia for yacht enthusiasts, and it was a truly a great opportunity to promote the leisure marine lifestyle."
There was plenty of sunshine, and none of the torrential downpours that Singapore is commonly known for. According to the brokers, dealers and manufacturers on the docks, visitor numbers certainly felt as though they were well up from last year, “and there was a really good feel to the place, great ambience.” There was certainly good ambience around the Sevenstar Yacht Transport booth where, as Sales Manager Peter Staalsmid admits, “it’s been a great four days here at the Singapore Yacht Show – lots of interaction with show visitors. We’re looking forward to 2018 already.”
Over at Simpson Marine, Singapore Country Manager Nick Stratton reported the sale of the Lagoon 620 Essence on display, and also the Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 which was premiering at the Show. “This boat proved very popular – there are more orders to come”, Simpson had 40 staff at the Singapore Yacht Show, representing all of the shipyards in the Simpson portfolio, and “we are confident of many sales to come,” said Stratton. “Our charter programme has proved particularly successful, with many bookings confirmed at the show – and our E-power Marine Finance product attracted a lot of interest.” As the premier marine financing scheme available in Asia, it’s no surprise it was well received at SYS.
Gulf Craft, a long-term supporter of SYS, was present once more with a Majesty 48 and a Nomad 65. “The Nomad attracted a great deal of interest,” said Mahmoud Itani, Communications and Marketing Manager. “The one on display is subtly different from its predecessors. We have been gradually refining the interior in response to customer comments and suggestions. Gulf Craft have been present at all seven Singapore shows now, and we fully intend to continue our presence in 2018. The Show feels very positive this year - there have definitely been more visitors, more serious buyers having more fun, and we like the new opening times.”
This year’s SYS opened its doors from 3.00pm to 9.00pm, so that the cool of late afternoons ran happily into the numerous evening cocktail parties along the docks and on the boats on display. Azimut, Ferretti Group, Princess Yachts, Simpson Marine and Sunreef all hosted a number of popular social events.
Famous British brand, Sunseeker, was one of the many returning exhibitors to increase their SYS showcase. “Last year we had a stand on the Esplanade, but this year we were able to display a brand new Sunseeker Manhattan 55, which attracted a lot of interest. We are continuously strengthening our presence in the region, and the Singapore Yacht Show is a key part of our strategy. We will be back with a much bigger presence next year.” Douglas Culverwell is Sunseeker’s Regional Business Manager. “We have a main office in Hong Kong, and now we are concentrating on building our brand strategy at this end of Asia. The Singapore Yacht Show is the show to be at – it is the focal point of the whole region.”
Leopard Catamarans had its largest showing to date with four vessels on display, Kit Chotithamaporn, Yacht Sales Manager – Asia, reported an ‘excellent Show, with two boats sold (so far), the Leopard 45 and the Leopard 48.”
There were plenty of champagne corks popping at Azimut as they reported an exceptionally successful show, having sold a total of five boats straight ‘off the dock’. Choppy Tan commented, “We are extremely happy with SYS this year, attracting guests from across the region, and selling five boats throughout the weekend. Our booth had no downtime and we were overflowing from opening way past show closing every night. We are delighted by our growing Azimut family here in Singapore and we look forward to putting on an even bigger display next year.”
And the V.VIP’s were shoulder to shoulder at the exclusive sponsor parties on the big boats all week. The owner-promoter of 41m M/Y Ocean Emerald was delighted with the number of contacts made at the three soirées he generously hosted. The undeniable star of the show was the 77m Silver Fast from SilverYachts in Australia, whose owner laid on two spectacular and highly exclusive events for the many UHNW visitors who wanted to see one of the world’s most iconic yachting brands:
“May I say thank you for a very good show; we saw plenty of good quality clients, and we are optimistic about a sale. Our competitors were also happy to be able to show a superyacht of superior quality - if we want to develop the Asian market, we have to let everyone on board to promote the top end of the industry. I am delighted to have made SilverFast open and flexible in this respect, and I am sure it will pay back one day!" said Guido Krass, owner of SilverYachts.
For anyone who went the full distance – starting with the Asia Pacific Yachting Conference, then the Asia Boating Forum and culminating in the Singapore Yacht Show – it was a long yet informative five days and provided the perfect networking opportunity for the industry. The amount of information generated at the Conferences, followed by the increased number of exhibitors at the Yacht Show, meant that there was a great deal to absorb.
CEO and Founder of SYS, Andy Treadwell, has always said that “this is a brand show in a business location,” and the exhibitors agree. Singapore may not have the space to offer in boating terms per se, but his new Thailand Yacht Show at the beginning of the season in Phuket offers just that. “Singapore,” says Treadwell, “is the financial and luxury hub of the region, and is perfectly located to be able to tap into the Indonesian and Malaysian markets - as well as the all-important Chinese goldmine. The tens of thousands of affluent lifestyle-seeking citizens in Hong Kong and on the mainland are only too happy to come to the Lion City to spend their money, do their business, and have fun. All we need is the budget to be able to go and get them.”
Once again, SYS proved that location is important. ONE˚15 Marina Sentosa Cove is a first-class establishment that can accommodate superyachts, and is surrounded by bars and restaurants, offering both a social background to the show and a supporting atmosphere. The Singapore Yacht Show is not just a boat show – it is also a luxury event in its own right. Supercars and fashion shows help complete the picture, but it is the ambience along the docks and the socialisation around the marina that sets SYS apart from all the other shows in the region. It is a showroom for the brands, a shop window for casual clientèle, a meeting ground for industry professionals, a launch pad for premieres and a rendezvous for boaters from all over Asia – and even further afield.
As the 2017 edition has proved, the Singapore Yacht Show is where you have to be to understand what is going on in the marine leisure industry in Asia. The dates for SYS 2018 have been confirmed, and will take place from 12-15 April.
About the Singapore Yacht Show
The Singapore Yacht Show is the leading yacht and luxury show in South East Asia and provides an opportunity to discover some of the world's finest superyacht and international boat brands in an elite and highly social setting.
The Singapore Yacht Show offers a first-class platform for regional guests to meet yachting professionals, boat owners, and supercar aficionados.
Held at the award-winning ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore, this exclusive event epitomises luxury lifestyle and brings together world-class yachts, glamorous parties, high-end entertaining, and an enviable range of prestige products and brands – supercars, fine dining and beautiful timepieces.
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