Yachting Intelligence

Alastair Walton, of Boats.com and YachtWorld.com, provides another report based on his rapid tour of the fall boat-show circuit. This time, when he’s looking up, he’s seeing more than masts:

The Monaco Yacht Show is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the Mediterranean boat show season – maybe even the world. Nowhere else can you find the same heady mixture of huge superyachts, stunning supermodels, international ship yards, professional yacht brokers, innovative designers, spectacular scenery and uber-wealthy boat buyers. Naturally, this addictive showcase attracts visitors from all over the world (…) Read the rest of this entry »

A survey carried out by Superyacht UK has revealed a bumper year of growth in the British superyacht sector, with a high level of confidence for further success in 2010.

Despite the tough economic environment, the survey indicated that Superyacht UK members bucked the trend of decline to post a substantial year on year growth rate of 15.3% in turnover, reaching a total of £410 million. The figures cover the last financial year up to June 1st 2009.

Superyacht UK is the trade body representing over 160 member companies operating in the design, build, supply chain and service provision of yachts over 24 metres load line length within the UK market. The UK industry has a growing reputation for excellence at the high end of the market both domestically and throughout the world. In particular, British designers and boat builders have seen revenues increase significantly. Read the rest of this entry »

Demand for the world’s largest, most expensive yachts is on the rise.

« We’ve gotten the strongest forward order book that we’ve ever had. It’s the best outlook we’ve ever had since we’ve started the company, » said Toby Allies, Sales and Marketing Director for Pendennis, a leading British manufacturer and re-fitter of superyachts.

Amid the global recession, the worldwide market for luxury goods has plummeted over the last year, expected to shrink 10 percent for 2009 according to global business consultants Bain & Company.

A few sectors, though, have shown surprising strength and even growth amid the downturn, including British-made superyachts.

The British market for superyachts grew more than 15 percent during the fiscal year ending June 1, 2009, according to a new survey. Overall revenue increased to a record $663 million (£410 million) and jobs across the industry increased five percent, according to Superyacht UK, the trade group who conducted the survey. Read the rest of this entry »

THE UK superyacht sector has remained buoyant in the recession, with revenue growing 15 per cent year-on-year, according to figures released by the industry’s trade body.

Superyacht UK, which represents over 160 member companies involved in the superyacht manufacturing business, said that revenue has increased from £350m to £410m over the year.

The UK figures buck the European trend, where the number of orders for yachts has sunk. Superyacht UK says the resilience is partly due to sales benefiting from the weakness of sterling against the euro.

The survey found that 56 per cent of companies questioned rated the prospects for the year ahead as either « good or excellent ». Read the rest of this entry »