Yacht Style’s second issue of 2022 is dominated by Asian content, with Sunseeker among leading luxury yacht builders with a strong focus on the region. Several units of its Manhattan 68 (pictured on the cover) have been sold and delivered across the region, including in Singapore and Thailand, with Hong Kong now home to the world’s first Pacific edition of the model.
Featuring new interior layouts on the main and lower deck, the Pacific version was specially designed in collaboration with Hong Kong dealer NextWave Yachting. However, as Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti reveals in an extensive Leader interview this issue, the name ‘Pacific’ was chosen so as not to limit its appeal, which has proved a good idea as units have since been sold to Europe and the US.
Yacht Style’s second issue of the year traditionally has an extra focus on Asia, due largely to the region traditionally hosting boat shows in and around the March-April period. As such, we were delighted to become a media partner of the Dubai International Boat Show as it returned to the calendar this year.
As a key international hub in the Middle East, Dubai plays a key role in the superyacht industry, while this year’s show was also chosen as the venue for the world premiere of the Sunreef 80 Eco, the first sailing catamaran to emerge from the Polish catamaran builder’s pioneering Eco range. Many new models also arrive in Asia at this time of year, having first been showcased to the world at the likes of the Cannes Yachting Festival and other boat shows in the European autumn.
In fact, the Ferretti Yachts 780 on display at Cannes – as the upgraded version of this successful model made its world premiere last September – was already sold to a client in Asia. That boat eventually joined another new 780 in Singapore sold by Hong Seh Yachting and the model is among five Reviews in this issue centred on boats already in Asia.
They include the Azimut 68, which also premiered at Cannes last September, with Hong Kong welcoming Asia’s first hull in March through dealer Marine Italia.
The first Galeon 640 in Hong Kong arrived last year and this amazing model remains the largest in the builder’s portfolio to feature the iconic drop-down wings, which are among the ‘party tricks’ on a yacht that’s also a strong performer at sea.
Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40, a Cannes 2021 debutant, already has several units in Asia and is also among Reviews, as is the Heliotrope 48 produced by PMG Shipyard in Thailand, which has units across the Asia-Pacific.
Yacht reviews aside, the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62 (Review, Issue 63) and Fairline’s freshly upgraded Squadron 68 are among other new models arriving in Asia in spring, when CL Yachts’ flagship CLX96 is also set to debut in Hong Kong.
The issue also highlights Bluegame’s debut in Southeast Asia. Sanlorenzo’s sister brand had already been making strong inroads into Hong Kong before Singapore welcomed its first model from the brand earlier this year, as a new BGX70 made quite an impression as it berthed at ONE°15 Marina.
This issue also contains updates about Indonesia from Simpson Marine’s Paul Whelan in Column and Yacht Sourcing in Profile, as the multi-faceted company celebrates launching the 50m phinisi Vela and recent yacht sales. There’s a quiet optimism there as Bali reopens to tourism, while parts of Thailand are also continuing to try to attract visitors, whether arriving by plane or yacht.
However, Hong Kong has certainly been hard hit by restrictions since February and it somehow seems timely to pay tribute to this remarkable city with a profile of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, not only Asia’s most active yacht club but one of the world’s truly iconic sailing institutions.
There’s also a profile of Eric Noyel in Owner, following his acquisition of a luxuriously customised Bali 4.8 sailing catamaran, while lifestyle features include a red-themed profile of new watches, an update on Cirrus Aircraft’s latest addition to its popular SR Series and a fashion spread centred around ‘vintage sailing’. Enjoy the issue.
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