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Southeast Asia’s yachting and marine industry magazine
CONTENTS Regional News We take a look at the V100, a 100’ long-range cruising yacht designed by Albert Nazarov and his staff at Albatross Marine Design. We also look at and salute the green initiatives that the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is implementing with its “Clean Regattas” programme. Plus we recap the recent Indonesia Yacht Show held in Jakarta (photos courtesy of Budi Sutrisno) . Then, Gigi Bovy takes a look at Katy Gooch’s great program for young sailors in Phuket, a program which needs all our help to keep being successful. Later in the magazine, on page 60, we preview the 14th Asian Superyacht Rendezvous.
Top of the Gulf turns ten It’s hard to believe that the regatta that Bill Gasson built is a decade old now, but it is and with the help of Harbour Master Scott Finstein and the Ocean Marina Yacht Club it just keeps getting bigger and better. Duncan Worthington, the nicest guy on the Southeast Asian regatta circuit, reviews all the action for us at this year’s event.
Singapore Yacht Show Bob Mott goes walkabout at the Singapore Yacht Show and provides us with these images from ONE°15. We know, we’re late in reporting this, but we felt it was important to include because in the battle of the Singapore boat shows Vincent Tay’s SYS finally won out over Herman Ho’s Boat Asia, which was staged at Keppel Bay Marina.
The Secchi Project This is a smart way for seafarers to track the effects of climate change as we encourage you to take part in a unique global study, using a mobile phone app to record the effects of climate change. The public science project measures the amount of phytoplankton, minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain, currently residing in the world’s oceans
Exploration Yachts: an overview Northrop and Johnson’s Bert van Muylwijk was kind enough to provide us with this piece on exploration yachts particularly those designed and built by Bering, focusing on their safety, reliability, comfort and eco-friendliness.
www.seayachting.net
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Southeast Asia’s yachting and marine industry magazine
CONTENTS
44 48 54
Simpson Marine celebrates 30 years on the water We take a look at one of the major players in the leisure marine industry in this part of the world. Following founder Mike Simpson’s vision and career, we end up talking with Paul Whelan, Simpson’s regional GM for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Samui Regatta goes down to the wire The dynamic duo of Simon James and Kae Wattana and their Regattas Asia team have done it again putting together a wonderful 13th Samui Regatta. Though numbers were down as Thailand reeled from yet another coup, some of the best racers on the Southeast Asian sailing circuit made their way to Samui to compete in this event, which saw Canadian Bill Bremner and his team from Foxy Lady win it all by two seconds in the final race.
Rob Williams Reviews Rob Williams, the MD of Yachtpro Thailand and South East Asia Yacht Sales, takes us through reviews of the Hanse 445 and the Bali Catana, a new breed of catamarans.
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Owning Property in Thailand
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Catamaran Stability
If you’ve spent any time sailing through Thailand’s beautiful blue seas, you have probably wondered about owning property here. Thanks to the sagacious folks at DFDL we run through some of the most commonly asked questions.
Thanks to Bob Mott for supplying us with this wonderful piece by James Wharram and Hanneke Boon. Though penned in 1991, it could have been written yesterday—enjoy!
www.seayachting.net
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New Long-Range Cruiser from Albatross
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T
he design of the V100 – a 100’ ultimate cruising yacht was developed by Thailandbased Albatross Marine Design. The design itself is a significant deviation from today’s mass production “floating fridge” or boats designed around accommodation, mainly for use in marinas, where the bow is wide and shallow to give maximum space for the master bed, usually in the forward cabin. The V100 is different –our bow is designed for sea-keeping and performance. The design originated from a customer’s request for a fuel efficient slender hull cruiser capable of performing ocean passages at a 4,000 nautical-mile range. The boat features a slender “sailboat type” hull, which is optimized for speeds around 11-15kts with twin 370HP engines. Careful study was given to performance predictions and hull optimization. The fine bow shape is designed to minimize pitching and unfavorable acceleration. The high forecastle, slight chines and pilothouse shifted aft are designed to reduce spray over the bow from reaching the deck and cabins. The interior includes a master cabin, three guest cabins, two saloons (aft and pilothouse), two steering stations, crew accommodation, a deep freezer and garbage storage. The layout is strategically designed for ocean passages: all living areas and the galley have easy access and are located amidships, and the safe deck features a “Genoa bridge”. And important for an expedition yacht, there is plenty of space for toys, including a tender and mini-hovercraft. Other interesting features are a sauna room and an optional Jacuzzi. The yacht is relatively light for its 31m length and 7m beam featuring 82tons of full load displacement. The structure is made of composite material. www.amdesign.co.th
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Cape Panwa Hotel
Phuket Raceweek leads the way with Clean Regattas initiative
The stunning white sand beach that fronts the Cape Panwa Hotel.
PHUKET – Asia’s awardwinning regatta, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, takes the lead in environmental stewardship by officially becoming a Clean Regatta as approved by Sailors for the Sea, the first of its kind in South East Asia. Held 16-20 July 2014 off Panwa Cape, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek showcases Phuket’s iconic natural surrounds, the health of which are inherently linked to the success and long-term sustainability of Phuket’s marine leisure tourism industry. As the seas get busier – according to the World Shipping Council, the top 20 importers and exporters of containerised cargo in 2009 and 2010 included 10 countries from Asia with Thailand ranked sixth for exports and 14th for imports – garbage in the sea and damage to marine ecosystems continues, something the organisers of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek are addressing. “Sailing is considered to be a clean and green sport, and on the whole it is. As residents of Phuket and organisers of an annual sailing event here, the team at Phuket Raceweek are aware of the importance of the sea to Phuket’s tourism and sailing industries, and we aim to ensure the marine environment is left in a better state for future generations,” said Mr. Byron Jones, Managing Director of organisers Media Business Services (MBS). The Clean Regattas program is a global certification system that encourages regatta organisers and yacht clubs to manage and run
down their boats during the course of the regatta. This reduces run-off of phosphates and nitrates commonly found in cleaning products. Oil Spill Prevention: Motorized vessels shall carry and use at least ONE bilge sponge and ONE fueling spill pad. Trash Free Regatta: Overboard discharge of trash and littering at shore facilities will be prevented and strongly discouraged. Recycling: The event will provide recycling services at shore facilities for participants to deposit separated recyclable materials such as bottles, cans, paper etc. Water Bottle Reduction: The event will provide water stations and/or reusable water bottles to participants to reduce single-use disposable water bottles. Promote the Use of NonToxic Cleaning Products: Organizers will include and implement a list of environmentally-friendly cleaning products that can be used throughout the event. “This is just the first step and we are excited to lead the way in South East Asia and introduce the Clean Regattas program to our event,” commented Jones. “We are keen to help preserve the coastal area of Phuket and with our certification to the Clean Regattas program this is now part of the event’s DNA. Working together with the event’s participants we will ensure the program’s success.” Voted ‘Asian Regatta of the Year’ at the 2011 Asia Boating Awards, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek continues to deliver excellence and with the Clean Regattas program certification continues its tradition of innovation and leadership. The 2014 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is set to welcome boats and crew from around the world for four days of world-class yacht racing off Phuket’s southeast coast from 16-20 July.
environmentally responsible events. Its main initiative is to reduce marine debris and preserve coastal land and waters. With regattas in more than 13 countries being certified, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is the first in South East Asia. “The Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is committed to serving as a model for responsible sailing,” said Tyson Bottenus, program coordinator, Sailors for the Sea. “We are thrilled to support their efforts to educate participants on environmental protection. Working with the event, Sailors for the Sea will help to formalise their conservation efforts and help promote responsible environmental behaviours among organisers and regatta participants.” The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also recognise the importance of environmentallyconscious tourism having identified ecotourism as one of its niche markets in a strategy to grow niche tourism and not solely rely on ‘tourism by numbers’. In line with the TAT’s Seven Greens programme which provides a conceptual framework and establishes practical guidelines for carefully balancing tourism promotion and a healthy, sustainable environment, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek are leading the way in South East Asia and introducing the following Clean Regattas Best Practices at the 2014 regatta: Water Only Wash Downs For more information: (Greywater www.phuketraceweek.com Reduction): Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhuketRaceweekRegatta Participants will be Twitter: www.twitter.com/phuketraceweek asked to use “water only” when washing YouTube: www.youtube.com/phuketraceweek
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Regional
NEWS
Indonesia Yacht Show 2014 ended on a high note
Regional
NEWS 19
The Indonesia Yacht Show 2014 concluded with more boats sold than the previous event! There were more than 20 boats displayed at the on-water display and more than 60 local and international exhibitors present at the event. Major brands such as Princess, Gulf Craft, Wider, Azimut and Ferretti and brokers Simpson Marine (making a return trip), were brimming with smiles as potential orders were evident during the 2-day event which generated more than 5,000 visitors this year, surpassing last year’s turnout by more than 20%! This year’s event was also decorated with luxury lifestyle elements such as the luxury concierge service provider “Quintessentially”, which had a well decorated VIP lounge at the event and catering to high society. High-end audio brands such as Macintosh were also present showcasing their audio products to the discerning few. Champagne Sponsor Nicolas Feuillatte made their presence felt by providing complimentary champagne to VIP visitors and exhibitors throughout the event and Singapore property developer, Far East Organization, was also on site to showcase their latest luxury properties in Singapore. A unique fusion of yachts, luxury lifestyle and the finer things in life make the Indonesia Yacht Show an important annual platform for luxury lifestyle providers to showcase their products to the well-heeled upper class society in Indonesia. It has inadvertently become an event where the highly affluent buys their “toys” and where the rich would like to be spotted. The next edition of the Indonesia Yacht Show 2015 returns on August 22-23 at Batavia Marina, Jakarta. More yachts and luxury lifestyle items are expected to be on display as international and local exhibitors are looking to catch a slice of the lucrative Indonesian luxury market where the rich spends lavishly! For more information about the Indonesia Yacht Show 2015 please feel free to contact us at: enquiry@megawattasia.com.
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W
The Phuket Youth Sailing Club is now are looking for donations or sponsors to help cover the costs from flights to accommodation, meals, renting boats, etc.
hen I was invited to join the Saturday sailing practice on Toppers rented at the Phuket Youth Sailing Club by the Ladies Sevenstar Sailing Team I didn’t know I was going to support the Phuket Youth Sailing Club with some marketing advice and I’m so pleased I did. I remembered meeting Katy Gooch in 2010 and heard about her generous work teaching underprivileged Thai kids from the Phuket Sunshine Village. I didn’t realize that she has been going a extremely long way since the program started in 2008. Katy Gooch, Paul Firming and their team have trained young sailors on Phuket from complete beginners to competing at national and international Level. Three of their sailors represented Thailand at the Double Star Cup, Qingdao, China. Having had the chance to see these kids practicing and then joining them for a meal in the evening, I soon came to the conclusion that they were also “learning life through sailing” as Katy nicely puts it. From being thankful to Katy, Paul, their Thai coaches and sponsors for giving
them the opportunity to sail and race, the Thai kids also develop their own personal skills, self-confidence, teamwork, decisionmaking and, last but not least, their knowledge of English which allows them to be open to the world as they join more and more international races and regattas. Katy, Paul and the Thai kids just returned from the Top of the Gulf Regatta 2014 where they participated to the Thailand Optimist National Championships, 39 years old this year and an integral part of the Top of the Gulf Regatta which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year hosted by Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Jomtien, Pattaya from 1st to 5th May 2014. The Phuket Youth Sailing Club team joined over 120 junior sailors from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Myanmar and beyond. And, “the sky is not the limit”, the objective is now to bring three Thai kids to represent Thailand at the Topper Worlds 2014. The International Class Association (ITCA) has offered free boat charter and £1,000 travel grant towards the costs. The Phuket Youth Sailing Club is now are looking for donations or sponsors to
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LearniSailing ng &Limore fe through at the Phuket Story by Ghislaine Bovy, Deep Blue Com
help cover the costs from flights to accommodation, meals, renting boats, etc. The Sponsorship Experts, over and above financing an Optimist branded “The Sponsorship Experts” is one of the donators and the Phuket Youth Sailing Club is looking for more donors and sponsors to send the top sailors to this international event. From sponsoring a Topper here at the Phuket Youth Sailing Club to becoming one of the sponsors to get leverage from the Media coverage at the Topper Worlds 2014 and brand awareness on all off and online communications by the Phuket Youth Sailing Club and Media partners, there are many opportunities for companies and individuals to support their participation. Among its many other activities, the Phuket Youth Sailing Club also teaches sailing to school kids and individuals and rent boats in the scenic and highly protected Ao Yon Bay. They recently welcomed youngsters from the British International School Phuket to accompany them for the last part of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award which was a sailing expedition in the Andaman Sea. The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Youth Sailing Club
International Award is an exciting selfdevelopment programme available to young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their world. To date almost 8 million young people from over 140 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities. There will be more events organized this year including the Phuket Youth Week Training Camp & Regatta 2014 following the inaugural event last year which proved to be an enormous success. As a conclusion, the Phuket Youth Sailing Club needs your support to promote youth sailing on Phuket, encouraging the next generation of sailors to challenge themselves and discover their potential both on and off the water. More information can be found on the Phuket Youth Sailing Club website: http:// www.phuketyouthsailingclub.org http://www.deepbluecom.net www.facebook.com/DeepBlueCom http://www.linkedin.com/in/ ghislainebovy
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Australians win IRC 1 and the Coronation Cup.
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Strong winds deliver big finale to
2 0 1 4 Top of the Gulf Regatta Story by Duncan Worthington Photos by Scott Murray
T
he final day of the 2014 Top of the Gulf Regatta erased all memories of the tricky conditions over the previous three days as the wind kicked in and blew all classes around the course to complete their series. It was smiles all around as the packed start-lines and busy schedule of races made for a fitting final to the 10th anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta. On the keelboat and multihull course Race Officer Denis Thompson had the classes into sequence quickly completing two races for most and three for some. Three races were in order for IRC 1 and despite coming into the last day with a run of firsts, Peter Ahern and his crew on Oi! struggled to a 1,3,3 score-line. Sailing well, Wan Ma Rang caused the upset in the best breeze of the Regatta with a final day scoreline of 3,1,1, enough for them to secure second place overall on countback, behind Oi! who won IRC 1 at their first time of trying. IRC 2 delivered some close racing over the last four days with two Singapore entries, Foxy Lady VI (last year’s winner) and Windsikher, battling with Japanese entry Karasu, and going into the last day it was Karasu who had the advantage.
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As the winds arrived on cue, it was Foxy Lady VI who powered up and scored two firsts on the windward/leeward courses and with it secure the class win by the slimmest of margins, a single point. Two first places on the final day for Souay 1 in IRC 3 was a great finish to the Regatta but not enough to knock Hi Jinks off the top who wins the class for the second consecutive year. Cruising went down to the wire with Windstar taking a slim lead in to the final day. The long course and conditions favoured Amanda who sailed to a win tying Windstar at the top in the overall standings. On countback, however, Amanda was crowned the winners with three wins in the series compared to Windstar’s two. Competing for the Coronation Cup, the one-design Platu class saw a shuffling of the pack on the final day. Scott Duncanson’s Kingdom Property jumped to the top of the standings after winning the first race of the day, edging out Chris Way’s Easy Tiger IV by a little over 20 seconds. In the second race, tactics came into play ith Easy Tiger IV looking to shadow Kingdom Property. After a short windward/ leeward Kingdom Property gained the advantage over Easy Tiger IV with fifth and seventh place finishes respectively. The final race win of the series went to David Leslie’s Nataya 131. After the dust settled and all the points are in, it was Kingdom Property who was crowned winners of the Coronation Cup with Easy Tiger IV a single point back in second, four points ahead of Rolf Heemskerk’s Team ViewPoint in third. Mojo finished in style in the Ocean
Multihulls class with a win on the final day. Enjoying the strong breeze, Mojo sailed to a six second victory on corrected time over Kirati Assakul’s Sonic whose second place in the race was enough to secure the class title by a single point over fellow Thai multihull sailor Radab Kanjanavanit. On the dinghy courses, the final day’s wind made for a frantic finish with two races completed by most fleets. Keerati Bualong showed his class throughout to defend his Single-Handed Monohull Dinghy class title while top Thai female sailing the Laser Radial was Kamolwan Chanyim. Defending champions in the Double-Handed Monohull Dinghy class, Navee Thamsoontorn/ Nut Butmarasri, were convincingly beaten this year and despite two wins on the last day for Sittisart Ponpan/Peerapol Vesaka it was not enough to unseat new class winners Totsapon Mahawichean/Sarawut Phetsiri. In the Hobie Tiger/Nacra F18 class, it was the pairing of Damrongsak Vongtim/ Kitsada Vongtim that out-sailed the rest to claim the crown. The 2014 RS:One Asian Championships, in collaboration with the Top of the Gulf Regatta and WATH (Windsurfing Association of Thailand) has delivered three intense days of one design racing off Ocean Marina Yacht Club. With 21 racers from seven nations (including the promising new windsurfing countries of Myanmar and Sri Lanka), the technical conditions and shifty winds provided some challenging competition. Hong Kong and Thailand dominated claiming victories in all four
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Sutida Poonpat crowned Thailand Optimist National Champion.
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divisions (Men, Espoir Men, Women and Espoir Women). Natthaphong Phonoppharat was crowned RS:One Mens Asian Champion with seven wins from eight races while Hong Kong’s Sin Lam Sonia Lo was unbeaten in the Women’s division. The RS:One class will continue its 2014 journey with the European Championships in Cesme (Turkey), the Asian Sailing Championships and Asian Games in Incheon (South Korea), the Asian Beach Games in Phuket (Thailand) and the 2014 World Championships at the end of the year in Bintan (Indonesia). The future of sailing and yacht racing in the Kingdom appears to be secure, judging by the large number of junior sailors at the Top of the Gulf Regatta this year. Some 132 Optimist dinghies, sailed by under 16-year-old boys and girls, faced the rigours of fickle conditions, with light, shifting winds interspersed with storm fronts growling on the horizon, to compete in the annual Thailand Optimist National Championships. Winning an Optimist World Championship recently, many of these youngsters have moved on from the tiny trainer, to compete in bigger craft and represent Thailand in numerous world class events, including Olympiads. In this its 39th sailing, the National Optimist Championships went down to the wire and after five races over three days it was Thai Sutida Poonpat who won the title on the final day, ahead of fellow Thai national team sailor Suthon Yampinid in second. The 10th anniversary edition of the award-winning Top of the Gulf Regatta saw a near record fleet of 239 boats with close to 600 sailors competing in 12 classes over four days off of Ocean Marina Yacht Club. They came from Japan, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
The Ocean Marina Yacht Club The Ocean Marina Yacht Club, South East Asia’s largest marina is located on Jomtien Beach, outside of Pattaya, in the Gulf of Thailand. It is the hub of sailing in the region and home of the awardwinning Top of the Gulf Regatta since its inception in 2005. Ocean Marina Yacht Club has long promoted sailing in the Gulf of Thailand and surrounds, hosting regular club regattas, youth sailing programmes, national and regional championships. “Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the perfect venue for a multi-class regatta such as Top of the Gulf,” said Mr. William Gasson, Chairman of the Organising Committee. “The marina has played an important role in the development of sailing in the region and has been instrumental in making Top of the Gulf Regatta the largest sailing event of its kind in Asia today.” In recognition of the Regatta’s success and cementing its position on the international sailing calendar, Top of the Gulf Regatta was recently voted “Asian Regatta of the Year” at the 2014 Asian Marine & Boating Awards. “We’re honoured to have won this award. There’s no doubt that having such a great venue and unwavering support from Ocean Marina has played a huge part in the Regatta’s success,” added Gasson. Staking its claim as the largest marina in South East Asia, Ocean Marina has undergone an ambitious expansion plan increasing the number of berths from 200 in mid-2011 to 330 today, with ongoing development to increase the dry storage area as well as adding another 48 berths by July 2014. According to Mrs. Supatra Angkavinijwong, Deputy Managing Director of Ocean Property Co., Ltd., Ocean Marina Yacht Club has grown over the years in tandem with the industry’s growth. “We have seen a trend in recent years of more Thais buying yachts. This, together with growth in the number of visiting yachts from overseas, has seen the Gulf of Thailand become a key yachting hub in South East Asia, and our current
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expansion is in response to this demand and in anticipation of further growth.” As sailing in the region grows and the 2014 Top of the Gulf Regatta opens its doors, Ocean Marina Yacht Club is full having welcomed an influx of international boats coming to race in the Regatta from and elsewhere in Thailand. New for this year is the incorporation of the RS:One Asian Championships. Being held in Thailand for the first time with over 30 national team sailors from Asian countries competing for the Asian crown.
About the Top of the Gulf Regatta Founded in 2005, the 2014 Top of the Gulf Regatta (TOG Regatta) was the 10th anniversary edition taking place 1st – 5th of May. The Top of the Gulf Regatta is organized by an Organising Committee with support from the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Royal Varuna Yacht Club and the Royal Thai Navy, and is held under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand. The Top of the Gulf Regatta is unique – it is the only multi-class sailing event of its kind in Asia – and incorporates the Coronation Cup and the Thailand Optimist National Championships, and for 2014 also incorporated the RS:One Asian Championship for windsurfers. Full results are available at www.topofthegulfregatta. com/ results.shtml. For more information, visit www.topofthegulfregatta. com Facebook: www.facebook.com/togregatta Twitter: www.twitter.com/ togregatta YouTube: www.youtube.com/TOGRegatta
ToG 2014 saw a near record fleet of 239 boats with close to 600 sailors competing in 12 classes.
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Singapore A
sia’s largest yachting, boating and luxury lifestyle event, The Singapore Yacht Show, was officially opened by Minister Iswaran at ONE°15 Marina Club. Now in its fourth year, the event presents Asia’s largest exhibition of boats and superyachts, as well as supercars, classic cars, fashion, fine art and live entertainment. Managing Director and show organizer for Singapore Yacht Events, Andy Treadwell, said he was very pleased to welcome some of the world’s most beautiful vessels and the global yachting industry’s biggest brands to this year’s show: “The
incredible showing of boats from exhibitors who have travelled from all over the world to be here, really underlines the significance of this event to the global yachting industry, and of Singapore as its Asian hub.” Arthur Tay, Chairman of ONE°15 Marina Club said it was remarkable to see how the show had grown into an event global industry leaders now consider to be one of the world’s most important: “Although only in its fourth year, the Singapore Yacht Show has quickly established itself as an iconic yachting event in Asia, alongside
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Yacht Show 2014 Photography by Bob Mott
the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, which is also hosted in our city state.”. Guest of Honour Minister Iswaran remarked on how quickly the Singapore Yacht Show has grown since he opened the inaugural edition in 2011. “The Show has more than doubled in size each year, and we can now proudly say that this international hub of business and leisure is also home to what is now by far the biggest yacht show in Asia.” As well as a chance for seasoned and serious yachties to meet brokers and discover new brands, the show offers something for all members of the family. A convoy of 30
Ferraris arrived on the second last-day of the show followed by 20 Lamborghinis on the last day. There were multiple fashion shows and live music performances, and for thrill-seekers, a chance to climb the rigging of Tall Ship The Royal Albatross for panoramic views of marina and beyond. First time exhibitors Perini Navi Group said they could already see the benefit of attending the show: “We were delighted to have chosen Singapore as our first opportunity to show our yachts in Asia and this show proved to be an exceptional event,” said Burak Akgul,
Although only in its fourth year, the Singapore Yacht Show has quickly established itself as an iconic yachting event in Asia..
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Ferrari and Lamborghini put on crowddrawing convoys of over 30 and 20 vehicles respectively.
Managing Director Sales, marketing and design Perini Navi Group. Meanwhile, Fabiomassimo Discoli, Ferretti Group’s Asia Pacific sales manager told SuperYachtTimes.com: “Singapore is a perfect market for the Ferretti Group. We have a long history of giving our customers here the very best. Over the coming years we will strengthen our presence through the invaluable assistance offered by our partner Hong Seh. Since they were appointed dealer of Riva in 2008 and dealer of Ferretti and Pershing in 2013, the success that we have had in this market really speaks for itself.” Edward Tan, managing director of Ferretti’s Singapore-based partner, Hong Seh, added: ”Singapore Yacht Show is a world-class celebration of yachting culture in one of Asia’s most dynamic and beautiful cities.” Simpson Marine announced the sale of two boats at the show, and many other exhibitors have reported significant leads. Mike Simpson, group managing director of Simpson Marine said: “We’ve already sold two boats within the first two days of the Singapore Yacht Show and we are pleased with the quality of visitors here at the show. It is heartening to see that our yachts have great appeal to the Singapore market. With a fabulous start like this, we fully expect to achieve more sales at the show this year than last.” Tony Hambrook, managing
director of Alloy Yachts, which is jointly presenting the show’s largest yacht, S/ Y Vertigo, said: “We have been very pleasantly surprised by the size and depth of the show and we look forward to coming back.” This was Alloy Yachts’ first time exhibiting at Singapore Yacht Show, and Mr Hambrook said the team had seen a number of “qualified customers”. Filippo Ceragioli, international marketing and communications manager of first-time exhibitor Rossinavi said, “Given the current global climate it made sense for us to participate in this year’s show. Over the past two days we have met some interesting contacts and we would like to come back.” Joint managing director of Fraser Yachts Australia, Peter Redford, last attended the show four years ago and said he was amazed by the rapid increase in size and popularity of the event: “It’s really interesting to see that the superyacht market has expanded here and I believe this is on the back of the demand for recreational vessels. I think the demand for charter of big boats, as well as the purchase of big boats will increase rapidly as Asian consumers become more familiar with it.” Complementary lifestyle elements remain an important and popular addition to the Singapore Yacht Show. Visitors were treated to two
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fashion events – showcasing Camilla (with Wattletree) and White Moon – as well as a convoy of Ferraris. Andy Treadwell, said he was overwhelmed by the turnout: “The swelling numbers we are seeing this year prove there’s a tangible appetite for the yachting lifestyle here in Asia. Many of our exhibitors who are new to the market in this region have been delighted by the reception they have received, from yacht builders and charter brokers to manufacturers and service providers. Many of the marine toy businesses have been particularly well received - at the end of the day, time on the water is about having fun and the visitors here are really starting to understand how their time with family and friends can be uniquely enriched through owning boats and yachts. “These numbers clearly demonstrate that people in this region are increasingly enthusiastic about boating. The feedback we have had from our exhibitors and sponsors show that everybody now sees the Singapore Yacht Show as Asia’s number one event for the global yachting industry.” Brokers, builders, marine industry brands and lifestyle exhibitors alike all reported having a truly excellent show with impressive numbers of highly qualified visitors expressing serious interest.
Charlie Birkett, CEO of first-time exhibitors Y.CO, which jointly represented the 67m S/Y Vertigo, told SuperyachtNews.com he was very pleased with the interest they had received over the event: “This show is fantastic and we are very happy to be here. We’ve seen a lot of people who have shown interest in S/ Y Vertigo, the star of the show, which we are presenting here for charter. We take this region really seriously.” Mike Simpson, CEO of Simpson Marine, Asia’s largest and longestestablished yacht broker and dealer, agreed: ”The sun has been shining on a fantastic show that is packed with boats. It’s very interesting to see how the show has developed over the last few years since it was started. We see this as the key show for the region.” Many of the biggest and best-known yacht builders in the world were in attendance. Michael Breman, Sales Director of Lürssen Yachts, builder of M/ Y Azzam, at 180m the world’s biggest yacht, commented: “Singapore is the hub for a larger region so it is a good backdrop to have an event like this where you can show your brand to the affluent. For Lürssen, the Singapore Yacht Show is the cornerstone in the building of [our] brand awareness in Asia”. Other world-leading shipyards echoed Breman’s views. Burak Akgül, managing director of Perini Navi Group, was
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AT THE SHOW WITH BOB MOTT Without a doubt one of the most impressive boat and lifestyle shows in the region to date, the Singapore Yacht Show has come of age setting a very high standard whether it be the size of the vessels “real superyachts” or the quantity and quality of the exhibits both on and off the water as well as the supporting infrastructure–the SYS had it all. Thailand had strong representation in Singapore this year with Phuket and Pattaya companies exhibiting on the water and in the pavilion in numbers. Multihull Solutions exhibited a Fontaine Pajot Queensland 55ft power catamaran along with a Fontaine Pajot Summerland 40ft Cat and according to Andrew De Bruin were run off their feet with customer inspections. Craig Murphy from Max Marine drove a Sunseeker 60 down from Phuket (it was reported as sold) for the show to support Sunseeker Asia’s on-water display. Sunseeker had a rather unique floating hospitality pontoon well stocked with beers and snacks - a nice touch and much needed during very hot show days. Marieke Derks travelled from her Phuket base to run the Sevenstar Transport stand on the water – the show’s official transport provider. Bakri Cono Shipyard at Ocean Marina had there recently launched, exquisitely fitted out Helitrope 65 Solar Eco friendly catamaran on display - designed by fellow Pattaya resident naval architect Albert Nazarov. Inside the pavilion a noticeably very happy Vincent Tabuteau of Asia Marine had a huge list of contacts to follow up for future yacht charters. Royal Phuket Marina and Rob Williams/South East Asia Yacht Sales were also there from Phuket. Numbers this year were estimated at 14,000 visitors. One Degree 15 Marina provided the perfect host venue with excellent infrastructure to support the numbers of visitors in style and comfort. It’s a deserving “well done” for Managing Director Andy Treadwell and Phil Blake the Events Director and team – until next year!
also enthusiastic about the potential for the big yards in Asia: “This first occasion that we’re at the Singapore Yacht Show is a great opportunity. We’ve had some interesting appointments made, with some very recognizable names, [for] introducing the Picchiotti and Perini Navi products.” While the superyachts draw much of the attention, being highly visible and inspirational, and therefore a seriously important part of the “educational” aspect of developing the industry in Asia, it is in the smaller production boat sector that the builders can expect to see most rapid growth and uptake. Leading players in this arena were also highly impressed with SYS 2014. “I have been to many boat shows all around the world and this particular show has grown tremendously in size and there is huge potential here. We have been very happy with the clients that we have been talking to”, commented Alister Brunksill, Princess South East Asia. The show’s organizers also ran the Asia Pacific Yachting Conference (APYC), a yachting industry forum, as part of the event, as well as a “Captains’ Lounge”, where business to business networking was the order of the day. Chief Executive of Superyacht Australia MaryAnne Edwards, which sponsored both of the aforementioned, was impressed: “Over four years, the Singapore Yacht Show will have quadrupled and I think that now, it is really
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becoming the superyacht show in Asia.” Alexander Tesch, MD of MTU Asia, which co-sponsored the APYC and Captains’ Lounge with Superyacht Australia and Sevenstar Yacht transport, added: “For MTU, the Singapore Yacht Show is a very good showcase for what we can offer here in this region. The event has grown every year and we believe it is the strongest show here in Asia. We are very happy to be part of it and we hope to see it continue to expand over the coming years.” Complementary lifestyle and industry services exhibitors also commended the quality of visitors at the show. Andreas Arnold, head of key account management at Luxaviation Group, one of the show’s main sponsors this year, said: “We have had great feedback, especially in charter, but also in aircraft management solutions from the whole of South East Asia.” His CEO Barth Foucart added: “The reason we partner with the Singapore Yacht Show is that the public looking for this type of boats, is the same market we are targeting for private jet flights”. While yachting and boating was naturally the main focus for the show, it would be impossible to ignore the enormous enthusiasm for supercars and fashion in Singapore and the wider region. Making special appearances over the
weekend, local car owner clubs for Ferrari and Lamborghini put on crowd-drawing convoys of over 30 and 20 vehicles respectively. And the complementary luxury lifestyle elements continued with fashion shows from Camilla by Wattletree, JOG Swimwear and White Moon. To ensure VIPs arrived and departed in style befitting the show, BMW provided a courtesy car service, taking guests practically from doorstep to passarelle. Karl Hamman, Singapore CEO of insurance provider QBE said he thoroughly enjoyed his first year of partnering the Singapore Yacht Show: “The show has completely surpassed expectations and is a true testament to the growth potential in the industry.” Around 14,000 public and trade visitors from all over Asia attended the event, which featured a total of 96 watercraft from jet skis and tenders to luxury motorboats and elegant super yachts, covering a total area some 50% bigger than last year’s show. The event’s organizers have already been inundated with enquiries from potential exhibitors and sponsors hoping to get involved in next year’s show. For further information, please contact the sales team via info@singaporeyachtshow.com; for a glimpse at the show http:// www.singaporeyachtshow.com/videos.
Brokers, builders, marine industry brands and lifestyle exhibitors all reported having an excellent show.
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Smart way
to track effects
S “The Secchi Disks are still used by marine scientists to study phytoplankton but there are too few scientists to survey the world’s oceans as well as we would wish.”
eafarers are being encouraged to take part in a unique global study, using a mobile phone app to record the effects of climate change. The public science project will measure the amount of phytoplankton, minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain, currently residing in the world’s oceans. Scientists fear the population of the microscopic beings is in decline due to rising sea temperatures and, if true, that could have consequences for every aspect of marine life. The project is being spearheaded by Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, which hopes to build a map of the oceans that charts the seasonal and annual
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for seafarers
of climate change changes of phytoplankton from now and into the future. Plankton biologist Dr Richard Kirby, who is leading the study, said: “As the phytoplankton live at the surface of the sea they are being affected by rising sea temperatures due to climate change. A scientific paper published last year suggested the ocean’s plankton population had declined by as much as 40 per cent since 1950 as sea temperatures had warmed due to climate change. The scientists suggested that a warming of the ocean surface may have reduced vertical mixing of the water column thereby reducing the supply of nutrients from deeper waters – in effect the input of fertiliser to the surface had lessened with effects upon phytoplankton growth. Their results
provoked debate among marine scientists however, some who thought they saw no change, or even an increase in phytoplankton in some places. Since the phytoplankton begin the marine food chain, we need to know more about if, how, and why they are changing in order to understand the effects on the ocean’s biology.” To check the levels of phytoplankton in our oceans, marine experts have developed a free smart phone app for sailors and fishermen to use wherever they are in the world. Because the phytoplankton – each thinner than a strand of human hair – exist at the sea’s surface, mariners can carry out a simple experiment using an easy to make ‘Secchi Disk’.
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A major design consideration of the apps is that they have to be able to operate in places where the phone has no Internet connection.
Attached to a measuring tape, the Secchi Disk is lowered over the side of a boat and the depth at which it disappears from sight estimates the amount of phytoplankton in the sea. This depth can then be uploaded to a database using the Secchi app. Dr Kirby added: “The Secchi Disks are still used by marine scientists to study phytoplankton but there are too few scientists to survey the world’s oceans as well as we would wish. This app enables seafarers around the world to take part in a science project and if we can just get a small percentage of the global population of sailors involved, we can generate a database that will help us understand how life in the oceans is changing. It would help us learn much more about these important organisms at a crucial time when their habitat is altering due to climate change.” The Secchi app has been developed by Dr Nicholas Outram and Dr Nigel Barlow, from Plymouth University’s School of Computing and Mathematics, and the database will be maintained by Pixalytics Ltd, a company founded by Dr Sam Lavender, an Honorary Reader at the University. A major design consideration of the apps is that they have to be able to operate in places where the phone has no Internet connection. Participants record as many Secchi readings as they like, and these are stored as “pending readings” on the phone. Exactly how many pending readings can be stored depends on the capabilities of the phone, but the number is very large. These pending readings can be uploaded at a later date when an Internet connection is available. In addition, the app has an easy to follow workflow to minimise errors. The participant’s location is taken from the phone’s GPS, eliminating transcription errors. The user interface has been designed to be clean, intuitive and uncluttered, and in particular to be a UI that works on a boat at sea. Small and fussy layouts are not used, and the “depth disk” uses a logarithmic scale to enable shallow depths to be entered quickly and accurately. (The free app is called Secchi after Father Pietro Angelo Secchi, an astronomer who invented the disk device in 1865 to measure water turbidity in the Mediterranean. You can find out more about the project at www.secchidisk.org)
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W
e all know them: yachts that look sturdy and rugged. Have a real pilot-house and a high bow. They look like they are made for the high seas and actually they are. This type of boat comes in a variety of names: passage-maker, exploration yacht, expedition yacht, trawler yacht, yacht ship, etc. They share a number of characteristics that makes them stand out in the large variety of boats available on the market. First of all they are displacement boats, so no planing or semi-planing behavior. They all have a relatively high bow and a separate pilot-house. They move at lower speeds (usually a cruising speed between 8 and 15 knots) and they have a long range capacity (2000 to 5000+ NM). These characteristics make them suitable for long trips and extended periods at sea. That allows them to go where other yachts cannot. Hence, the name expedition or exploration yacht. Being at sea for longer periods also means that you are relying completely on the boat’s safety and reliability. Let’s have a closer look at those qualities.
SAFETY The safety factor has many different elements. Let’s consider the main ones. Firstly structural integrity the structure of the yacht should be designed and built to withstand all the movement forces that you will meet at sea without compromising the structural aspects of the yacht in any way. Naval architects and ship builders are very aware of this and over-dimension the structural elements in most cases. In my opinion, the best material for this type of yacht is steel. It’s the strongest material available and the weight is of lesser concern as it is a displacement type of boat. Also the use of steel in boats has already a long history and ship yards in general will have a competent work force able to weld steel components with more than sufficient quality. In the event of running aground steel will be stronger than anything else and apart from dents and scratches the hull will almost always stay in one piece and keep on protecting you. Secondly, another aspect of safety that needs a lot of attention and care is the firefighting installations throughout the boat. Fire aboard is something nobody wants to encounter. When at sea and a long distance from shore fire is the most dangerous thing that can happen to you. Extensive firefighting equipment, both automatic and manual, should be part of the standard outfit of an exploration boat. The last main safety feature is the ability to get to a safe haven under almost all circumstances. This implies that single engine boats should have at least a redundant propulsion facility to bring them safely to harbour.
Story by Bert van Muylwijk
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Exploration Yachts:
an overview
Bering yachts have a high intrinsic stability due to specially designed stabilization devices.
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RELIABILITY The reliability factor goes hand in hand with safety. If a system turns out to be unreliable it might compromise the safety of the boat. That’s the main reason that most serious ocean-going exploration yachts will have redundant systems for everything that is really important: from navigation equipment to water-makers, from refrigeration to engines and generators. Sure it will add to the cost of the boat but it will let you sleep better throughout your passage.
COMFORT Being on board for extended periods will make you appreciate a comfortable environment. This not only applies to beds, couches, colour schemes, ergonomics, etc. It also applies to the boats behaviour. The exploration yacht series from Bering Yachts has been modeled after fishing trawlers where a crew has to be able to work 24/7 using both hands. This puts a high demand on the stability of the yacht in most sea states. Bering Yachts have a high intrinsic stability due to specially designed stabilization devices. For those among us with a tendency to sea sickness even more stabilization can be accomplished with the installation of gyro-stabilization rather than the more conventional methods where moving blades stick out of from the hull. Not only do gyros keep everything inside, they also deliver zero-speed stabilization. This will add considerably to your comfort and will allow you to have your gin & tonic even in rough seas.
GOING GREEN As part of the comfort idea but combined with some pressure to reduce our carbon footprint most ship yards also offer a “green” option. As you are aware, dieselelectric propulsion has been around since the 1930s and is a well-established and proven technology. Presently most large sea-going vessels, be it tankers or cruise ships, are fitted with hybrid systems often combined with POD
drives. For smaller yachts it’s still relatively rare mainly due to the extra initial cost involved (US$200250,000) and the fact that maintenance is not yet universally available. For a smaller yacht it is a substantial extra cost and the maintenance issue is a concern. However there are more and more companies concentrating on this type of “green” power plant and in particular the development of battery technology is at a stunning pace mainly driven by the electric car industry. , the Tesla car company is a driver for lithium-ion battery development. Of course, this all has spin-off effects in the marine industry. Bering Yachts offers hybrid systems as a serious alternative from the conventional power train. This article was meant to broad-brush the concept of expedition yachts and only scratched the surface. In a next issue of SEA Yachting, we will go into more detail. Bert van Muylwijk is a yacht broker with Northrop and Johnson Asia. For any information you can contact him at: bert.vanmuylwijk@northropandjohnson.com. Northrop & Johnson Asia is the exclusive representative for Bering Yachts in Asia. For further information check out their website at www.beringyachts.com
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Diesel-electric propulsion has been around since the 1930s and is a well-established and proven technology.
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Simpson Marine celebrates 30 years on the water
New Long-Range Cruiser Simpson fromMike Albatross
S
impson Marine has a team of more than 100 staff and provides a wide range of yacht services throughout Asia being the exclusive dealer for many of the world’s leading yacht brands in the region. The company also offers awardwinning after-sales service and maintenance across the Asian region. But how did the company get started? Mike Simpson graduated from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in 1964 and served until 1971, resigning with the rank of captain, whereupon he took a decade-long sailing and mountaineering sabbatical through Africa and the Americas.
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The humble beginnings of Simpson Marine started with Mike building his own boat in Taiwan and setting sail for new adventures. Soon after he was given an offer he could not refuse to purchase that boat and the pattern continued until Mike realized there was a business to be made in boat building. He started as an operator of a yacht charter company (Charterboats Ltd) and a distributor for two Taiwanese shipyards, delivering boats to customers in Singapore and Hong Kong. He then took steps to secure a few name brands when no one in Europe was even thinking about Asia. Mike formally established Simpson Marine Ltd in Hong Kong in 1984. In 1986, Beneteau became the first production boat Simpson Marine distributed, and Simpson had a lot of early success with the Beneteau monohulls; then in 1987 the company took on motor yachts forming a significant tie-up with the Azimut/Benetti group, the world’s leading luxury motoryacht company. Subsequently, Simpson signed deals with Sea Ray (USA), Lagoon (France) and Nautors Swan (Finland). “Mike didn’t set out to conquer Asia, he just wanted to be the best and the business just grew organically; he kept meeting people, and first he branched out into Malaysia, selling yachts to influential people during the 80s and 90s,” Paul Whelan explains. “In 1995, Kuala Lumpur became the second office Simpson opened outside of Hong Kong. Now we have offices in 7 countries (Singapore opened in 2000, Thailand in 2003, Taiwan in 2004, China in 2008, and Jakarta in 2011 and Bali in 2012).”
Simpson Marine has set up a separate standalone charter company in Thailand – Simpson Yacht Charter, employing an experienced French charter manager.
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Paul is Simpson Marine’s regional GM for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Hailing from Sydney, he grew up with small boats and a Hobie Cat that Paul learned to sail on. He always had boats in his backyard and always wanted to be in the marine industry. Paul brings 27 years of marine industry experience to Simpson. He has hands-on experience in virtually all aspects of the industry, starting as a shipwright’s apprentice for timber boats and classics, eventually doing wooden boat restoration in Sydney. He then spent nine years in the superyacht industry where he met his wife, who was also crewing on a superyacht. When the couple decided to marry, they realized they couldn’t raise a family while crewing on separate superyachts, so Paul and his new wife moved back to Australia where for a decade he ran his own leisure marine and supply business. Today, the couple has three children including young twins. A qualified Master Class IV Captain, Paul has logged extensive sea miles with multiple Transatlantic and Indian Ocean crossings, Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising and periods in Asia onboard 60m+ yachts. After the successful sale of his business in Australia, Paul was looking for a fresh challenge when he was referred to Simpson Marine. He says he is “very excited to be part of such a respected company and to play an integral role in its ongoing success.” Having firsthand experience in the yachting hubs of Florida, the south of France and Sydney, Paul can see the huge growth potential and attraction of the pristine cruising grounds available in Asia and the growing desire of Asians to live the boating lifestyle. “When we go into a market we do so for the long term,” Paul says. “We make a point to start a local company, we employ locals, we set up a service department and help build recreational yachting in that market—we are not briefcase brokers. Mike’s vision has always been to introduce more people to yachting and to become the best full-service provider in Asia. We are very focused on Asia, we know our strengths are here and we are not thinking of spreading beyond Asia (though the company did have an office in Monaco from 2000-2006.) “Southeast Asia is a good, steady market with Singapore being the keystone. Hong Kong and Singapore are our core areas, as in terms of Asia, they are mature markets. We do see steady sales in both markets despite a shortage of berths, which is becoming an issue. The markets that surround Singapore (Malaysia and Indonesia) are growth markets. Thailand is a relatively mature market too; there’s excellent infrastructure, good marinas, contractors, service providers, and competition, of course, it’s all there. There’s also good growth and increased interest in yachting from Thais. “We now see significant amounts of Russians in Thailand; we are probably the first leisure marine company in Thailand to invest in the Russian market as we now have Russian-speaking staff and brokers to cater to that market. We’ve seen a bit of a shift in the market in Thailand, traditionally it has been a strong expat market with Europeans or Australians who kept houses there. Now, we are seeing less Europeans (particularly Scandinavians and Germans) and seeing instead an increasing number of regional expats, Asians, who may have their principle residence in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or even China, but they now have a house and a yacht in Thailand. “Last year, we had our best year ever in Thailand in terms of the number of boats sold. Lagoon catamarans, in particular, are a
New Long-Range Cruiser
Paul Whelan
from Albatross
47
great crossover brand and a perfect boat for this region because of their volume, space, length, ease of sailing, and they are economical to run. If you want to charter them, the return on your investment is quite good.” Simpson Marine has set up a separate stand-alone charter company in Thailand – Simpson Yacht Charter, employing an experienced French charter manager. The charter base is at Ao Po Marina with Lagoon Catamarans in the charter fleet, ranging from 40ft to 62ft. It has three boats registered for Thai charter and another three for international charter. “We’ve recently made a decision to take on Monte Carlo Yachts in South East Asia,” Paul says. “This is an Italian company, owned by Beneteau Group, based in Monfalcone, Italy and with Italian management and craftsmanship, which when combined with Beneteau, the largest production boatbuilder in the world, makes for a great partnership. Monte Carlo Yachts have created a highly efficient way of building a boat saving both time and money with a much better use of space. We are very excited to be introducing this brand to Thailand and South East Asia, it fits very well with our portfolio, and our 25-year partnership with the Beneteau Group.” Monte Carlo Yachts range includes a Monte Carlo Yachts 65 (launched Sept 2011), a Monte Carlo Yachts 70 (launched in Sept 2012), a Monte Carlo Yachts 76 (launched in Sept 2012) and an Monte Carlo Yachts 86, which was launched at the Cannes Yacht Show last year. With this Monte Carlo Yachts acquisition Simpson Marine continues to grow, prosper and diversify its dealership three decades on. www.simpsonmarine.com
Last year, Simpson had its best year ever in Thailand in terms of the number of boats sold.
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It all came down to two seconds Text compiled from reports filed by sailing sage Captain Marty Rijurkis
Action kicked off with the opening party at Zico’s Bar & Grill with some awe inspiring Brazilian dancers leading the way.
New Long-Range Cruiser from Albatross
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Photography by Scott Murray
Lead-in Despite a recent military coup, some of the top skippers competing on the Asian circuit made their way to Samui for the 2013-14 Asian Yachting Grand Prix’s (AYGP) final showdown. To cap it all off, the runaway leader in the AYGP Anthony Root and his Archambault 35 Red Kite II had a change of heart and made the 3,000nm round trip from Hong Kong, feeling strongly that since they were in contention for the AYGP “Skipper and Yacht of the Year” titles, it was only fitting to make an appearance at the season-ending regatta. Bill Bremner’s Mills King 40 Foxy Lady 6 was the only boat that could threaten Red Kite II; pitted in the same class, the showdown was expected to go down to the wire, which it did. While they fought over the IRC 1 title, four 52-footers lined up with reigning champion Frank Pong’s Dibley custom 76 Jelik to duke it out for the IRC Zero title. Sam Chan’s Freefire, Neil Pryde’s Hi Fi, and Troy Yaw’s all-Malaysian Team Ulumulu, skippered by Jeremy Koo, took on the Ahern/ Bailey/ Wilmer trio on Oi!, which has ruled the waves at recent
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Southeast Asian regattas. As the IRC ratings evenly split the entries into classes, they were joined by Ben Copley’s Aquila Reichel Pugh 4 5 Katsu and the Malaysian Armed Forces DK47 Uranus, skippered by Norhafisam Bin Ahmed; both capable of keeping the big boats at bay, especially if the conditions were right. The closest competition was expected to come from the eight yachts in IRC 1 or the extended “Flying 40 Class”. Renowned for some aggressive start-line action and tight racing around the
runs at the Commodores Cup in the Philippines in April, and were hoping the southwest tradewinds would prevail, so a good mix of windward-leewards and passage races can be completed as they rely on their crew work to give them their edge over other boats. As some Pattaya-based boats dropped out at the last moment and the local charter fleet was busy with Korean weddings, the remaining keelboat entries, usually reserved for the Premier, Sportsboat
track, Root’s Red Kite II and Bremner’s Foxy Lady 6 would face stiff opposition from David Dimmock’s Dubois 40 Blue Note, Singapore’s Sarab Singh’s Sydney 40 Windsikher and the Sorensen/Tilden/ Ketelbey/Brown Beneteau 44.7 Fujin, which has won the Samui Regatta before with previous owners. New to the Regatta, but with the familiar face of Michael Spies onboard, was the Corby 36 Jessandra II (formerly Rockall III & Rosie). Skippered by Roland Dane, the principal of Red Bull Racing Australia, the team won the Audi Australian IRC Championship in 2012 and remained unbeaten in competition. After resting the boat last season, they finished second overall to Black Jack 2 (ex Telefonica V70) in the Surf to City race earlier this year and have come to Asia to compete on the popular Asian circuit. Both Nick Burns/Fred Kinmonth’s Mills 40 EFG Bank Mandrake and Marcel Liedts Sydney GTS 43 Elektra had good
and Bareboat/Cruising Classes were combined into the IRC 2 and Bareboat/ Cruising Classes. They were duel scored and prizes awarded for results under the IRC Rating System (IRC 2) and the NHC National Handicap for Cruisers performance based system (Bareboat/ Cruising). The four yachts in this combined class had the opportunity to win prizes in both scoring categories. The yacht size range varied from Mick Grover’s locally owned Elliot 7 Moon Shadow to Gary Baguley’s Holman & Pye 52 Custom El Coyote, which has performed well in Samui in the past. Joining them was Thailand’s up and coming sailing star, Patinyakorn “Ging” Buranrom with his and S&S 42 Windstar, his all-Thai crew and his Sansiri sponsorship. Making their debut this year was Chui Shing Kin’s allChinese crew on the Beneteau Oceanis 4 5 HTRIP, which is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the cruising classes after cutting their teeth at recent regattas in the Philippines.
New Long-Range Cruiser
The gala prize presentation party was held on the magnificent lawn setting in front of the Centara Grand Beach Resort on Chaweng Beach.
from Albatross
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Wrap Up The regatta started with two days of weather-interrupted racing, then the northeasterly flow arrived and the regatta was back on track, plus the race committee was game enough to run passage races and finish up in grand style. It’s amazing how it all comes down to the last race at the last regatta. All the crews were out early and full of anticipation for the final showdown. While IRC Zero was still open for the taking, Bill Bremner’s Mills King 40 Foxy Lady 6 had wrapped up IRC 1
was fired away, it was soon abandoned as the breeze faded away and so did the chances of toppling Hi Fi, who was suffocating in the second row at the start of the second race. The final overall standings were: 1st Hi Fi, with Jelik a n d Oi! tied on 18 points and decided in favour of Jelik. Also on the second last day, Bill Bremner’s Mills King 40 Foxy Lady 6 miraculously made it seven wins in a row and sealed the IRC 1 title with one day to
on the second last day, with seven wins in a row and were gunning for their eighth win to claim the 2013-14 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year title from Anthony Root’s Archambault 35 Red Kite II, who had been in the driver’s seat for most of the season. PRO Ross Chisholm decided on trapezoid shape courses, to even out the difference between flying symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers. The second last day had ended with Frank Pong’s Dibley custom 76 Jelik, tied on points for the IRC Zero title with Neil Pryde’s Welbourn 52 Hi Fi and theAhern/ Bailey/ Wilmer trio on Oi! closing in on one point behind the leaders with all to play for in the final showdown. Although the NW breeze struggled to reach 10 knots the race was on in earnest. Being optimized for light wind, Pryde’s Hi Fi led the TP 52s around the course and the big question being asked on the media boat, was “Was Pong’s Jelik far enough in front to win the race?” As the numbers crunched, it turned out in favour of Pryde’s Hi Fi followed b y Oi! a n d Jelik. Although a second race
spare. On the final day it was all about the remaining podium places and whether the all-conquering crew on Foxy Lady 6 could win one more race and fulfill their season’s ambition ofclaiming the 2013-14 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. As the yachts circulated, Foxy Lady 6 was on pace but it was hard for the spectators to judge if they have enough in reserve to win the race. Finally the radio announced that they have won the race by a mere two seconds over Roland Dane’s Corby 36 Jessandra II with Anthony Root’s Archambault 35 Red Kite II coming in third. The final overall standings gave victory to Bremner’s Foxy Lady 6, second to Marcel Liedts Sydney GTS 43 Elektra and on their first outing in Asia, Dane’s Jessandra II came third. Last year Bill Bremner’s Mills King 4 0 Foxy Lady 6 started their “Assault of the Gulf” and won both the Top of the Gulf and Samui Regattas. They continued the winning streak into the 2013-14 season by convincingly winning the Raja Muda,
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King’s Cup, and Royal Langkawi regattas, returning for the second assault at the Top of the Gulf and now the Samui Regatta again. This seven regatta winning streak was masterminded by Bill and Janis Bremner and superbly conducted by a mixed crew of Canadian, Singaporean, Philippine and Aussie sailing legends, including Cap’n Bill on the helm, Steve McConaghy calling the shots, sail trimmers Janis Bremner, Andrew Chan, Stuy Lee and Scott Minton with Chas Mitchell on the bow, Benny Mawson in the pit, Dale Johnston on the mast and navigator Ko Chuan Yang. For five years, Anthony Root has been fostering and executing the Red Kite II racing program in Hong Kong before launching a determined challenge for the 2013-14 AYGP title. In Anthony’s words “The programme has been on a great run. The season’s statistics tell the story - 9,000 miles, 60 days at sea, 57 races, nine regattas in six countries, that has produced seven regatta/offshore wins, including six consecutive China Sea wins. Only to miss out by two seconds and ½ point on the AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year title, at the last regatta, on the last day, in the last race of the season. RK II was in the lead for the entire race until the wind died at the last mark.” Was it all worth it? Anthony reply was, “Apart from amassing terrific teammates and supporters near and far, the best part of the RK II experience has been making new friends and keeping in touch with old ones. A special thanks go to: Kevin Peet for his rock-star tactics, Andy Pilcher and Doyle for cutting-edge sails, Reden Tabangay for his dedication, seamanship and boat skills, Paul Bayfield, Olivier
Decamps and David Salembier for creating and sustaining the team’s spirit, Warwick Downes for the guidance and encouragement that got the program started, Adaro who generously sponsored the program at a critical stage and above all to Hongyu (Anthony’s wife) for her unwavering support and quiet determination that kept the program going through all the ups and downs of nearly 300 races over five years.” Gary Baguley’s Holman & Pye 52 Custom El Coyote dominated the IRC 2 class stringing together six wins and two second places. Patinyakorn “Ging” Buranrom’s S&S 42 Sansiri settled on second place with Mick Grover’s locallyowned Elliot 7 Moon Shadow rounding out the class in third. But it was a different story in the Bareboat/Cruising Class, when the NHC Performance Handicap System was applied to those same boats in IRC 2 as the handicaps were changed daily based on the corrected times from the previous race. Mick Grover’s Elliot 7 Moon Shadow won the final race, but the overall victory went to Patinyakorn “Ging” Buranrom’s S&S 42 Sansiri. Grover’s Moon Shadow held onto second overall, while Baguley’s El Coyote has to settle for third overall under this system. The regatta’s closing party recognized the winner of the AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards, as the Foxy Lady crew celebrated with the Perpetual AYGP Cup filled with champagne on ice, and Bill Bremner donned the specially-tailored Trend Fashions Navy Blue Blazer.
New Long-Range Cruiser from Albatross
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ABOUT THE SAMUI REGATTA Since its birth in 2002, Samui Regatta has grown to attract the best yachts in Asia and a large spectator following who come to Samui for great sailing, great parties and to experience all that the Island has to offer. 2014 is the Regatta’s 13th year and again it is proudly hosted by Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, which is widely regarded as the “Home of the Samui Regatta”. The Regatta is organized by Regattas Asia in conjunction with the Samui Yacht Club Regatta, under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Municipal of Koh Samui and the Sports Authority of Thailand. The Regatta has 4 key objectives: ◆ Increase tourists to the island of Koh Samui. ◆ Increase awareness and participation in watersports in Asia. ◆ Establish Koh Samui as a leading Sailing Destination. ◆ Support youth education and sporting activities on the Island.
22 different countries, generating an estimated 30 million baht worth of media coverage and over 18 million baht to the Samui Island economy annually. ABOUT REGATTAS ASIA Regattas Asia is a brand name of Phuket and More Co. Ltd., established in 2001 with over 15 years involvement in the organization of leading marine events in Asia. Formed by Simon James and Kae Wattana, Regattas Asia has become a prominent player in Asia’s regattas industry, with an innovative approach to the management of major sailing events in the region. Core team members have been involved with the Samui Regatta since its inception in 2002. Regattas Asia provides services to the
Starting with just 11 Jean Obry's support boat Serenity. boats, mainly made up of beach catamarans, the event gained a th reputation for offering great hospitality and competitive sailing. The fleet has now grown into one of the most competitive in Asia and is the final event of the prestigious AsianYachting Grand Prix, a series of 5-star racing events held throughout Asia. The winners of the 2013/2014 season are awarded at the final Foxy Lady crew celebrating AYGP victory. night Gala Dinner held at Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui. Following a number of management and following events: the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, name changes, Regattas Asia took over the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, the Sabang organization of the event in 2012 and has brought International Regatta (Indonesia), the Royal the Regatta back to its roots, bringing back the Langkawi International Regatta (Malaysia), the name “Samui Regatta” and returning the social Hainan Around the Island Regatta (China), and the events to their rightful place, on the beach. We China Cup International Regatta. Regattas Asia is continue to develop this theme with a range of also the sole organizers of both The Bay Regatta and activities for all the crews to join in as part of the the Samui Regatta. daily Regatta Tavern activities. For more information: Despite these challenging economic Website: www.samuiregatta.com times, the event has grown every year to become Facebook: www.facebook.com/SamuiRegatta a truly international event with around 500 Twitter: twitter.com/samuiregatta competitors joining in annually from more than
The 14 Samui Regatta will take place from May 23rd 30th 2015.
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P
Hanse 455 Details LOA: 13.95 m LWL: 12.20 m Standard draught: 2.25 m Option draught 1: 1.82 m Option draught 2: 2.25 m Displacement approx.: 11,600 kg Ballast approx.: 3,500 kg Standard engine: Volvo D2-55 - 39kW/53 hp Fresh water tank: approx. 450 litres Diesel tank: approx. 220 litres Design: Judel/Vrolijk & co
owerful striking and distinctive; she’s a further development of the Hanse Range. The strong rig brings the performance on the water and the boat is loaded with quality materials and equipment. The T-Keel is standard and two shallower keels are options. The boat is controlled with two steering wheels and one rudder. A Volvo Penta D2-55 with 53hp (39kW) and sail drive is installed as standard. The standard interior of the new Hanse 455 is a spacious three-cabin layout, but there’s also a four-cabin layout, which should prove popular with owners and charter companies alike. Light and air is distributed through the entire boat via the 20 portholes, which help to create a pleasant cabin climate and making the area below deck unbelievably light. In the saloon, there is a choice of a generous U-shaped sofa to starboard and a comfortable settee opposite is offered as standard, with the option of replacing the settee with a small table and two swivel chairs. The spacious, light-filled cabins are combined with two heads. The forward cabin is equipped with a WC and basin and a spacious shower on starboard; almost like home. The second wet area is located at the rear of the saloon and is also equipped with a large partitioned off shower. The new Hanse 455 also has the largest cockpit in its class which gives her owners enough space to sail in comfort and for relaxing hours in the port. Large pods on the steering pedestals fit the image of the boat and hold all the important instruments and control panels for navigation and the function of the boat. The gear is easy to operate and is designed so that the yacht can also be sailed with just a small crew with a self-tacking jib standard and the winches close to the helmsman position so the helmsman can be operate all halyards and sheets. There is ample storage space in the cockpit with a large storage locker under the benches and in the cockpit floor, as well as storage compartments for smaller equipment items, such as binoculars and mobile phones, adjacent to the deck hatchway. There is also a large sail locker in the bow, which can be accessed from the deck and offers ample space for sails, fenders and bulky items. The Hanse Design Team has even come up with the option of a large sun lounger with a size of 1.90 x 1.55m, perfect for relaxing, on the cabin in front of the mast. The first boat is due to be completed in July 2014. The price of the new Hanse 455 in standard configuration is Euro 169,900.00, which represents excellent value for a yacht of this quality.
New Long-Range Cruiser from Albatross
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The new Hanse 455 has just been released
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C
atana has international renown as builders of performance and luxury hi-tech cruising catamarans; it is the choice of many longdistance cruisers. Catana hasjust introduced its Bali Catamarans for the recreational and charter markets. The Bali Cats offer exceptional comfort and feature many innovations that will appeal to their owners. The first of the new range, the BALI 45 is being built now; her features are numerous. The flush deck is a spacious open area and her forward cockpit allows for seating and a large, safe, sun-bathing area. She is easily maneuvered from her optional helm stations; either on the saloon bulkhead, or on the flybridge. The self-tacking headsail gives ease of short-handed sailing with an uncluttered cockpit while options are available to increase rig power. Her optional three- or four-cabin
layouts feature innovative high-quality design and fittings, comfort and optimized natural ventilation. There’s a single bow cabin available on the three-cabin version and two bow cabins in the four-cabin layout. The hulls are constructed out of GRP infused PVC Foam Sandwich, with the bottom of a solid GRP fused with antiosmotic protection. The deck is also GRP infused Foam Sandwich with reinforcements...not your average boat! Huge water and fuel tanks are standard as is a large-volume refrigerator. As you would expect from Catana, the standard specification is very complete. This, in combination with an extensive options list, gives you a boat that you can personalize to your requirements. The innovative features of the BALI CATS and the pedigree of their Catana heritage ensure this range will prove very popular, while setting new standards in the recreational and charter markets.
Bali 45 Technical Data Concept: Olivier Poncin Design: Xavier Faÿ Interior Hervé Couedel. LOA : Length Water line : Beam overall : Draft : Full displacement : Light displacement : Sail area : Main sail area : Genoa area : Self tacking Jib : Engine : Fuel : Fresh water : Fridge: CE:
13.60 m / 44.6 Ft 13 m / 42.65 Ft 7.42 m / 24.32 Ft 1.22 m / 4.00 Ft 16.5t /24250 Lbs 11t/36376 Lbs 121 m2 / 1300 sq.ft 72 m2 / 775 sq.ft 49 m2 / 527 sq.ft 39 m2 / 480 sq.ft 2 x 40-60 HP. Saildrive 800L / 221 Gal 800L / 221 Gal 615L/ 162 Gal Cat. A 12 passengers
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BALI BY CATANAA NEW BREED OF CATAMARANS
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A BUYER’S GUIDE TO Written by Marcus Collins, DFDL Partner and Managing Director Samui and Phuket offices; Michael Peart, DFDL Senior Adviser, Koh Samui; and Christopher Neale, DFDL Legal Adviser, Koh Samui.
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OWNERSHIP IN IN THAILAND THAILAND
INTRODUCTION Please indulge us in a self-serving (but true) opening gambit: if you are thinking of investing in property in Thailand, the first step you should take is to choose a good lawyer! You will want a trusted guide to help you navigate the relevant Thai legal procedures, some of which can be complicated. A little background information on the legal avenues open to you can go a long way to help you choose the best path available. The following is a summary of the basic principles of Thai property ownership which will give a foreigner thinking of investing in Thai property a clearer picture of what is involved.
AM I ALLOWED TO BUY LAND/PROPERTY? This is usually the first question asked by foreigners. Although Thai law (the Land Code) prohibits foreigners from owning land in Thailand, there are ways in which foreigners can effectively own or have control of land and still comply with existing Thai laws. The following three procedures are the most common:
1. The purchase of land through a Thai limited company.
the owner may agree to a renewal clause in the lease agreement, it is uncertain at present whether this right can be enforced against a purchaser/successor of the freehold interest. If the lessor is a company and the company is sold as opposed to the land held by the original lessor, of course, the situation would not change and the new shareholder would then have to deal with the lessee based on the original lease agreement. As opposed to land a foreign buyer can have the ownership of a house registered in his own name although he only has a lease of the land it stands upon.
3. Condominiums. Foreigners can own a condominium in their own name but not more than 49% of the aggregate unit space of the condo development may be owned by foreigners. Once the foreign quota is full foreigners can only lease condominium units and these leases can be registered with the Land Department as is the case with land as explained already. Also foreigners could establish Thai companies and acquire freehold title to a unit. The explanation provided above in respect of purchasing land with a Thai company applies here too.
New Long-Range Cruiser Buying land/property in a Thai company name is a popular choice among foreigners who wish to acquire an interest in freehold land in Thailand (as opposed to the leasehold option set out below). In order to comply with Thai law, the shareholding in a Thai company must be at least 51% Thai (i.e. majority) with the foreign shareholding being a maximum 49%. In previous years, nominee shareholdings (i.e. where the Thai shareholders were simply named individuals with no financial interest in the company and with weighted voting rights being given to the foreign shareholders) developed as a way of giving foreigners control of the company’s affairs. However, the Thai Government now cracked down on Thai companies set up with nominee Thai shareholders, which has led to a change in the initial company set-up. Your lawyer can discuss the practicalities with you.
THE CLASSES OF LAND TITLE
When you are in the process of looking for a Thai property, it is very important to find out the class of title of the land. The following is a brief description of some of the rights in land you will find in Thailand and which are suitable to be bought or leased and can be used to build houses or apartment or condominium buildings. Chanote - Nor Sor 4 Jor is the only document that can be described as a true land title deed, because it alone confirms ownership of land. The land was accurately surveyed and plotted in relation to a national survey grid. Unique numbered marker posts set in the ground mark its boundaries. It is possible to subdivide the land into smaller plots. This is the best title available. Nor Sor 3 Gor signifies the land occupier’s right to possess the land, but without conferring actual ownership. De facto though there is little difference between Chanote and Nor Sor Sarm Gor. The land is in general accurately surveyed and each plot is cross-referenced to a master survey of the area and a corresponding aerial photograph. Unique numbered marker posts set in the ground mark its boundaries. It is possible to subdivide the land into smaller plots. The second best title available as it can be readily upgraded to Chanote title. Chanote – and Nor Sor 3 Gor are the only land titles where registered right of ownership or lease can exist. Any
from Albatross
2. The registering of a leasehold interest. A registered lease is relatively uncomplicated and easy to acquire and register. A long term lease can be held and registered in your own name (no company required). Foreigners are permitted to lease land in Thailand for a maximum of 30 years with an option to renew for a further period of 30 years. A lease registered with the Land Office remains in force throughout the term of the lease, regardless of whether the freehold owner sells or otherwise transfers the freehold. However, even though
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land titles lower than these are not recommended for foreign investment. In some cases upgrading to Chanote would make land subject to these lower ranked “titles” also suitable for foreign investment.
THE LAWYER’S ROLE - DUE DILIGENCE & CONTRACTS Once you have chosen your property, your lawyer will carry out due diligence on your behalf. A search will be carried out at the Land Office to verify the identity of the owner and whether or not there are any encumbrances against the property. Your lawyer will also check the access to the property – i.e. is there a public or private road leading to the property? If it is a private road your lawyer will need to ensure a servitude (registered access) is marked on the relevant title deed at the Land Office upon completion of the purchase. As far as contracts are concerned, there will usually be a Reservation Agreement between the buyer and the seller pursuant to which a deposit securing the property will be paid by the buyer (usually between 5 and 10%). There will be a time period stipulated in the Reservation Agreement (usually 30 days) for the due diligence to be carried out. If due diligence is satisfactory then the buyer and seller will proceed to sign a Sale and Purchase Agreement. If due diligence is not satisfactory the buyer may withdraw and get a refund of his deposit.. It is important that as a buyer you make sure your lawyer checks and approves the Reservation Agreement prior to you signing it. There have been cases in the past where buyers have signed a Reservation Agreement without legal advice and subsequently had problems getting their deposits back when the due diligence turned out to be unsatisfactory. If due diligence is satisfactory and a Sale and Purchase Agreement is signed, your lawyer will attend the Land Office on completion of the transfer to ensure the property is transferred into your company name (or your personal name if leasehold) with simultaneous payment of the balance of the purchase price.
WHAT FEES ARE PAYABLE UPON BUYING LAND? There are basically two types of fee payable when you buy land; firstly, your lawyer’s fee. Most lawyers have standard rates for the buying of land and property so make sure that you ask for their fee schedule. The second set of fees you will be liable to pay are at the Land Office upon transfer of the land. These are:
Land Office Fee for land purchase: Specific Business Tax - 3.3% of the actual purchase price; Transfer Fee - 2% of the appraised (by the Land Dept/Min of Interior) value of the Land; Withholding Tax - 1% of the actual purchase price. Companies that dispose of immovable properties are required to deduct tax at 1% from the proceeds. A progressive scale applies to capital gains derived from immovable properties by individuals.
Land Office Fee for registering a lease: 1.1% of the registered rental/lease amount. There is no capital gains tax in Thailand (unlike many countries) and withholding tax on property is the comparable replacement. Although one might expect the seller to pay the withholding tax, in practice, this is not always the case and really depends on what has been agreed during negotiations. It is often the case that Land Office fees are shared 50/50 between the buyer and the seller.
THE THAI SYSTEM OF LAND MEASUREMENT You will often hear Thais and foreigners talking about the “rai”. Land is measured in Thailand by Wah, Ngan, and Rai. The following is an easy conversion table; 1 Wah = 4 m² = 42.7 ft² 1 Ngan = 100 Wah = 400 m² 4,277 ft² 1 Rai = 400 Wah = 1,600 m² =17,109 ft² 1 Acre = 2.5 Rai = 4,000 m² = 42,772 ft² 1 hectare = 6.25 Rai
WHAT ARE THE RISKS? As with any land or house purchase, there are always risks involved no matter where you buy. Your lawyer will help you to identify and minimize them. For example, is the property on a completed development? If it is not on a completed development what is the probable completion time? How long has the development been under construction? Is it possible it may never be completed? What kind of construction warranty will be provided – 1 year, 2 years, 5 years? Who will be my neighbors? Are there any other building developments planned nearby? Where is the water source? Is there sufficient electricity supply? Who manages the communal facilities like security, refuse collection, shuttle services? How is the property currently owned?
SUMMARY Seeking the advice of a lawyer who is a property specialist when considering the purchase of property in Thailand is recommended- just as you would do back home. There are law firms in Thailand offering qualified legal advice. We hope you will choose DFDL. Our contact details are as follows:
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Regional
NEWS
Asia Superyacht Rendezvous 2014
(Photo courtesy of Asia Superyacht Rendezvous)
Annually, from 16th to 18th December, the shores of Phuket welcomes superyachts, their owners, captains and VIP guests to the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous. The rendezvous is an exclusive gathering of sail and motor boats over 100 feet. For many, the Rendezvous is the highlight of their sailing season and gives them a chance to meet with old friends, make new ones and spend the three days enjoying the sun, sailing and socializing. The aim of the event is to see everyone have a good time in a relaxed atmosphere. The 2013 event welcomed 11 spectacular superyachts to Phuket. Six breathtakingly beautiful sailing yachts were in attendance; Argo, Shamoun, Yanneke Too, Schooner Sunshine, Capricorn and Intrigue, along with five glorious motor yachts; Maid Marian 2, Maverick, Moonsand, Sapphire and Big Fish. Highlights of the social program include a welcome cocktail party onboard Sililona a beautiful 50+ meter Phenisi sailing yacht, the famous Feadship Challenge, which is a model boat building contest, the treasure hunt for both adults and children and the exclusive Gala Dinner on the final evening to draw the event to a close. Guests of the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous will enjoy the best Thai hospitality in a relaxed and sociable 5-star setting at our host venue, Kata Rocks. Phuket is continuously playing host to more and more yachts each year and it is proving to be an extremely popular destination. The region as a whole is seeing a massive growth in the number of superyachts and some are now calling Asia home. The rendezvous is always a great way to start off the festive season and the idyllic location provides opportunities for fantastic holiday cruising following the event. Feadship Royal Dutch Shipyards, the principal sponsor of the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous and International Media Sponsor, Boat International Media, who provides global coverage, have been supporting the event for its full 13 years and they have both pledged their continued support for 2014 and beyond. Every year, The Rendezvous endeavors to exceed expectations and this year will be no exception. From 16th – 18th December, all eyes are on Kata Bay for what promises to be another exceptional Rendezvous. To receive an invitation to this exclusive event, or if you have any questions about how to register, please contact pr-comm@asia-superyacht-rendezvous.com. Full details of the event including sponsor information, can be found on the official event website; www.asia-superyacht-rendezvous.com
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Catamaran
Stability
By James Wharram and Hanneke Boon (1991)
I
n November 1989, the British Multihull Club, M.O.C.R.A., had an International Symposium on multihull design to celebrate its 20th anniversary. During the lunch break, one very pregnant lady asked me: “Why don’t they discuss capsizing? That is what I want to know about. I do not like heeling monohulls, but I do not fancy swimming with my baby out of an upside down catamaran.” Unfortunately, what I had to tell the pregnant lady is that they never seriously discuss capsizes at Multihull Symposia except in a selfcongratulatory way, saying that an “upside-down catamaran floats as against a monohull that sinks”. Ignored are hypothermia, broken limbs, lost crewmembers and mothers frantically trying to find their children to say nothing of at least half the value of the boat, i.e. the interior destroyed by the inrushing water. It is a very emotive subject between designers and their followers because it touches not just on sales and profits, but also on masculine subjective attitudes like high tech., low tech., modern, traditional, taking risks, being cautious...etc. Symposium organizers realize that free discussion would lead to uproar. For the monohull sailor wishing to buy a cruising catamaran to suit his/her family’s needs, Multihull Symposia and Multihull Magazines so far have given no real information.
Fortunately, the formulas that most catamaran designers use nowadays to calculate stability are not all that difficult to understand, and with them a prospective owner with a little background knowledge on sailing ships in general, can make his/her own decision as to whether the cruising catamaran they desire has the stability to be safe for their intended usage.
If you have forgotten most of your mathematics since you left school and, like most of us, hate to admit it, do not be frightened of the word formula. Calculators now do most of the work, and everyone knows or has some bright adolescent only too eager to use and demonstrate his/her latest calculator acquisition. However, the calculator only produces figures. To relate these to
our needs, we do need to know some sailing ship history. The historic catamaran is the workboat of the Polynesian Pacific. Archaeological excavations, legend and early Western observers have shown that they had been in use hundreds of years - perhaps thousands for fishing, coastal trade and ocean exploration, a background usage similar to that of the Chinese junk types and our own traditional Western sailing boats (before the development of the modern ballast keel yachts). Catamarans have exactly the same stability behavior as Junks and the traditional Western Sailboat. Joshua Slocum’s SPRAY is a typical example of a workboat of the late 18th and early 19th century. (See fig.1) What kept the SPRAY and traditional sailing ships from capsizing under the pressure of the wind on the beam were the wide hull beam, flattish bottom shape (i.e. “form stability”), and a selection of heavy rocks (i.e. “ballast stability”). In addition, the masts were kept short to lower the heeling moment of the sails. Extra sail area for light winds was achieved by spreading the base of the sails out by means of bowsprits and bumpkins rather than raising the sails higher on a longer mast, creating a greater heeling/capsizing force. According to Chapelle, in his book “The Search for Speed under Sail”, if traditional sailing ships heeled
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much more than 55º, then they were in trouble. The loose rock ballast, about 10% of the total displacement, could break loose. A complete capsize would then occur and the boat would remain upside down. Capsizing, until the advent of the modern ballast keel yacht, was the theoretical possibility of ALL seagoing sailing vessels. Designers/ Boatbuilders have been able to design boats stable enough to stay well away from the possibility of capsizing for at least 3000 years. (ULU BURUN SHIP Nat. Geographic Magazine, Dec. 87). Racing developed the modern ballast keel yacht. To sail closer to the wind the rigs got higher. To balance that, the ballast changed from rocks to heavy iron (this became cheaper with industrialization), and finally, to be able to use even higher masts, the ballast changed to the heavier lead and moved from inside the hull to the outside in a deeper keel. As a side result, and not intended by design, the modern selfrighting yacht was born. Those who observed this development towards self-righting yachts did not regard it as a total blessing. They commented on how these “new” yachts plunged and rolled, which made sailing very uncomfortable and caused seasickness. Even so the modern ballast keel yacht is still a relatively broad-beamed vessel, i.e. with a waterline length about 3 times longer than its beam - in technical terms, a length/beam ratio of 3:1. Beamy hulls of 3:1 have to push a lot of water around them when sailing. This produces the well-known drag waves. (Seefig.1) and limits the maximum possible speed to approx. 1.4 x “WLL (in feet). Thus with a waterline length of 25 feet, your average speed will be about 5 - 6 knots. The catamaran’s unique speed potential, greater than that of the equivalent size monohull has arisen because it developed out of two ancestral boat types of the Pacific. Around the Pacific Ocean of antiquity there were various maritime peoples. Some used large paddling canoes up to 60 feet long for coastal trading, fishing, and whale hunting. (See fig.2). Their long slim hulls with length/beam ratios of 12:1 to 20:1 allowed the water to part
and run around them without creating drag waves at “WLL. They could reach speeds as high as 2 or 3 times the “WLL. So a canoe of 25 foot waterline length could reach speeds of 10 knots and over. Hard paddling men with their food and water add up to weight. Even the toughest men can only paddle for a few hours. Other Pacific maritime people had sailing rafts. Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki expedition of 1947 used a modern replica of this type of craft. 45 ft. long, 18 ft. wide, rigged with a squaresail, manoeuvred by daggerboards, it could sail sufficiently against the wind to be a true sailing craft. It carried a crew of six in basic, though surprising comfort across the Pacific. (SeeFig.2b). It was not a speedy craft, but by its beam and weight, it was practically impossible to capsize and thus had stability, an essential part of seaworthiness. Long ago some genius in the Pacific joined two fast, easily driven canoe hulls into a beamy raft shape, giving a new type of sailing craft with the stability of the broad beam raft and the high-through-the-water speed potential of the single canoe. (SeeFig.2c). Fig.2c is an approximation of a traditional Polynesian sailing craft and how it developed from its two ancestral types. It has a raft-like deck platform that could house people, and ample room to move around. From early European explorers’ descriptions, the
crew sailed with families, friends, lovers, singers and dancers in one joyous group from island to island - a marvellous way of life.
Efficient Crab Claws Modern wind tunnel tests, as done by Tony Marchaj, of Southampton University, have shown that the Polynesian sail shapes were highly efficient to windward. With efficient sails, a hull form that allowed the boats to sail faster than the maximum speed of 1.4 x “WLL of Western ships and enough raft stability to be uncapsizable, (i.e. the sails would rip before the ships could capsize), the Polynesian catamaran was a remarkable sailing craft and worthy of being developed as a modern pleasure sailing craft. Though to-day’s yachtsman increasingly accepts the concept of the double-hulled ship, he/she places modern urban attitudes on the catamaran. These are: 1) to get the maximum speed potential out of the catamaran form. (Faster is always equated with being better, no matter what the cost.) 2) to alter the hull form to get as close to modern urban style accommodation needs as possible, which was described in the recent RYA (Royal Yachting Association) ‘Competent Crew Handbook’: “The typical modern cruising yacht has....interior design principles....much in common with a caravan”.
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The quest for speed It is Demand 1) which creates most controversy for, in order to reach the maximum speed potential of a catamaran, you have to carry a large sail area, which reduces its inherent stability to the point, where with the average cruising crew, it is in danger of capsizing well before the average monohull suffers a knockdown. With a sense of realism any would-be catamaran owner, once he/she knows how to calculate stability, can make his/her own decision when viewing a cruising catamaran design, whether they want maximum speed or maximum stability. As the formula will show, you cannot have both at the same time. Fig.3 shows how to calculate catamaran stability. Fig4 and Fig 5 are helpful to learn how to determine the position of the center of Effort and the Center of Lateral Resistance. In 1976, catamarans built using this stability formula were capsizing all over the world at mean wind speeds a lot lower than the wind speed the formula predicted.
In an Article called “The Stable Multihull”, published in 1977, Hanneke Boon and I demonstrated that the given formula was a static formula for static state conditions. However, wind is a turbulent, gusty, dynamic force. Gusts can be as much as 40% to 60% greater than the mean wind speed, so the static formula has to have built in a safety factor for dynamic, natural state wind conditions to allow sailing craft to absorb the extra wind gusts without immediately capsizing in the manner of a dinghy. Since 1977, this dynamic
formula concept, after much initial argument, has been accepted. It has now been generally agreed amongst designers, that taking 60% (x 0.6) of the Static stability allows for a suitable safety factor. So, the Dynamic Stability (i.e. maximum mean wind speed it is safe to sail in before reducing sail) is found as follows: Static Stability x 0.6 = Dynamic Stability. At the M.O.C.R.A. symposium were the designers of two 3435 ft. catamarans about to be placed on the market. We will use them as examples of two opposing design attitudes towards speed and catamaran stability.
Their dimensions, obtained from yacht magazines and brochures, are given in Fig.6a. he first noticeable points from Fig.6a are that catamaran B has a wider beam than catamaran A, but carries 33% more sail and has a much lighter construction weight. If you asked the opinion of the designer of catamaran A with reference to design B, he would say that he has been designing and building catamarans for thirty years, that his sail area to weight ratio to beam etc. had evolved to provide the maximum stability, Which adds up to sailing safety. The designer of catamaran B, a more recent designer in the cruising catamaran field, would point out, that his design had much more beam (which is a feature of catamaran design over the last ten years) and. thus has the stability to carry the extra sail area. You, the would-be catamaran purchaser, without the aid of the given formula would be at a loss to know: 1. The Static Stability of either design, which can be described as the “Moment of Truth” when the boat is on the edge of capsizing i.e. when the windward hull lifts out of the water. 2. The Dynamic Stability, when it is safe to sail along with all sails up and have sufficient reserve stability to meet safely any wind gusts that lie under that lovely white cloud or just along the coast where a narrow, scenic valley opens to the sea and down which the wind unexpectedly gusts. Fig.6b shows the working out of the Static and Dynamic stability of both designs, using their lightly loaded weights, sometimes described as racing trim. From the formula we can see that catamaran B has less stability in spite of its wider beam than catamaran A. So what! These figures must be related to the real world of sailing. To do this I will use a book by the sailing meteorologist, Alan Watts, called “Instant Weather Forecasting” (published by Adlard Coles). On pages 10 and 11, Alan Watts describes the behavior of dinghies and deep keel monohulls in various wind strengths. (I have extracted these details for wind forces 3 to 6.). See Fig 7. Catamaran A with a Dynamic
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Why not reef? The enthusiasts for the Catamaran B type argue that for general family cruising, you can reef Catamaran B and give it the same monohull type stability as Catamaran A. At other times, with a trained crew and all sails up, you have the benefits of fast exciting sailing. This is true, and Fig 8 shows the use of the formula to see how much sail you would have to reef down to give Catamaran B the same stability as Catamaran A with all sail up. This is a sail reduction from 750 sq.ft, to 511 sq.ft. Providing that reefing was a rigidly applied rule when there was not a fully experienced dinghy technique skipper standing by the sheets or helm, it would be effective. If you feel a little conspicuous, sailing reefed in a Force 4 breeze, you can carry more load to stabilize Catamaran B. Again, the formula (see Fig.9) shows that if the boat
stability of 18.2 knots (Fig 6) needs to be carefully sailed or reefed by the middle of force 5 (remember this is a lightly loaded catamaran). Alan Watts describes the deep keel monohull in a force 5 wind as “Craft’s way somewhat impeded by seaway. Genoas near their limit. Yachts approach maximum speed.’ Force 5 is a well-known wind state that to the average yachtsman draws attention to itself by strong audiovisual signals of waves and wind, which leads him naturally to take particular care in sailing, changing headsails or reefing. Therefore, if a monohull yachtsman handling Catamaran A is slow at reefing in force 5 and is hit by a strong wind gust, he would have approx. a 60% stability safety margin to absorb his slowness and the gust, for his windward hull would not begin to lift from the water (the Moment of Truth) until 30.5 knots of wind hits the sails (i.e. a force 7 gust).
Similar sail handling Conclusion, the same sail handling habits of the monohull cruising sailor can easily be applied to the lightly loaded catamaran A, without fear of immediate capsize. Catamaran B with a Dynamic stability of 13.3 knots (lightly loaded) will need to be carefully handled, aware of wind gusts, or reefed, to preserve its 60% stability safety margin in the middle of force 4 (11-16 knots). THIS IS AT ONE FORCE lower than monohulls or Catamaran A. Watts describes force 4 for monohulls as: “Best general working breeze for all craft, genoas at optimum”. With the necessity to reef to preserve the 60% safety margin, this description does not apply to Catamaran B. However, his description of force 4 for dinghies does, for he writes: “Dinghy crews lie out...”, i.e. are attentive to
stability to prevent capsizing. As dinghies, so Catamaran B. Catamaran B continues to echo dinghy-handling characteristics at increasing wind strengths. Catamaran B’s Static stability, i.e. hull lifting point, lies on the borderline between force 5 and 6 (22.5 knots). Watts’ dinghy handling descriptions for force 5 and 6 are as follows: Force 5: “Dinghies ease sheets in gusts...some capsizes.” Force 6: “Dinghies overpowered when carrying full sail. Many capsizes.” Conclusion: Lightly loaded Catamaran B, above wind force 4 can only be sailed safely by skilled dinghy type sailing techniques or should be reefed at force 4.
weight is increased to 11787 lbs with extra stores and equipment (in fact, its full cruising payload), your stability would again equal that of Catamaran A in its lightly loaded condition. However, if Catamaran A increases its payload to the designed maximum (approx. 11050 lbs) its Dynamic stability goes up too, and it would require a gale gust of 34 knots, to lift one hull out of the water. This conforms to the wind stabilities of traditional sailing craft throughout the ages. A cruising catamaran designed to these principles gives no stability problems to the average yachtsman and his family, enjoying its broad decked upright sailing.
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