Spotlight on Britain's growing superyacht sector

Delegates are travelling around the UK on a Tour of Excellence which highlights world-class products and services from the UK's superyacht sector.

Superyacht Adix is launched at Pendennis Shipyard

The tour is being organised by Superyacht UK, the organisation which represents the interests of the industry both at home and internationally.

It is taking place between 18 to 22 April, and will take delegates to some of the leading companies in the sector including Pendennis Shipyard, Princess Yachts and Oyster Yachts.

It comes as the UK’s superyacht sector reports growth since the economic downturn.

According to the Superyacht UK survey, the industry grew by more than 10% to £542 million in 2014/15. Out of those surveyed, 48% reported an increase in profits. There was also a 6.9% increase in jobs.

Speaking at the launch of the report, the Head of International Development at British Marine, Richard Selby said: “Despite the challenging environment, these figures show that the UK’s marine industry is heading in the right direction. British brands are globally respected and we need to make sure that remains the case.”

Delegates on the Superyacht UK tour includes representatives from Bray Yacht Design, Donald L. Blount and Associates, Edmiston, Greenline Tacht Interiors, Hill Robinson, Marine Construction Services, Monaco Marine La Ciotat, Salt Superyacht Management, and Sparkman & Stephens.

Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that 11% of the world’s superyachts are owned by Britons.

The new global ownership survey by Camper & Nicholsons and Wealth-X, the global authority on wealth intelligence, reveals that only 1,512 individuals own a superyacht. One third of them are billionaires.

The top country for superyacht ownership is America at 33%. Second is Britain with 11%, while Italy comes third with 5% of the total. Australia is fourth with 4% and Russia has 3%.

The average value of the yachts owned is US$10 million.

The report also identifies a new, younger generation of ultra wealthy who want unique experiences rather than goods and services. They “are demanding that the returns on their most precious possession, time, are maximised in every way possible. Superyachts provide the pre-eminent platform to do this,” concludes the survey.

The President of Camper & Nicholsons International, Paolo Casani commented: “The landmark study on the state of wealth, luxury and yachting shows the superyacht industry in a different light from the usual statistic reports; instead it sheds light on how the shifting sands of wealth and luxury affect trends in yachting – something that has never been reported on before.”

The report also identified four trends in the yachting industry.

Growing desire for remote locations such as the Galapagos, Antarctica and Asia, meaning demand for ice-breaking hulls and long range capabilities is on the up.
Innovative Layouts: today’s yachts are moving away from traditional, compartmentalised layouts toward brighter, open-plan interiors. Also, there is increased attention to the outdoor areas to create a direct, intimate experience of the sea.
New Toys and Entertainment: alongside standard toys such as jet skis, water skis and canoes, there is an increasing demand for the latest gadgets such as a jetlev, skibob or hover board. Top-quality cinema rooms are also becoming popular.
Focus on Health and Wellness: in order to not compromise passenger health when aboard, yachts are offering expert personal trainers, nutritionists, therapists and masseurs.