Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival
A host of high-calibre luxury brands have joined the extensive line-up of exhibitors that will be on display at the Sanctuary Cove Boating Festival from November 13 to 15 2020.
2020
The Great Reef Census Project
Luxury super yachts have been recruited into the world’s biggest research fleet for a massive survey of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Reef Census was Launched in October and a flotilla of boats will be deployed along the Reef’s 2300km length over the next 10 weeks.
Australia Superyacht Trends
Around the globe, recreational boating markets are experiencing a huge surge in demand as consumers look for creative ways to endure the pandemic closer to home – a trend being seen strongly here in Australia.
Chairman’s Message September 2020
Virtual boat shows and online webinars are a way of life now, and go some way to keeping us connected, but it’s not the same as the sensational buzz that you get when attending events like the Monaco Yacht Show!
Simpson Marine celebrates ‘Lucky 8’
2020 is proving to be a good year for Simpson Marine in Hong Kong with many clients and owners deciding to start their first or next boating adventure earlier than initially planned and enjoy their “now” time. In many ways this makes sense as a yacht represents a safe haven to retreat to and allows owners to enjoy peace of mind far away from the lockdowns and restrictions that Hong Kong has been facing on land. Similar to their counterparts in the US, Hong Kong yachtsmen and boaters have been very active at sea this year.
A New Generation of Expedition
In the 1990s, Benetti was the first shipyard to use fiberglass to build Navettes over 30 meters long; today it is the first major player in the industry to return to steel, which it has imprinted in its DNA, breathing life into the new generation of Expedition designed in the Benetti tradition and based on what Owners want:
Thailand Reopens with Special 90 Day Visa
The Thai Government cabinet on Tuesday (September 15) agreed to allow in foreign tourists who agree to a 14-day quarantine to stay for at least 90 days. Two extensions will be available for 90 days each; the lengthiest period for the new visa would be 270 days.
HFW Webinar on Paralympic Sailing
HFW Community will be hosting a webinar led by Paralympian sailors [**Hannah Stodel**](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hannah-stodel-79122a60?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text) (Great Britain) and [**Jovin Tan**](https://sg.linkedin.com/in/jovin-tan-051324174?trk=public_post_share-update_update-text) (Singapore) on 8th October at 9am BST, to discuss the importance of Paralympic sailing and the future of the sport. The world of sailing was shocked and disappointed by the announcement in September 2018 that sailing was not to be included by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The decision followed the sport’s removal from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in January 2015. In this webinar, Hannah and Jovin will discuss their hopes that the IPC approve any future application for sailing to be returned to the Paralympics, and how the submission of such an application might be achieved.
Hope on Horizon for Yachting Industry
Like most leisure industries, yachting has been hit hard by the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak, but the sector is already showing promising signs of post-lockdown recovery. Some 81% of manufacturers reported a decline in business through Q1 of 2020 but, with lockdown restrictions easing in many nations and travel options increasing, there is hope on the horizon.
Azimut|Benetti Group Shines in the Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific Area continues to play a strategic role in terms of Azimut|Benetti Group sales. Thanks to its longstanding presence in key countries in the area, the company has an excellent reputation and unparalleled reach across the region. Reporting total sales worth over 150 million euros (the two brands’ results for the last 12 months), the Group is a top performer in the superyacht arena, as despite the complexities caused by the global pandemic, Azimut|Benetti has put in a particularly good performance, reporting a 10% increase on the results posted for Asia last season with Benetti alone nearly doubling the number of units sold.