News from the London Boat Show 2018
Highlights from Princess Yachts, Sunseeker and Superyacht UK from the first day of the London Boat Show…
The London Boat Show opened yesterday, with a number of high-profile superyacht brands launching new products or unveiling initiatives for the coming year. The show kicks off the boat show season for 2018.
Princess Motor Yacht Sales announced its new yacht-sharing programme ‘YachtQuarters’. Based in Port Adriano, Palma de Mallorca, those investing in the scheme will become part of a four-partner ownership structure, lasting four years. All management of the vessel, including maintenance, repairs and services, are handled by the YachtQuarters in-house team. In a conversation with SuperyachtNews, Henning Price, general manager for YachtQuarters (and previous CEO of Princess Yachts Mexico) explained why the brand sees this as a way to engage with a different breed of superyacht enthusiasts, with a hassle-free approach to owning a vessel. “Shared ownership, in our opinion, is a very good idea. You utilise the asset much better, and people get access to a larger boat with lower costs, the investment is lower and the operating costs are lower.” Read the full interview with Price here.
With an enthusiastic opening ceremony, Sunseeker International’s stand saw the BT Sport’s Jake Humphreys, footballer Sir Geoff Hurst and Sunseeker CEO Phil Popham announce the shipyard’s new partnership with FIFA. Speaking after the conference, Popham explained how he sees the collaboration as fitting nicely with the shipyard’s ethos. “We are a winning brand with a strong sporting heritage, if you think back to the early days of Sunseeker and its powerboat racing background, and if you look at our client base…football as a sport is something that really resonates with them.”
For Sunseeker International, this partnership will allow them to engage with existing clients at one of the year’s most anticipated events. “One of the challenges you always have with a very affluent customer base is: How do you give them an experience that is different? And I think with the FIFA World Cup, we have the opportunity to create some ‘money can’t buy’ experiences in the build up to – and at – the World Cup finals,” said Popham. He also explained that the shipyard, in addition to using the partnership to strengthen relationships with clients, will also use the hospitality opportunities as a way to reward its employees.
The Superyacht UK Young Designer competition returned, with students from across the world taking part in the competition, which gives the students a day and a half to design their concept. The brief this year was to redesign an ex-military vessel into an explorer superyacht. The winner of the competition – announced later on this afternoon – will take part in a month-long internship at Pendennis Shipyard and the runner up will win a two-week placement at Olesinski Design.
The London Boat Show will take place at ExCel London until Sunday 14 January.
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Image: Sir Geoff Hurst; Robert Braithwaite, founder of Sunseeker International and Phil Popham, CEO of Sunseeker International officially open the Sunseeker stand. Copyright: Robert Stanwyck
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