SOUTHEAST ASIA'S YACHTING MAGAZINE VOL. 15 No. 3 by Easy Branches Co., Ltd.

www.thailandyachtshow.com

Southeast Asia’s yachting and marine industry magazine

C o n t e n t s 12 12

The NEEL 47 Trimaran Awarded Multihull of the Year (pg#12); Leopard, The Moorings and Sunsail turn to Yanmar engines (pg#14): Multihull Solutions launches a virtual boat show (pg#16); a summary of the PYC’s Sailor’s Regatta (pg#56); an upbeat editorial from Paul Poole (pg#58); Sanlorenzo SL78’s Thailand Premiere, hosted by Trisara resort (pg#60); Yachtalia & Asia Superyacht Development announce a partnership for the Asia-Pacic (pg#61); news that Langkawi is luring more superyachts (pg#62); wrapping up with the Singapore Boat Show (pg#63) and the Hong Kong Yacht Show (pg#64).

Second Sanlorenzo 44Alloy Hull Sold to Asia

Surviving the COVID crisis - what to do, where to go, what to do next?

18 26

SEA Yachting News

Simpson Marine has announced the sale of the second 44Alloy superyacht to Asia. The yacht is characterised by clean, sporty lines with distinctive cut-outs in the bulwarks to provide unlimited sea views from the main deck.

Ron Patston, the Chief Operating Ofcer of Group Island Spirit, tells us how his company is surviving, what to expect in the future and how we can all pitch in to help each other.

26 Great Sailing on a Budget

Rob Williams takes a look at Hanse yachts under 40ft (the 315, the 348 & the 388), which all share innovation, sparkling performance, short-handed sailing ability and high standard accommodation with their bigger sisters.

42 44

GelairTM – keeping the air your breathe clean and fresh

East Marine Asia is promoting a wonderful product made from Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil, which prevents adverse health effects such as allergies and respiratory illnesses caused by harmful micro-organisms.

SeaCat delvers “Koh Russey”

BVZ Asia continues to provide products that protect your boat

SeaCat Ships has delivered a new high-speed 8.8 metre aluminium landing craft “Koh Russey” to its new home in Sihanoukville.

BVZ has introduced the Agora® range of stylish, superior quality performance fabrics that are purposely designed for diverse outdoor applications.

46 46

Bay Regatta shows off region’s stunning karst topography

Twenty-ve sailboats raced through some of the world’s most stunning karst topography on a magical four-day nautical journey.

A focus for trying times

Captain Shane Granger brings us up to speed on the recovery of H/V Vega and its future plans.

www.seayachtingmagazine.com

Regional 12 NEWS

NEEL 47 Trimaran Awarded Multihull of the Year

The new NEEL 47 trimaran has been awarded 2020 Multihull of the Year.

The NEEL 47 trimaran has won a major international marine award being voted “Multihull of the Year” in the 40 to 50-foot category. The remarkable trimaran was declared the winner following nominations by Multihulls World magazine judges and the organisers of the International Multihull Show as well as more than 10,000 public votes. Filling the gap between the shipyard’s acclaimed NEEL 45 and NEEL 51, the new NEEL 47 trimaran has optimised ergonomics and a reconceptualised interior layout to enhance onboard liveability and offshore performance. Designed by Marc Lombard, the NEEL 47 features an exciting new sporty design while retaining the impressive features of its predecessors: safety, easy centralised manoeuvring, steering finesse, central weight distribution and incomparable performance in all conditions. The NEEL 47 includes the renowned Cockloon® (seamless saloon/cockpit integration), a unique design concept that has significantly contributed to the success of the NEEL 51. The trimaran has also introduced new innovations, including the Full Beam Cockpit®, which affords numerous seating possibilities and a breathtaking 360 view, plus the Antireflex Window® that delivers a dynamic and contemporary aesthetic. NEEL Trimarans founder and CEO Eric Bruneel said the accolade was a great reward for the shipyard who have been working for 10 years to design and produce quality, innovative and high-performance multihulls. “It is a great honour and satisfaction for NEEL Trimarans to see its efforts rewarded in this way and its passion for developing new models encouraged,” Eric said. Further details on the NEEL 47 can be obtained by contacting Multihull Solutions on 1300 855 338 or +61 7 5452 5164 (within Australia), +64 (0) 9 432 7032 (within New Zealand), +66 (0) 76 238 117 (within Asia), emailing info@multihullsolutions.com.au or visiting the website at www.multihullsolutions.com.au.

Regional

NEWS 13

Regional 14 NEWS

THE MARINE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE Proven by adventure

For many adventure-seekers travelling to their dream destinations, a power yacht or catamaran is typically how the journey of a lifetime begins. To satisfy their needs, the charter industry continues to rely on exible technology partners who can facilitate the lifestyle expected by consumers. At all times, they must remain as pioneering as those who delight in the thrill of sailing to new horizons. Three marine brands – Leopard, The Moorings and Sunsail – are working to provide unforgettable travel experiences for those in search of original and dramatic sailing and yachting adventures. To power their vessels and support their customers’ adventures, Leopard, The Moorings and Sunsail turned to a world leader in marine diesel engines as their partner of choice. At the heart of every adventure is a clean Yanmar diesel engine and, crucially, it works in close cooperation with all three companies to deliver the best marine experiences possible. After all, adventures are best remembered when they reliably exceed people’s expectations… Given their pedigree in the charter market, it is no surprise that The Moorings and Sunsail look to continuously co-create with trusted suppliers. Innovation is essential, and as such, the two companies continually implement feedback from customers, owners, and operational teams. This is also an important topic for Leopard, as Franck confirms: “We receive feedback from different stakeholders through different touchpoints. Then, we collect that data and use it to improve our products and develop solutions, often in close cooperation with Yanmar. “They’ve listened to our needs over time, and there’s always a positive exchange between Yanmar’s engineers and our technical department. It’s great to have a long-term partner, who responds to our findings and is able to match our requirements.” For VP of Sales and Marketing for The Moorings and Sunsail Josie Tucci, this arrangement can be summarised perfectly: “We like to think of ourselves as the vessel through which our customers can seek adventure, and that is all powered by Yanmar.”

Regional

NEWS 15

A future without limits There is a line in a famous poem by John Donne that reads: ‘No man is an island’. The same can also be applied to those journeying to new horizons. Anyone exploring distant shores to enjoy the beauty of nature must also take responsibility to reduce the impact of their activities on the planet. For Josie, Yanmar is the ideal partner to challenge the industry and help deliver environmentally friendly adventures: “Clean power and simplified systems are more important than ever. For this reason, the industry needs to ask itself how to generate power and use less fuel at the same time.” Working in harmony to expand their customers’ horizons – and powered by Yanmar – The Moorings, Sunsail and Leopard will be able to guarantee their customers unforgettable adventures for a long time to come.

Regional 16 NEWS

Multihull Solutions Launches Innovative Virtual Boat Show

Multihull Solutions has launched its Virtual Boat Show so clients can browse a huge range of new and pre-owned boats for sale from the comfort and safety of home.

Multihull Solutions has launched an innovative Virtual Boat Show allowing buyers to comprehensively inspect a large range of new and pre-owned range of catamarans and trimarans on its website. The innovative concept was created in response to the restrictions boat buyers have experienced inspecting boats following the postponement or cancellation of major boat shows due to the Covid-19 crisis. While the popular Multihull Solutions Out-of-Water Boat Show display on the Gold Coast has remained open, visitors have been limited to inspecting boats by appointment only and many clients have been unable to travel to see the boats in person. The new Multihull Solutions Virtual Boat Show features full interactive walk-through facilities of its power and sail catamarans allowing clients to still inspect boats of interest from the safety of their own homes. Multihull Solutions general manager Andrew de Bruin said the online facility has been extremely well received by clients and provides a convenient solution for buyers who are unable to physically inspect boats of interest at the Sales Centres. “We worked tirelessly to get the Virtual Boat Show off the ground as soon as possible when social distancing policies were enforced, and we experienced a significant boost in website visits and enquiries on both our new and brokerage boats,” Andrew said. “It is also a fantastic facility for those wanting to sell their boat as the Virtual Boat Show is viewed by a huge number of genuine buyers and gives sellers a real advantage in this challenging climate.” The Virtual Boat Show is available at www.multihullsolutions.com.au. Further information can be obtained by contacting Multihull Solutions on toll-free 1300 855 338 or +61 (0) 7 5452 5164 or emailing info@multihullsolutions.com.au.

Regional

NEWS 17

anlorenzo Asia, a division of Simpson Marine, is delighted to announce the sale of the second 44Alloy superyacht to Asia. This is the second 44Alloy sold to Asia, with the first one being signed in late 2018 and expected to launch this autumn. The fast displacement 44.5 metre, 470 GT and entirely aluminum built superyacht is the new 2020 model expected to premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September. Renowned yacht designer and long-term partner of Sanlorenzo for the new SX and relaunched SD line, the Zuccon International Project studio has been in charge of exterior styling and interior design. The yacht is characterised by clean, sporty lines with distinctive cut-outs in the bulwarks to

provide unlimited sea views from the main deck and a sky lounge on the upper deck. The 44Alloy is a highly capable fast cruiser able to reach a maximum speed of 22 knots. The aft side of the hull comprises of a spacious beach club that opens on three sides with a lateral tender garage featuring a 7m tender. An innovative feature is the exceptional master cabin which spans over three levels and covers a total of 145 sqm, a solution of ultimate comfort never seen before on a yacht of this size. The suite comprises of its own private outdoor bow lounge area with a private pool. The new 44Alloy is a true conceptual update of the prize-winning 40Alloy, San-

Second Sanlorenzo 44Alloy

Hull Sold to Asia

lorenzo’s 40 metre aluminium model famous for its fold-out terraces in the owner’s zone, gullwing doors on the bridge and its remarkable performance and commercial success, with as many as 10 yachts sold. The 44Alloy is set to repeat her predecessor success with five units sold to date, before her official launch. “We are extremely proud of this sale given the current climate and it goes to show the passion of our owners to power forward and enjoy life on the ocean in what are certainly challenging times. The client is an experienced yacht owner who sought a state of the art design and a yacht that made the most of the spaces on board. The 44Alloy certainly does this with its unique use of spaces both internally and

externally. The owner's suite, for example, has been brilliantly developed by Bernardo Zuccon spanning three floors and enabling the space to be used in so many different ways. We are also delighted to welcome not one but two of the 44Alloy in Asia in addition to several other Sanlorenzo superyachts already cruising in the region”, says Nick Stratton, Sanlorenzo Asia Sales Manager. The new 44Alloy superyacht is currently one of 19 superyachts being built at the imposing 50,000 sqm Sanlorenzo Superyacht Division in La Spezia with hull no 1 expected to launch this summer. (www.simpsonmarine.com; www. sanlorenzoasia.com)

Surviving the COVID crisis - what to do, where to go, what to do next? By Ron Patston, Chief Operating Ofď&#x192;&#x17E;cer, Group Island Spirit

Have a beach to yourself on Koh Ngam.

In January, Island Spirit announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire the Austhai Marine manufacturing operations which it expects to merge into the Group Island Spirit Manufacturing operations. Beat the crowds in Koh Chang.

ell all of us, especially those in the tourism industry have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis which, even at this point we are still not through. We are seeing all tourism related businesses with the cash flow going to zero, this is unheard of in the history of tourism crises, we have always had some other market to pivot to to maintain some minimum level of continuing cash flow, with the COVID crisis, there is no other market to pivot to. What does all this mean? Well, realistically speaking the longer this situation lasts the more businesses there are that are not going to

survive the crisis. We are already seeing restaurants permanently close, and families moving back to the villages after years of running successful businesses in tourist locations. Are the tourists going to flock back soon, really doubtful, therefore any business in these sectors really need to look long and hard at expenses as well as marketing and product offerings in the sort term to reach the maximum number of potential clients and get that cash flow flowing again. If you are reading this article, then I would make a pretty good guess that you live in SE Asia and most likely live and work in SE Asia. With that as a premise, we all want to see

our local businesses survive and thrive; no one wants to see the local economy decimated. Therefore, it is important to really think about how we all can contribute to our local economy once we can start freely traveling in Thailand. I will cover below some of the approaches we have taken as local businesses and what we will be looking at as far as moving forward once travel restrictions are lifted. Our businesses cover a very wide variety of yachting related expertise and skill sets, but basically we have four business segments: 1) Yacht Charter 2) Sailing Education 3) Yacht Brokerage 4) Catamaran Manufacturing In each business segment we have been faced with unique challenges and for all segments we have made the assumption that we will not start to see a pick up in orders for 3-6 months. We need to plan for operating all of the businesses during the crisis and be firmly positioned to ramp up when people can start to travel again. In the “Yacht Charter” business we maintain over 40 yachts under management in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Chang. Through the first two months of the year we kept them quite busy based on normal business conditions. As we moved into March we started to see the impact of the COVID Crisis and realized that this was quite a serious event and will have a serious impact to our business. We immediately took action and developed a plan for survival of the crisis as well as a plan for how we can be the best equipped charter operator crisis when it is over. These plans involved a number of areas covering cost cutting and areas of investment. The investments we are making in the charter fleets pertain to quality of the offerings as well as specific features on the yachts that will add significant competitive advantage to our fleets for when the crisis is over. We expect this will show returns in the coming 6-9 months as far as forward bookings. In the “Sailing Education” business we saw the shut down happen much more rapidly than in the charter business, so late February we were already seeing significant effects that made it difficult if not impossible to continue to offer educational services. Several clients that attended our last sailing course in February even got stuck in Thailand for the next several months with the closure of international travel. We immediately put a plan in place similar to what we had done in the charter business, with cost cutting as well as making investments. Our investments on the educational side of things focused on long-term course quality and process improvements for the delivery of an exceptional quality educational product on an ongoing basis. These improvement have now been completed and documented and are being

Own your own yacht HERE!!.

rolled out with our instructional team with the belief that we will be able to open courses again around Mid June 2020. We have our fingers crossed… The “Yacht Brokerage” business has been slowly changing over the last 5 or so years. Historically, here in Thailand we have seen an influx of new foreign retirees every year and this has field the bulk of the yacht sales in Thailand historically. With changes in government policies, a strong Thai baht to European currencies, this influx of retirees has dwindled to a trickle. In fact, we are seeing a number of current retiree’s in Thailand now opting to pick up stake and move to other countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Ecuador. This has put a damper on both the new and used yacht sales opportunities in Thailand. We still have foreign buyers looking to own boats here in Thailand and have them maintained in our charter fleets. Last year we had numerous new boats sold into the fleets and this year we have already seen several more that will begin service later in the year. The approach we take in this market segment is quite a bit different than other Yacht brokers. Our main

Island Spirit expects to have its Pattaya-based â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zero to Heroâ&#x20AC;? sailing course starting on June 13th

Customer proven commercial catamarans.

business is not yacht brokerage, it is Yacht Charter. Therefore, with clients looking to buy yachts and have them managed in a charter fleet we pass on significant discounts from the margins offered to us by the manufacturers to the buyers. This allows the clients to save tens of thousands of Euros on a new yacht purchase and in turn provide a much better return on investment with the yacht in charter service. We have agreements in place to offer this significant savings for: Lagoon catamarans, Bavaria Yachts, Nautitech catamarans, Fountaine Pajot catamarans, Catalina Yachts, and of course, Island Spirit Catamarans. On the manufacturing side of things it is a very different business. In January of 2020 we reached a definitive agreement to acquire the Austhai Marine manufacturing operations, which we are merging into the Group Island Spirit. This provides us with a very wide range of recreational sailing catamarans and commercial power catamarans. With the acquisition of Austhai we have been lucky enough to acquire a truly outstanding team and reputation with respect to catamaran building. Austhai has been in operation for over 15 years and has shipped close to 100 boats to 11 different countries and most customers own multiple boats based on their positive experiences. In this business we have been focusing on product strategy, distribution strategy and productivity enhancements based on a combined operation. We are continuing with long term product development with the development of the new Island Spirit 480 Sailing Catamarans and expanding the Austhai commercial line up to 24 meter offerings. We see these continued investments critical to our long term success and the ability to adequately meet customer needs after this crisis is over. Lastly, as the world starts to open up we need to plan for what our product offering is going to look like. We think sales will gradually return as we move from 2020 to into 2021, rather than a sudden bounce-back to previous levels. We’re structuring our product offering and operations to suit this gradual return; offering a reduced charter fleet at each base, opening a single training centre, this allows us to grow with the market and manage expenses. At an operational level, we are developing our processes to minimize the possibility of COVID transmission for both clients and staff. For Island Spirit, this involves redesigning our cleaning procedures to include sterilization, putting in place screening procedures for staff, and so on. It’s important to include these actions in any marketing materials. For Island Spirit, getting the message across that we’ve sterilized our yachts and that sailing holidays are a perfect option for these times of social distancing; for the most part, families can anchor up at stunningly beautiful secluded beaches

and have them all to themselves. So what does all this mean? Well we are all living and working here in SE Asia and we need to all participate in helping the local economy recover as part of this process. So what can we do to help and what are we offering as options to the local clientele over the next couple of months. How can you help? Well first and foremost is frequent your local businesses, as businesses reopen, get out there and give them your business, restaurants, markets, shops local vendors. Support the local economy and help raise the whole local economic boat in the process. Here are outlined some suggestions that may be helpful in your participation of raising the economic boat across the entire local economy: •As your local restaurants open, please frequent them. Even more than you have in the past, show your support and that you want them to survive this crisis. • If you are getting itchy feet after being cooped up at home for so long, travel, but support the local businesses, how do you do that? •Travel within Thailand and stay at local hotels and eat at local restaurants. Spend your money here as opposed to another country and spending it there. • Charter a boat in Thailand. There are numerous charter companies, and what better way to get out and stay safe than you and your family out on the water in very secluded

Get out sailing

For yacht charters, Island Spirit is offering great deals such as getting seven-day charters for the price of four. anchorages. Again, please also frequent the shore-based restaurants in the area to show your economic support. •Looking to add new skills? Have you ever considered learning how to sail? It is a great time to do that now as there are no crowds and small courses to enjoy. •Buy locally manufactured products where possible. If you are looking at major investments into a new car, SUV or a boat, be sure to consider your locally-produced products before you send all that cash offshore In summary, we are slowly opening for business: We have all of our charter operations up and running with boats immediately available. This includes in Phuket and Koh Chang, unfortunately the Corona Crisis has forced us to not open the charter base in Koh Samui this year. For yacht charters we are offering some great deals like getting seven-day charters for the price of four; these are unprecedented deals on getting out and enjoying the Thai marine environment. We expect that our Sailing School is back full time in June; our first course will be a Pattaya based Zero-to-Hero course starting on June 13th. Then from there ramping up our regularly scheduled courses both in Pattaya and Phuket. Be sure to get in touch with us to learn to sail.

If you are looking at a yacht purchase over the next several months, please touch base with us and let’s see if there is anything that we may be able to offer that could save you a lot of money. So we sincerely hope all of your businesses get through this difficult time and thrive and we look forward to working with all of you in the future. We’re investing even during this downturn and the future looks bright at Island Spirit, come share it with us.

Get out sailing.

Proven dive boats.

Hanse Yachts under 40ft

Great Sailing on a Budget

anse yachts under 40 feet share the innovation, sparkling performance, short-handed sailing ability and high standard accommodation with their bigger sisters. Hanseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design philosophy increases space below and continually advancing construction techniques and materials enhance strength. All models have good natural ventilation and light below and comprehensive options are available. Each has a variety of packs available including cruising, instrument (B&G standard), and comfort packs. The boats are easily customised with a options of hull colours, deck finishes, internal timber, floor and upholstery available. Add to this a prodigious list of individual options and you can really see just how you can make the boat truly yours.

Hanse 315 A great boat for couples, or for young families. She has a large ergonomically designed cockpit and good deck area. The 315 has a large master cabin aft with the option of a closed forward cabin or open berth area; the latter gives great flexibility. Twin wheels are not standard as they are for all the other boats but an option. Tiller steering is standard. The stand out feature for me is her great sailing performance and maneuverability…really like a “big dinghy”.

Design Values LOA 9.62 m Hull length 9.10 m LWL 8.70 m Beam 3.35 m Draft shallow keel 1.35 m L-keel, medium 1.85 m Displacement shallow keel approx. 5.30 t L-keel, medium approx. 5.10 t Engine Diesel standard approx. 13.60 PS option approx. 21.00 PS Fuel tank approx. 100 l Fresh water approx. 210 l CE Certifcate B -7 Design Judel /Vrolijk & co Interior HanseYachts Design Total sail area approx. 47.00 m² Main sail standard approx. 29.50 m² Furling approx. 26.00 m² Self-tacking jib approx. 17.50 m² Genoa approx. 21.50 m² Gennaker approx. 68.50 m² Crossover approx. 38.60 m² Ex-factory standard list price Euro 76,900

31' 7" 29' 10" 28' 7" 11' 4' 5" 6' 1" 11,684 lbs 11,243 lbs 13.60 hp 21.00 hp 26 gal 55 gal

506 sq ft 318 sq ft 280 sq ft 188 sq ft 231 sq ft 737 sq ft 415 sq ft

Hanse 348 Her internal space is a surprise; from below you could easily believe she was a metre longer. A great family boat she is the smallest of the 8 Series, and comes standard with two cabins and the option of three cabins. She comfortably accommodates six people living on board and day sails with more. Her deck layout gives loads of recreational area. If you look at the Design Values below you will understand why she is such a good performer under sail.

LOA Hull length LWL Beam Draft shallow keel L-keel, medium Displacement shallow keel approx. L-keel, medium approx. Engine Diesel standard approx. option approx. Fuel tank approx. Fresh water approx. CE Certifcate Design

10.40 m 9.99 m 9.55 m 3.55 m

34' 1" 32' 9" 31' 4" 11' 8"

1.59 m 1.98 m

5' 3" 6' 6"

6.60 t 6.30 t

14,551 lbs 13,889 lbs

21.00 PS 29.00 PS 160 l 230 l B -8

21.00 hp 29.00 hp 42 gal 57 gal

Judel /Vrolijk & co

Total sail area approx. 58.50 m² Main sail standard approx. 35.50 m² furling approx. 28.00 m² Self-tacking jib approx. 23.00 m² Crossover approx. 48.90 m² Gennaker approx. 81.60 m² Ex-factory standard list price Euro 98,900

630 sq ft 382 sq ft 318 sq ft 248 sq ft 526 sq ft 878 sq ft

Hanse 388 This new model gives the impression of a small “big boat” when you are on board. She has great interior light, ventilation and room below decks. She has a choice of 2 or 3 Cabin Layouts with 1 Bathroom standard or an ensuite Bathroom in the forward cabin. Her new cockpit enhancements offer comfort, easy sailing and extra storage.

For more details contact: SEA Yacht Sales. www.rob.w@sea-yss.com Thailand: +66 81 370 1995 Malaysia: +60 17 4196933 Malay & Chinese Speaking: +60 12 429 3000

Design Values LOA Hull length LWL Beam Draft shallow keel L-keel, medium Displacement shallow keel approx. L-keel, medium approx. Engine Diesel standard approx. option approx. Fuel tank approx. Fresh water approx. CE Certifcate

11.40 m 10.99 m 10.40 m 3.90 m

37' 5" 36' 1" 34' 1" 12' 10"

1.62 m 2.06 m

5' 5" 6' 9"

8.66 t 8.27 t

19,092 lbs 18,232 lbs

27.30 PS 38.00 PS 160 l 295 l A -6 / B -10

27.30 hp 38.00 hp 42 gal 77 gal

Design Interior

Judel /Vrolijk & co HanseYachts Design

Total sail area approx. Main sail standard approx. Ffurling approx. Self-tacking jib approx. Genoa approx. Crossover approx. Gennaker approx. Ex-factory standard list price Euro

72.00 m²

775 sq ft

43.50 m² 39.00 m² 28.50 m² 34.00 m² 61.10 m² 93.90 m² 125,900

468 sq ft 420 sq ft 307 sq ft 366 sq ft 658 sq ft 1,011 sq ft

Gelair – TM

keeping the air your breathe clean and fresh

n a very short time, COVID-19 has changed the way the world operates, turning our focus to health and safety issues. And East Marine Asia’s Gelair™’s products have been addressing those concerns for quite some time. These environmentally friendly, natural products help prevent adverse health effects such as allergies and respiratory illnesses caused by harmful micro-organisms. Gelair™ is a patented system, which uses a specially formulated gel matrix for the controlled and sustained release of top quality Australian Tea Tree Oil vapour, a 100% natural essential oil. And East Marine Asia is the distributor for Gelair™ in this part of the world. A majority of its customers are in the oil and gas business (rigs) but more and more home and boat owners are starting to discover the wonders of Gelair™.

Gelair™ improves air quality by killing mold, bacteria (including Legionella pneumonophila which is responsible for Legionnaire’s disease), and viruses. Studies have shown Tea Tree Oil to be effective stopping the replication cycle of the H1N1 flu virus. The specific concentrations of Tea Tree Oil released by the gel matrix system acts as a broad spectrum anti-microbial and anti-fungal; killing mold and bacteria wherever the Tea Tree Oil vapour penetrates. Gelair™ is also available in specially formulated liquids to help you keep your environment mold and bacteria free. Moisture build up is inevitable wherever humidity and condensation exists. When left untreated your air conditioner spreads invisible bacteria and viruses; grows mold on

its moist surfaces; and generates strong musty odours. This can lead to “sick building syndrome”, used to describe situations in which “building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. A 1984 World Health Organization report suggested up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be subject of complaints related to poor indoor air quality. Sick building causes are frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.” Though there isn’t a “sick boat syndrome” per se but neglect of the air-conditioning unit on your vessel can lead to the same problems associated with sick building syndrome. So be pro-active and prevent that from happening. There is a Gelair™ product solution for each refrigerated air conditioner. For AIR HANDLING UNITS, you can choose from one of four sizes of Gelair™ air conditioning blocks (ABs), which are placed in the internal unit or duct. For SPLIT systems, a convenient sachet is available for easy, fuss-free placement in your SPLIT system. An initial burst of Tea Tree fragrance assures you the treatment has begun. Gelair™ is simple to install and needs no additional energy to operate and it lasts up to three months, treating the air, the ducts and the room called 360 degree treatment. The processing and refining of Tea Tree Oil is an exact science and due to the complexities, not all Tea Tree Oil is the same nor smells the same. Gelair™ was developed in Australia, with oil sourced from certified Australian Tea Tree farmers. To ensure efficacy, every batch of Tea Tree Oil used in Gelair™ products is chemically analysed to confirm it meets the highest standards. Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil is a natural essential oil distilled from plantations of Melaleuca alternifolia. The therapeutic properties of Melaleuca alternifolia have been recognized by Australia’s indigenous people. As a natural antiseptic Australian Tea Tree Oil has demonstrated antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral capabilities which Gelair™ uses to combat and prevent a range of mold, bacteria, virus and fungus types. Australian Tea Tree Oil has proven efficacy in the control of Golden Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) for both Methicillin (MRSA) and Vancomycin (VRSA) resistant strains.

Other Gelair™ products that East Marine Asia sells include the Gelair™ All Purpose Steriliser and Cleaner, which provides the powerful anti-microbial and anti-fungal action of Tea Tree Oil in an all purpose cleaner. Then there’s the Gelair™ Coil and Duct Cleaner, specifically designed for use in air conditioning systems to clean and sterilize air conditioning cooling coils. East Marine Asia also sells Gelair™ Fogging Solution, which is used when there is extensive mold or bacteria requiring rapid and effective treatment and control. Then Gelair™ Tub consists of a gel matrix in a Tub to suit low volume, low flow areas such as bathrooms, toilets and wardrobes. And there’s the Health E-Car for car cabin filters, where a small sachet is installed directly on top of the cabin air filter system, preventing further fishy or musty smells. Gelair™ Hand Sanitiser is very popular with East Marine Asia customers as instead of alcohol it uses the power of Tea Tree Oil combined with a gentle moisturizer to effectively kill bacteria while protecting and moisturizing your hands. Check out Gelair™’s products and price list on the East Marine Asia website at https://www. eastmarineasia.com/.

Gelair™ products are the simplest way to stop mold and bacteria from infesting your air conditioner and the room or cabins it services.

Seara Sports Systems

eing prepared for the present and future logistical realities has placed Sports Engineering And Recreation Asia in the forefront of regional support. Both the Asean Economic Community and the Eastern Economic Corridor are progressing and Seara is actively placing its assets and human resources to take advantage of both on going initiatives. Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique geographical position allows it to be the central hub in Indo China and South East Asia. In the Bang Ple Industrial Estate Seara has a 4,200 square meter Regional Distribution Center to serve its regional offices and customers. Economy of scale and distribution efficiency provided by sea, road, rail, and air links to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, and northern and southern Thailand is adding a new supply chain efficiency to retail, commercial, and sports construction operations by combining both trading and construction product supply. Customers are winning by this kind of consolidation for their projects and operations. www.searasports.com

A closer look at the

ith another Bali cat due to arrive in Thailand this year we take a closer look at what makes these sailing catamarans so special. The BALI 4.1 picks up on all the innovations which have been so successful with the BALI 4.0; a vast spacious cockpit and saloon area that completely opens up with a huge pivoting glazed door. A very seaworthy integral foredeck area with a very large sunbathing area and a forward cockpit which can comfortably accommodate the whole crew.

DECK AND COCKPIT

The layout aims to make your cruising experience an absolute pleasure. The designers have raised the helm station, a convivial fly bridge with the option of sliding or retracting windows so that you can enjoy optimal ventilation, both at anchor and at sea. The Bali 4.1 also comes with a new integrated platform that links two hulls and new bench seating in the aft cockpit. Additionally, the yacht also has large side lockers that can easily accommodate a scuba or grill equipment. When it comes to holidays little things do count as they make a lot of difference. From full-sized fridge ensuring that the food is well stored and sorted to the spacious Galley that makes cooking on board such a huge pleasure, all these amenities also ensure that you never get separated from the stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the sea. So, if you are a selfie fanatic or if you just love to take stunning photographs of the sea-life, Bali 4.1 is the ideal option for capturing those picture-perfect memories.

INTERIOR DĂ&#x2030;COR

The Bali 4.1 has an L-shaped dining area and completely innovative interior design. The galley features more than plenty of storage volume as well as worktop area. Created by Lasta Design Studio, the interior dĂŠcor reveals an exclusive emphasis on light, fluid shapes, ergonomics, and the finest materials. The yacht has a remodeled pantry workstation and fully accessible saloon area via a huge glass door. This glass door can be moved under the roof in an upward direction so it can be transformed into a huge living room when beautiful weather comes along. L-shaped seating/dining area can be easily transformed into a berth for more comfort or accommodation. The entire living area is filled with light thanks to the huge glass fronts and the lower glass panes aerating the salon. Naturally, the panoramic aerial view that the crew gets is highly impressive. The entire design has been managed in such way that galley easily accommodates a cozy L-shaped sofa with plenty of storage surface and an enlarged work surface. The other features of Bali 4.1 such as diesel, enormous water, and cooling capacities make it a much better option than the other competitors in the market.

CABINS

All through the development, the privacy and comfort of the cabins have been taken care of appropriately. These cabins have plenty of storage space and the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabin even has a sofa, a desk and also a wet room. Bali 4.1 offers different layouts for several cabins and wet room and also the overall material used for the interior is of high quality and quite modern. The 4-cabin catamaran Bali 4.1, can accommodate around 8 people in 4 double cabins with 2 toilets and a shower. It also has outside deck speakers, radio CD/MP3 player, as well as Inside cockpit speakers. The fully-equipped kitchen includes oven, sink, kitchen utensils, cooker, and freezer. Overall the space that is available in Bali 4.1 is for sure enough for your extended family to spend a splendid time on the sea and enjoy a getaway from the regular mundane life. This is an opportunity for buyers that want to own a brand new Bali Catamaran just in time for Phuketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 high season.

Bali 4.1 Factsheet:

DIMENSIONS Hull length 12.12 m Overall length 11,88 m Maximum beam 6,72 m Draft, boards up 1,12 m

TECHNICAL DETAILS Light displacement 8,9 T Displacement at maximum load 11,8 T Max sail area upwind 105,40 sqm Engines 2 x 19CV à 40 CV , saildrive Fuel 400 L* Fresh water 800 L* Black water 2 x 55 L* Refrigerator + Freezer 272 L*

About the Bali brand:

Bali Catamarans are part of the ‘CATANA’ group of yachting companies. The CATANA Group launched “BALI Catamarans” in 2014 aiming at mid-market yachting. Now the CATANA Group offers a complete and consistent range from 40 to 70 feet, both Sailing and Motor yachts which are “Made in France”, and have become one of the world leaders in the field of cruising multihulls.

For more information please contact: Paul Stamp

Senior Broker & Operations Manager Asia Marine Phuket broker@asia-marine.net +66(0) 91 824 7966

SeaCat delivers

“Koh Russey”

he team at SeaCat Ships is proud to announce the delivery of their new 8.8metre landing craft ‘Koh Russey’. The boat is an 8.8 metre, high-speed aluminium landing craft built by SeaCat Ships team in Thailand, and has arrived at her home port in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. She was delivered by road from Ocean Marina Yacht Club via low loader to the Thailand/Cambodia boarder where the duty-free customs process then took place (SeaCat Ships provided Form D). She then drove the rest of the way by sea, on her own hull to southern Cambodia to begin life in her new home. At present this sturdy, multipurpose vessel is now carrying workers and provisions to and from the Island resort of Koh Russey (hence the vessel’s name) to the mainland. She replaces the old fleet of fishing boats that previously did the job and took between two to three hours travel time per day. The new barge carries the staff at more than twice the speed and half the time, as well as arriving and departing directly to the work sites, via the beach landing. As soon as the resort is complete, she will be having a slight refit and will then be used for tours and island transfers for hotel guests. The award-winning design of this heavy duty, aluminum plate barge model is approved by the Australian commercial vessel standards, NSCV Class 1D for a passenger vessel. This is the fifth landing craft of its kind produced by SeaCat Ships. This landing craft design is a customer favorite due to its versatility, stability and speed. As a result of its popularity, the sixth version was recently completed and is available for immediate purchase. They are both the latest stylized versions with a 6mm plate shell and have the capacity to hold either 32 passengers on side fold-down seating, 2.5 tonne of cargo or a medium-sized pick-up truck. Koh Russey is powered by a single 200hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard engines, giving a fully loaded top speed of 25 knots, however, twin outboard installation is possible. As mentioned, the new-build spec boat and sister vessel to the Koh Russey is now complete and ready for inspection/purchase at the SeaCat factory, located at Ocean Marina. Immediate delivery is possible by road or by sea, as well as the option to disassemble the vessel to fit into a 40foot container for shipping to any port in the world.

Koh Russey is an 8.8 metre, high-speed aluminium landing craft built by SeaCat Ships, now operating out of her home port in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Speciï&#x192;&#x17E;cations Name of Vessel

Koh Russey and TBA (for Sale)

Hull Construction Superstructure Deck Construction Length Overall Length Waterline

ALUMINIUM ALUMINIUM/ SUMBRELLA ALUMINIUM 8.55M 7.46M

Beam Draught Displacement

3.50M 400MM 3 tonne

Door Winch Interior Deck Lights Anchors Powering

Warne 2000 Non-Skid Deck LED 1 X 20 KG SHHP Anchor 1 x Suzuki 4 Stroke 200 H.P. Outboard 1 x Life Ring 32 Coastal Jackets 2.5 Tonne 2 X 220LTR Garmin 4G Fusion 2 1 Pick up Truck (Max) Tourist, Ferry, Cargo Barge 30 PERSONS 175 NM @ 20KN

Lifebouy Lifejackets Load Capacity Fuel Capacity Radar PA/ Sound System Crew Vehicles Type of Operation Passengers Range

Sailors can count on two things: the weather will change & BVZ Asia will provide products that will protect your boat

Agora is weather resistant, beautiful and mildew-proof.

Ideal for biminis, enclosures, sail covers, boat covers and more, Agora fabrics are durable and UV-resistant.

VZ Asia’s humble beginnings trace back to 1946, with a small desk at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, where its founder, Bernard van Zuiden, made it possible for overseas exporters to sell and distribute their goods to customers in Hong Kong and then to other Asian countries. While the original B van Zuiden Company was first established as an agent and distributor of high quality textiles and general commodities from Europe, in 2001, with the many changes in business, the company evolved into what B. van Zuiden (Asia) Ltd is now more known for---a multi-line distributor of specialty fabrics and associated products. BVZ Asia® carries a select line of premium brands that service the higher end of consumers. It has inventories in six major distribution centers in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. BVZ Asia’s thrust is to continue to provide customers with the latest and most customer-centric products. “We are pleased to introduce to you the Sauleda® Nautic range of stylish, superior quality performance fabrics that are purposed designed for marine applications,” says Kurt De Wilde, BVZ Asia general manager. “Sauleda® Nautic is made with 100% solutiondyed acrylic, water-resistant, and easy to clean,” continues De Wilde. With a warranty of up to 10 years, the range offers complementary styles for any project design. “With the same quality and benefits, these fabrics are 25% less expensive (on average) than other solutiondyed acrylic fabrics,” says De Wilde. With hundreds of colors in harmonious designs and textures, Sauleda® Nautic fabrics allow you to tastefully create coordinated covers, matched with outdoor seating cushions. “Being one of the largest and oldest textile agencies housed in Asia, and your able partner, we at BVZ Asia have the best-selling Sauleda® Nautic fabrics in stock as part of our BVZ Nautic Collection. So that amidst the current situation, we are able to continue to provide the level of service in terms of supply,” De Wilde discloses. Get a hold of these brilliant, versatile ranges by contacting your BVZ representative today through info@bvz.com.

Bay Regatta shows off region’s stunning karst topography Photography by Scott Murray

efore the COVID-19lockdown, the Bay Regatta was one of the last major events to take place in the Phuket area. It was terrific to see twenty-five sailboats head out from their moorings to sail through some of the world’s most stunning karst topography on their four-day nautical journey. Held this year from the 5th to the 9th of February, this regatta is a series of passage races – an event format that catches the attention of sailors from around the world with participants coming from as far afield as Australia, Russia, the UK and Canada to compete in six classes (Racing Class, Cruising A, Cruising B, Bareboat Charter, Racing & Cruising Multihulls) This four-day circumnavigation of Phang Nga Bay takes in three of southern Thailand's most scenic provinces–Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi–with the emphasis on fun. It attracts the serious, the not-so-serious and the not-at-allserious “racing” sailors, a truly international mix who enjoy the stunning sailing grounds of the area and a different destination each day. Each evening, the regatta anchors at a different venue and the sailors go ashore. Those staying ashore – more than 60% of the fleet – book accommodation and either eat in the local restaurants or enjoy the official event functions, which engage with the local community. Most of the expenditure of the regatta goes directly into the local economies of the areas the regatta visits – this has been the case since the regatta was launched and it will remain so for the future—an excellent example of how sports tourism works to the benefit of communities and local economies. Starting in Ao Po on Phuket's east coast, after registration and an opening party at Chan-

In the deep channels between the spectacular, vertical rock walls, the Bay Regattaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy of fun-amidst-beauty shone through for all to see.

The hallmark of this event is a casual, fun-filled atmosphere.

dara Resort & Spa, the yachts raced north through the stunning rocky outcrops of Phang Nga Bay finishing off of Koh Yao Noi, where yachts anchored and enjoyed a prize-giving party on the beach at the Baan Chang resort. The actual race started at Koh Naka Yai, then the participants sailed north leaving Koh Phanak and Koh Na Ka Ya to port before hitting the first mark, where the wind died down and the course had to be shortened. It was a long haul for many, but all persevered, even though it took a few boats almost six hours to finish. World Sailing International Race Officer and regatta organizer Simon had two starts for the competitors throughout the regatta: first, the monohulls (16 boats) followed by the multihulls (9 boats). There were no real glitches, or incidents, as the sailboats deftly dodged the longtail fishing boats and fishing lines as they made their way across Phang Nga Bay. On the second day, the 20nm course for the racing class and racing multis left from east of Koh Yao Noi, rounded to starboard Koh Pang, passing Koh Pak Bia, and then past Koh Ka to starboard through the gate at Koh Heng (keeping the committee boat to port), then rounded Koh Ngang to port before passing between Koh Deng and Koh Samet and finally finishing between the committee boat and Koh Ya Man. The 18nm course for the rest of the classes followed much of the same route except the boats didn’t round Koh Ngang. On the third day, the Racing and Multihull classes were off on the longer 21NM course and then a shorter windward-leeward, while the Cruising classes and the Bareboats hit the 16NM course: all finishing off of Krabi’s Ao Nang Beach. The evening party celebrations were held at Ao Nang Villa but there was no drama like last year when the stage collapsed at resort close by in Krabi. The regatta was founded by a photographer (John Everingham), who started

this magazine, and friends (Chris Schaefer and Andy Stephens). Everingham, a longtime Phuket King’s Cup Regatta committee member, was motivated in part by frustration at the annual struggle over setting that regatta’s courses. On the one hand, he wanted to shoot the fleet of sails contrasted against the dramatic scenery. The hard-core sailors, on the other hand, wanted their boats as far away from land as possible to avoid fickle winds. Dramatic photos would attract more sponsors, argued the photographer; but the sailors always won. So the stymied lensman rounded up some like-minded friends and established a regatta designed to sail among the dramatic limestone island towers and mainland forests off Phuket’s east coast. The problem was that the courses would go too deep into the Bay, where the wind didn’t blow. So, when the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (now the Phuket Yacht Club) gained control over the regatta a couple years and then a compromise was worked out between the beautiful scenery and good sailing courses. The ACYC, and its volunteer board, however, felt it could not properly run the regatta, so it handed it over to “Mr. Regatta” himself, Simon James of Regattas Asia. Simon, who aside from being the PRO of the Regatta for many years, had also been one of its principle organizers along with his partner Kae Wattana, so they knew exactly what they were getting into and they have done a tremendous job of running the regatta with Simon dealing with all the on-water logistics and Kae handling all the issues on terra firma. The Bay Regatta was originally described thus: “It takes sailors through the three provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi allowing participants to experience the best of southern Thai hospitality and the unrivaled sailing grounds in the area. They sail amongst 200-metre high karsts and past hidden bays on their way to party under-the-stars on an idyllic beach.” That description still rings true today.

Final Results On the fourth and final day of the Bay Regatta, the Coca Cola Haad Thip Race, PRO and race organizer Simon James continued the regatta’s two-start format as all the multihulls crossed the start line together followed by all the monohulls. Today’s race saw the participants start off of Krabi’s Railay Beach between the committee boat and Koh Yaman, then pass Koh Dam Hok and Koh Dam Kwan to starboard before hitting the gate at Hin Mu Sang Noi. The racing class & racing multis made it through the gate but the wind died before the other boats could get there, so their finishing times was taken from the gate. After all the boats crossed the finish, they headed back to Phuket, where they celebrated the final prize giving and dinner at Kan Eang 2 restaurant, overlooking Chalong Bay. The Racing Class came down to the final race and even then the top two boats finished tied on points s Craig Nicholls Aquarii won the last race over former two-time regatta winner Alexey Mashkin’s Megazip, taking home the crown. John Hearne’s Pi Jui Express with seven-year-old Tanya Zhang on board, came in third just three points behind the top two boats while John Kara’s Insanity came fourth finishing last in every race. In Cruising A, Paul Merry's Night Train rode three first-place finishes to victory while Steve McConaghy’s Jing Jing came in second, trailing by three points in the final tally. Garry Smith’s Resolution of Whitby was third followed by Brendon Roscoe’s Lola and Jack Christensen’s Linda. Cruising B results saw Sergei Kataev’s Turtle (Farrgo Express) take three first-place finishes to edge out the Thai team on Tessana Mahasamuth’s followed by Oleg Samolov’s Winds of Change and Steve Joos’ Sengawa, who did not start on the final day.

The Bareboat Class saw Venture, skippered by Anna Afonia, and Kinnon, helmed by Evgenii Nikiforov, each win two races Venture took the class winning the last race (Venture was scolded soundly by PRO Simon James for trying to use an asymmetrical spinnaker pole - tut tut Peter Dwyer). AllSail Angela, helmed by Russell Waddy, came third in every race. In the Racing Multihull class Dan Fidock’s Fugazi 3 beat out Mark Thornborrow’s Bonza (Fugazi 1) and John Newnham’s Twin Sharks for top spot as Bonza and Twin Sharks also tied on points, but Bonza earned the higher place for finishing higher in the final race. Next up was Alan Cawardine’s Phantom 5, followed by George Eddings’ Blue Nose, Glywn Rowlands’ Twister 2 and Dirk Weiblen’s No Fear, who after winning the class on the first day suffered a DNF & two DNSs due to the boat’s fragile frame. The Cruising Multis class saw Andrew de Bruin’s Multihull Solutions Neel 51 beat out Mark Horwood’s Charro. Each boat won two races, but as the Neel 51 won the last race it took top honours in this class. Simon James did a tremendous job as PRO setting the courses, manning the starts and keeping things in order. Kae Wattana and her Regattas Asia team made sure everyone was happy on shore, providing plenty of good food and drink and good entertainment. A big shot out to Simon’s team on the water—Susie, Chandran & Eddie—who as always, made sure all the starts and finishes were correctly posted and recorded. And thank you very much to the Passport Resort & Yacht Club for providing the regatta’s committee boat. A special shout-out to Brent McInnes for supplying the photography boat that captured all the great images of the stunning karst topography that Phang Nga Bay is so famous for.

A large number of cruisers join for the experience of sailing through some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most amazing maritime scenery.

About Regattas Asia Regattas Asia is a brand name of Phuket and More Co. Ltd., established in 2001 with over 18 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; involvement in the organisation of leading marine events in Asia. 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, and provides services to the following events: Phuket King's Cup Regatta, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, the Sabang International Regatta (Indonesia), Royal Langkawi International Regatta (Malaysia), Hainan Around the Island Regatta (China), & the China Cup International Regatta. Regattas Asia is the sole organiser of The Bay Regatta and the Samui Regatta (www.regattas.asia). For more information, visit www. bayregatta.com or www.facebook.com/bayregatta (Detailed courses can be viewed at www.bayregatta.com/courses).

Sailor's Regatta

sees

21 boats and

104 sailors

take to the water Photography by Scott Murray

he third annual Sailor’s Regatta organized by Commodore Scott Duncanson and the Phuket Yacht Club took sail on Friday March 12th with competitors coming from around the region to race in four different classes (Racing Monos & Multis, Fireflies, & Platus) in the three-day event. This was the third Sailor’s Regatta to be held and while many other regional regatta have seen their numbers dwindle this “no frills” regatta has seen its numbers grow from five to nine to twenty-one boats this year. The regatta numbers were a bit of good news for a Club that has had its share of sadness lately. Phuket sailing legend Henry Kaye had just passed away. The Club also lost Tomas Andersson, known as “Swedish Tom” recently, and PYC stalwart Mark Horwood was in ICU at Phuket’s Vachira Hospital, convalescing from cancer surgery. Top all this off with the fear and paranoia caused by the coronavirus and the Sailor’s Regatta with a few days of fun on the water was a much-needed respite and boost of confidence for club members. On the first day, PRO Matt McGrath sailed two windward-leewards and could have gotten in a third race but many of the sailors wanted to pay their respects to Heny Kaye and needed to make their way to the top of the island

to attend a service for Henry in order to do so. On the second day, McGrath had the Monohulls (IRC) & OMR Multis do one race — a roundthe-island course — while he set three races each for the Fireflies & Platus in Ao Chalong Bay. And on the final day, Matt ran two races for each class in Ao Chalong using the same sequence he had all regatta: monohulls (IRC) followed by OMR Multis then the Fireflies & Platus. Niels Degenkolw’s Phoenix won top honors in the Monohulls-IRC class followed by Andrew McDermott Jessandra who edged Vitaly Plaksin’s Uminoko by one point for second stop in the final standings. Paul Baker’s Farrgo Express was fourth with Gary Smith’s Endeavour of Whitby fifth and Martyn Henman Second Nature, who sailed up from Langkawi for the event, finished out the class. Dan Fidock’s Fugazi team had a great regatta and won the OMR Multihull division edging out Dirk Weiblen’s No Fear for top spot by two points. Dirk was sailing with the Jakobsens, down from Pattaya for the event, and must now try and get home to Shanghai. Marc Chapus’ Moto Inzi (unable to sail with the Fireflies because the boat had been modified) was third in the class, which was rounded out by Bill Kane’s The Sting. The surprise of the Firefly class was Peter Taylor’s Ballerina who ended up finishing second overall with a six-man crew. Usually this class is a two-horse battle between John Newnham’s Twin Sharks and Hans Rahmann’s Voodoo with Twin Sharks usually prevailing. But Taylor made a number of shrewd tactical moves throughout the regatta to finish six points behind Twin Sharks’ all-star crew. Ray Waldron’s Surf Patrol followed in third with Voodoo, less Hans Rahmann, in fourth and Mick Coleman’s Mamba in last spot. And It was great to see cooperation from Mike Downard’s Sail in Asia as six of his Platus made their way over from Ao Yon to sail in their own One Design class. Nathan Masopust and his crew on Dragon won this class after recently winning the Transworlds in Pattaya followed by Beaver, Tiger, The Fox, Wolf and Cheetah in that order as very little separated the boats in this class all regatta. Following the lead of Mick Coleman the PYC sold raffle tickets and raised Bt100,000 to help alleviate ex-Commodore Mark Horwood’s hospital bills. Brent McInnes of the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club provided the photography boat for the regatta and Brendan Kealy kindly supported the start boat with Kathy De Cruz handling the start flags.

Now is the time to go against the tide

s events are being cancelled and postponed due to the effects of COVID-19, rights holders and brands are faced with unprecedented challenges and questions about how best to manage the situation. Naturally, a lot of people ask themselves what the yachting industry will look like on the ‘other side’. Over the last couple of months, we have worked with clients, sponsors and partners, helping them make a decision on what to do with their rights packaging and what ‘bounce back’ activities to undertake. Every client, sponsor and partner is different but there are a few principles and notions that, in our opinion, are worth taking into account during this time. l

Paul Poole l

It is easy – and in some cases mandatory – to postpone an event, however, we believe that rights holders that go ‘against the tide’ will be long-term winners. Since events such as SailGP have been postponed to 2021, now is the time to get creative and test new formats, setups and online channels. If done properly and with the right technology, virtual events such as virtual boat shows can be just as engaging as live events, and webinars, workshops and online presentations are crucial to engage your audiences at this time. Having a strong digital strategy will pay off not only in the short term but in the long term too. There is a clear opportunity for brands not just to be seen as supporting rights holders who are affected financially by prolonged disruption to the calendar, but to be the brand that was there in times of uncertainty. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen relationships and increase brand loyalty.

Many are wondering what consumer demand will look like once lockdown restrictions ease. Will consumers be fearful of travel, live events and socialising, or will we return to pre-pandemic numbers and if so, how fast? Data suggests that after prolonged restrictions like the ones seen in many countries around the world, consumers are eager to resume some resemblance of normality. According to a survey carried out by IMI International, there is a pent up demand to attend sporting and charity events, concerts and festivals. Luckily, major events on the yachting calendar such as the Phuket Kings Cup Regatta https://www.kingscup. com, Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous https://www.katarockssuperyachtrendezvous.com and Thailand Yacht Show https://www.thailandyachtshow.com take place later in the year which might correspond to the return to ‘normal’ conditions. Now is the time to prepare. Paul Poole is the founder, managing director and chairman of Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd., an independent marketing consultancy based in Bangkok, Thailand. The company specialises in commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing, working with both rights holders and brands. Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. has packaged, sold and managed sponsorship and partnership opportunities for a number of Southeast Asia's leading yachting events.

info@paulpoole.co.th / www.paulpoole.co.th

Sanlorenzo SL78

Celebrates Thailand Launch in Trisara, Phuket

aving recently arrived in Asia, the Sanlorenzo SL78 was well received at her Thailand Premiere, hosted on 6 March in the exclusive Trisara resort in Phuket. Distinguished guests were treated to an afternoon of private inspections on board, followed by an intimate evening on the bespoke beach lounge and yacht. Fairy lights, live music and a superb sunset completed the picture. At the event, guests were able to learn more about Sanlorenzo’s famous craftsmanship and brand philosophy. The Sanlorenzo SL78 was anchored off shore, providing uninterrupted views of her stunning profile with the glorious sunset as a backdrop, providing a relaxed ambience for the guests to enjoy. A tender service was offered to transport guests out to the yacht where they were able to enjoy Trisara’s beautiful setting to the fullest. The SL78 is an award-winning entry-level yacht from the fast planing Sanlorenzo SL range that received the ‘Best Exterior Award in the 80-120 feet category’ at the 2016 World

Yacht Trophies. Stand out features include large windows on the main deck that allow the main saloon to be bathed in natural light, making the entire space seem bigger than it already is. An interior floating staircase leads up to the flybridge, which is covered by a smartly operated hardtop for ample shade. The flybridge provides a welcoming space for hosting and is perfect for guests to enjoy the views. “The success of the Sanlorenzo SL78 Thailand Premiere is a great boost to start her Southeast Asia tour and is a testimony to Sanlorenzo’s growing strength in the Asian market,” says Nick Stratton, Sanlorenzo Asia Sales Manager. “This exclusive event was an excellent opportunity for us to share the brand’s made-to-measure philosophy directly with clients who were able to experience the yacht’s best features including a streamlined profile, elegant design and welcoming living area. The high-level of bespoke craftsmanship is an experience unlike any other. It is also the reason why Sanlorenzo has been so well received in Thailand, making this launch event such a great success.” The Sanlorenzo SL78 will stay in Phuket for private inspections before she embarks on her journey to other countries in the Southeast Asia. Contact sanlorenzo@simpsonmarine. com for more information about this stunning yacht.

Regional

NEWS 61

Yachtalia and Asia Superyacht Development announce their partnership for Asia-Pacic

Over the last few years, Yachtalia1 has established itself as a unique high tech resource for world-class products, spare parts and service for the most prestigious Original Equipment Manufacturers. Those products - gangways, doors & hatches, wipers, cleats & fairleads, lift systems and garage doors, monitoring & security systems equip most of the yachts and superyachts made by Europe-based builders and shipyards. Meanwhile, Italian luxury boat builders such as Azimut, Benetti, Cranchi, Custom Line, Ferretti, Pershing, Riva, Sanlorenzo are already well established in the Pacific. Now, Yachtalia and Asia Superyacht Development2, the leading yacht and superyacht professional maintenance and management firm based in Singapore, announce their partnership to serve the growing Asia yacht and superyacht market to maintain, repair, refit and survey new, pre-owned and existing units. This partnership will include not only technical support but at the same time specific tailor-made services, from full project management to last-minute assistance requests. Paolo Tazzini, CEO at Yachtalia3 commented: “We want those in yachting to think of Singapore as a wonderful location where top quality products and services are available anytime, with the same technical skills and opportunities of the Mediterranean”. A market like this cannot stay without the bestin-class technologies and a premium cus-tomer care service. Asia-Pacific based customers can enjoy the comfort of knowing that Yachtalia teams travel everywhere in the world 24/7 to operate on all on-board systems. “The Asian yacht market, especially for Italian builders, has grown significantly over the last 10 years. Like in any market, it comes a point in time when after-sales & servicing need to be more structured in order to offer greater benefits to yacht owners such as reduced down-time and optimized operating costs” says Jean Jacques Lavigne, CEO at Asia Superyacht Development. Together with Yachtalia, Asia Superyacht Development4 now provides engineering, organizational and logistic support in construction and refitting projects, as well as complete professional survey, for customers in the whole region, including Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong. The offer portfolio is dedicated to owners, captains, managers and refit Shipyards and includes a full range of services and top quality products like Besenzoni gangways, Cantalupi lights, Gallinea automations and windscreen wipers, GOST security systems, H+B technics lift-systems, Naviop monitoring, Nemo doors and portholes, Opacmare accessories. Through survey and test of all the vessel

Exciting development for yacht and superyacht products and maintenance in Asia

components, the two companies look also to brokers and to the whole pre-owned world. Alex Plent, ASD’s COO, himself an ex-superyacht captain, adds: “In Asia, at large, yachts are still affected by several inefficacies in the supply-chain and at the servicing technical level. We simply followed where the market demand was leading us -more simplicity- and that naturally led us to that partnership with Yachtalia which was itself looking for the right partner to better extend its services in Asia”. Targeting a growing superyacht community, this agreement will represent an important reference point for many boats starting from the upcoming season. External links: 1. https://www.yachtalia.com/en 2. http://www.asiasuperyachtdevelopment.com 3. https://www.yachtalia.com/en 4. http://www.asiasuperyachtdevelopment.com

Regional 62 NEWS

The Growing Allure of Superyachts to Langkawi

Langkawi is the largest island in an archipelago of 100 islands in the Andaman Sea and this Southeast Asia destination is growing in popularity as a “superyacht hub”. Located off the mainland coast of Malaysia, the number of visiting superyachts making their way to Langkawi is growing as word spreads of this appealing and duty-free island and nearby cruising options. Malaysia was once the centre of the spice trade with everyone coming to Malacca to pick up spices. A country of sailors and traders, it is one of the greatest countries of seafarers in the world. Once in the waters of Langkawi and moving slowly along the north-west headland and across the water, the green islands of Turatao and Koh Adang in Satun can be seen across the border in the south of Thailand, just a few kilometres away.

Langkawi offers great cruising and plenty of protected anchorages. Over the last few years the area has become an established sailing destination, attracting boats from all over the world. The island currently has four marinas and several bases with top notch facilities for yachts around the islands. Some of the marinas are part of resort developments offering all the amenities of first class resort hotels in addition to yacht services. Highly recommended is the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, its marina located on a large sweeping bay in Kuah with over 200 berths and full sailing facilities to use while exploring Langkawi’s caves, beaches and hidden islands. The marina’s close proximity to the town centre provides excellent access to duty-free shops and other business-class facilities. The berths can fit mega-yachts up to 60 meters (197 feet) long, and has a low tide depth of 3 meters (almost 10 feet). Asia Pacific Superyachts co-founder, Captain Scott Walker, knows the area well and has been working with superyachts and vessels between Langkawi and Singapore for three decades. He believes Kuah Bay is developing into Asia’s most perfect natural harbour and that Langkawi could become the ‘Monaco of the Far East’, “Superyacht visitors come to cruise the islands and beaches, trek through wildlife-filled rainforests and take advantage of excellent Duty Free shopping while berthed at the marina, where their vessel will receive excellent service and fresh provisions”. Langkawi is definitely has a wonderful wildlife population to be viewed, like that described in a nature walk at Malaysia’s legendary The Datai Langkawi, named one of the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ by Time Magazine. A nature specialist illustrated how a small place can provide incredible biodiversity, noting, “You might see colugos and giant geckos with bats in the background flying over the river. Flying squirrels may be seen leaping off tall trees, home to hornbills and spectacled langurs along with Asian fairy blue birds, a crimson sun bird and possibly a female white-bellied sea eagle, perched close to the resident pair’s nest”. An evening dining ashore reflects Malaysia’s diverse cultures and cuisines where you can enjoy a combination of gastronomic cuisine when feasting on Malay Kuth, Nasi Lemak, sushi, spring rolls, spicy fish curry, Roti Jala and a variety of noodle soups along with a distinguished wine menu. Reflecting on the rising affluence of Asia and the fact there now more marinas for superyachts, Skipper Walker says, “Unlike Europe marinas in Asia are more about safe berthing for your vessel as opposed to being a destination in its own right”. The skipper adds: “There are now world-class marinas and accommodation in nearly every South East Asia sailing region. There’s Phuket, providing hundreds of berths for everything from superyachts to small cruisers. To the south Langkawi Island is a popular winter destination with the Royal Langkawi Marina, as are the chain of facilities that run down the Malacca Straits to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and heading east into the vast Gulf of Thailand”. www.asia-pacific-superyachs.com

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SINGAPORE YACHT SHOW 2020

NEW DATES AND NEW FORMAT!

he Singapore Yacht Show (SYS) organizing team, working closely with its exhibitors and event partners over the past few weeks to determine the most suitable new dates for the re-scheduled SYS 2020, have finally announce that the 10th Anniversary edition of Asia’s most important boat show will take place on 15 - 18 October 2020 - the dates preferred by the vast majority of participants - in the completely re-designed and rejuvenated ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove. Furthermore, the organisers will be unveiling some long-awaited new developments and changes to the show’s layout that will elevate the experience for exhibitors, sponsors and visitors alike at the delayed four-day event in October, and also going forwards to next year’s 11th edition (currently slated from 22-25 April). For the very first time, the whole show will be moved on to the water, with no more big exhibition tents on the adjacent grass areas. Instead, thanks to the new pontoon configuration, SYS will feature air-conditioned exhibition booths and showrooms all around the perimeter of the marina – so that visitors can go straight to the heart of the action for an immersive, 360-degree experience. CEO of show organiser Verventia, Andy Treadwell, said “It was hugely difficult for us back in February to take the decision to postpone our 10th Anniversary show just six weeks from opening day, and it’s been increasingly sad to see

almost all the other boat shows around the world have had to follow suit. Things are beginning to get dramatically difficult in the rest of the world now, but we can take heart from the fact that China seems to be turning the corner already, and Singapore and Hong Kong governments have both been lauded for their positive and effective management of the crisis. So with a full six months delay to October, we are hopeful that the rescheduled show will be able to give the industry in these parts the boost that it will badly need by then.” Arthur Tay, Chairman of ONE°15 Marina, commented: “As 'Best Asian Marina' in last year’s, Asia Pacific Boating Awards, we have committed a substantial investment to renovate our flagship marina at Sentosa this year. We shall endeavor to complete most of the works prior to the re-scheduled show dates so that everyone can experience our new marina during the 10th Singapore Yacht Show. Just like the industry, we are always looking to be nimble and stay relevant to the ever-changing market.” Over the coming weeks and months Verventia promise to unveil SYS 2020’s diverse and dynamic calendar of events – family-friendly experiences, workshops for the industry and boaters, sailing lessons for kids, personal watercraft demonstrations… There promises to be something for everyone at SYS 2020.

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LAUNCH OF A NEW HONG KONG YACHT SHOW H O N G KO N G

The Hong Kong Cruise & Yacht Industry Association and Verventia Pte Ltd, organisers of Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows, have joined forces to launch the Hong Kong Yacht Show - bringing a new international showcase to Asia’s most mature yachting market. The Hong Kong Cruise & Yacht Industry Association and Verventia Pte Ltd, organiser of Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows (SYS and TYS), have confirmed the launch of a new jointly-organised Hong Kong Yacht Show at the International Cruise and Yachting Festival (Hong Kong) 2020, which will take place at Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter adjacent to the Kai Tak Runway Park Promenade from November 19-22, and annually thereafter. An MOU committing to the partnership was signed at a press conference held during SYS 2019 last April, when Ms Kara Yeung, Chief Executive of HKCYIA, and Andy Treadwell, Verventia CEO, outlined the rationale behind the launch of the show in 2020. The organisers’ objective is to promote and develop the yachting industry in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the Greater Bay Area). By common consent, this will bring prosperity and positive economic impact to local businesses and the supply chain throughout the China market, as well as positive international PR, inward investment, maritime education and protection of the oceans to support the Hong Kong yacht industry, together with the creation of employment. Ms. Yeung said today: “Hong Kong has by far one of the biggest potential markets in Asia. We are delighted to bring the Verventia organising team into this joint venture, as planned last year, because they are experienced Yacht Show organisers who have made a remarkable success of the Singapore show over the last seven years. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration which will boost the local and global yachting industries, as well as bringing new business, jobs and prosperity to local service, supply and hospitality industries.” Treadwell added: “What Kara has achieved in the last couple of years to get this project off the ground is fantastic. Neither we nor our fellow industry practitioners could have done this without the HKCYIA. We can, however, bring in international players, and we know how to promote the show to potential buyers, so in that sense it’s a perfect partnership that we hope to develop steadily over the next few years.” The Yacht Show and the festival will officially be launched at a special event for the Hong Kong Yacht Industry at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, provisionally to be held on April 23 - details will be announced shortly.

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