Waves of optimism and events in Monaco

The superyacht industry descended on Monte Carlo from 25-28 September for the 23rd Monaco Yacht Show. This year’s show was approached with a tentative degree of optimism, with murmurings of a nascent recovery circling by the 33,730 participants.

And the 2013 edition of the industry’s largest gathering did not disappoint; Monaco is often touted as the industry barometer, and if that is the case, then this year it indicated that the pressure on the market is easing. Not only were the docks busy from the moment the doors opened on Wednesday morning, but this flurry of activity translated to the tents were busy with intra-industry enquiries from start to finish.

Both 2011and 2012 offered little encouragement for an industry whose exponential growth had plateaued. In 2013 however, brokers, builders and suppliers alike have reported that they are confident a corner has been turned. And whilst it will take time for the metrics that indicate success to filter back from the boardrooms to these pages is evidence that business was being done as the show’s managing director, Gaëlle Tallarida explained:

"Every MYS is the culmination of a year's hard work to deliver the worldwide superyacht hub in Monaco. This year was also particularly intensive and when we met the exhibitors on their stands, my team and I received some positive feedbacks with lots of activity taking place during the four days. Whether it is to pay a first visit to a yacht or the final step before contracting your order, the MYS remains a decisive step when selling a yacht. Sales are concluded during the show and we believe the forthcoming weeks will see other deals contracted after hands shook in Monaco! "

Mauricio Weiszberger of Palmer Johnson believes one of the main trends in evidence this year has been an interest in distinctive yachts offering something different in their design. “I think there’s been a real take-off again,” he said. “And the big sizes from 50 metres onwards, the clients are still interested, depending on what you’re offering. We’re offering a new line and people are increasingly looking for different things nowadays.”

Victor Caminada, Marketing Director of Amels, declared it another good year for the Dutch shipyard. “Monaco yacht show is always the peak of shows,” he said. “This year we had ‘Event’ making her world premier, and that really was a very positive showcase for us. We’ve been busy non-stop, a lot of appointments every hour and a lot of positive feedback.”

When asked about the current state of the brokerage market, things must be looking up according to Jonathan Beckett, CEO of international brokerage house Burgess Yachts, who told us of some very exciting news regarding new offers and potential new construction deals here at the show. ”We’ve got three offers on three of the boats we’ve got here at the show, we’re expecting two more offers (...) and we’re hoping to sign a new construction project here at the show. (...) If we manage to close a couple of those deals and get a new construction project signed then that would be a very successful show for us.”

As for the charter market, Charlie Birkett, Founding Partner and CEO of Y.CO, stressed out the importance of being in Monaco as the real Superyacht hub “This is the biggest show I’ve ever seen in my career in the last ten years,” says Charlie. “I think we’ve got a hundred and something yachts here at the show, over 140 at anchor I believe. Someone told me there was over €1.4bn worth of yachts for sale this week, so my guess is if you can’t find a yacht here then you probably won’t find it anywhere.” The wealth of yachts and impending visitors was undoubtedly a welcome sight for any broker.

Considering next year’s Monaco Yacht Show will deliver 15 additional berths for megayachts up to 120-metre long, no doubt the industry is already looking forward to 2014.

{gallery}monaco2013{/gallery}