2 May 2012

Mallorca Superyacht Days in Port Adriano

By Don Hoyt Gorman

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Mallorca Superyacht Days, an invitation-only superyacht showcase featuring 20 sailing and motoryachts measuring over 30 metres concluded on 30 April in Port Adriano, Mallorca, Spain. While no sales were confirmed at time of going to press, the event garnered much praise from the brokers and crew who were in attendance.

“Feedback from the captains of the yachts we had on display at the Mallorca Superyacht Days was extremely positive and the combination of a high level of customer service and yard facilities,” said Richard Lambert of Burgess, whose offices at Port Adriano hold a marquee position overlooking the entrance to the marina’s shopping and dining facilities.

Local brokers in Mallorca who’d initially envisioned a Palma Open Day organised the event. “We discussed the idea with Port Adriano and they where delighted,” said Arne Ploch of Camper and Nicholsons International, who was an early proponent of the showcase. “Initially we expected 15 yachts and it ended up in a great show with 42 yachts attending. It’s the first time potential clients have been able to see such a good selection of yachts in Spain.”

Jürgen Koch, who heads up the Palma team of Fraser Yachts and who has been brokering yachts from Palma for decades, was impressed. “Good show, for a fraction of the prices in Antibes and Monaco. We want to do it again next year.”

Port Adriano
Port Adriano launched the formal opening of its facilities with a press day last Friday that included a press conference with Antonio Zaforteza, CEO of Ocibar, which owns and operates Port Adriano on a 30 year lease, and the site’s celebrity designer Philippe Starck.


Port Adriano, Mallorca, Spain

Speaking to the crowd of 100 journalists, Zaforteza pointed out that the project was in mid-development during the height of the sub-prime financial crisis in 2009. “The banks believed in this project and felt it was worth financing,” Zaforteza said of the approximately €90 million development costs that were supported by Santander Bank among others. “The construction companies made big efforts to keep the project on budget and on schedule. Everyone involved gave just a little bit extra to make Port Adriano what it is today.”


View of the Philippe Starck-designed marina centre with the hills overlooking in the background.

With 46 berths over 30m within the marina and a seawall berth for visiting yachts that can accommodate up to 100m overlooked by a vibrant, high-end retail space designed by Starck, the marina caters to owners who want to see and be seen. “The design of the port with the prestigious restaurant and café facilities will be a draw to those visiting yachtsmen that enjoy the high society living associated with superyachting,” Lambert said. “The close proximity of Port Adriano to Mallorca’s delightful and premier cruising destinations will be an additional draw for clients.”

Toby Walker of Dubois Yachts was impressed with the facilities but felt it was a bit early to tell whether the port would prove viable as a destination for Dubois charterers and owners. “I don’t think it will be a charter destination as so few yachts charter in Spain,” he said, pointing to the ongoing impact of Spain’s matriculation tax on the charter business in Spanish waters.


The marina's central dining and shopping area provides a refined social and open environment

Burgess’ Lambert agreed that to see Port Adriano and the Balearics become a truly popular charter destination, the matriculation tax needs to be overturned. “I truly believe that Port Adriano has enormous potential and will become a destination marina for owners and charterers,” Lambert said.

“I think everybody enjoyed beeing in Port Adriano,” Ploch said. “Its great installations and good selection of bars and restaurants make it a nice change to Palma or Portals and an alternative destination for cruising yachts.”


Related Links

Port Adriano

Burgess

Camper & Nicholsons International

Dubois Yachts

Ocean Independence

Northrop & Johnson

Dahm International

Fraser Yachts

Philippe Starck

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