FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUPERYACHT ADVENTURE CRUISING IS PERFECT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
With 125 super yachts worth 3 billion Euros on display the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show provided a perfect platform for the Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef mission to entice this lucrative industry down under.
The SuperYacht Group Great Barrier Reef – Deputy Chair, Kathleen Ferguson of Trinity Fire Services, was in attendance along with numerous group members fielding all enquiries about superyacht cruising in our region and nearby PNG and Indonesia.
The Monaco Yacht Show provided an invaluable opportunity to speak with stakeholders, superyacht captains, crew and media on the world class facilities, services and shipyards we have to offer vessels in our area and address the state of the Great Barrier Reef. Vessels were encouraged to get involved in the world first great reef census, a pilot project due to run from September 2020 – November 2020, which will shine the light on the true state of the Great barrier reef. Video imagery of Motor Yacht Spirit and Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef helped to show the remarkable alive beauty of the great barrier reef and why it should not be missed by Superyachts cruising the South Pacific.
Targeting the world cruising superyachts, their owners, captains, charter brokers and managers, the Aussie team passed on vital details about the health of the Great Barrier Reef and the preservation efforts and high-tech research being undertaken. The message was also about perspective: the whole Reef is the size of Italy, has the ability to rejuvenate and offers amazing, world-class experiences. Itineraries to pass on detail the many exceptional and varied cultural and land experiences available to suit the Ultra High Net Worth Individuals travelling on board the superyachts.
Launching the Great Barrier Reef Census project in partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef was a high priority for us, informing all yachts and their crew of the opportunities to get involved in further research and the important future preservations efforts of the Great Barrier Reef.
It is estimated that up to 40% of the Great Barrier Reef has never been surveyed, so adding even a course layer of data about the Reef’s state in these less-visited areas can greatly enhance its management. That’s why we’re calling on superyachts from across the world to join us on the Great Barrier Reef for the Great Reef Census! The Great Reef Census is a world-first effort which aims to establish the most comprehensive snapshot ever captured of the Great Barrier Reef. The event is scheduled to take place over a 12-week period, beginning in September 2020. CEO Andy Ridley of Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef said that “with citizen science playing an increasingly important role in supporting reef management, superyachts are in a unique position to access these more remote reefs and to help us gather vital data on their status. Every superyacht visiting the Reef can act as a research vessel, ready to collect valuable data.”
SuperYacht Group Great Barrier Reef representative Deputy Chair, Kathleen Ferguson said that “A number of captains advised that they would be travelling into the South Pacific buoyed on by the America’s cup and interested in the region’s offerings. Without doubt the America’s cup is tempting vessel owners and charterers into our waters. Our collaborated approach to marketing the South Pacific and Indonesia is making it much easier for vessels to make the trek down under. It was very easy for Superyachts to gather information on the various countries and support and service offerings in the one location.”
“Charter managers, captains, media and exploration tenders and toys producers were interested in participation in the Great Reef Census and were eager to hear more about it. The Great Reef Census could become a drawcard of its own.” Said Deputy Chair Kathleen Ferguson.
Group members in attendance were Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia, Melanesian Luxury Yacht Services, Akzo Nobel, Fraser Yachts, Benetti Yachts Asia. “The booth and show was a major success. We all made contact with many Captains and owners and we look forward to these yachts passing through our region in the near future” stated Andy Brown from Melanesian Luxury Yacht Services.
Comprehensive information packs were distributed to yacht owners, yachts, yacht agents and superyacht agents passing on all the necessary information for a trip to the region, including cruising itineraries, information on fantastic land experiences involving viewing twenty thousand year-old rock art at Jarramali, ancient indigenous tours at Mandingal Bay – Yarrabah, and bespoke tours through the world heritage listed wet tropical rainforest. Current imagery and testimonials of recent experiences from captains of visiting yachts on the various areas of the Great Barrier Reef were also included, with details of Motor Yacht Spirit’s Superyacht Industry Voyage of the Year trip around the Ribbon Reefs.
PNG has become a popular nearby destination for charter, where vessels base themselves in Cairns as a safe and secure hub to home port in-between trips (PNG is only 400 nautical miles away) for maintenance, provisioning and crew rest and relaxation. It is hoped that before too long Federal Government will make amendments to legislation to allow international superyachts to charter in Australian waters as they do in Fiji and New Zealand, opening up an additional 11,800 jobs and $1.64B for our economy by 2021.
“With major events on the horizon in our part of the world, there is much working to our advantage in support of superyachts venturing our way,” Ms Drake said. “We have SailGP in Sydney 28 – 29th February 2020 – a global grand prix sailing series backed by Larry Ellison, the founder of the Oracle Team (USA). Then the Endeavour replica is expected to set sail from Sydney in March next year, first heading south to Hobart before circumnavigating mainland Australia until May 2021. A total of $5.45 million will also be spent on local upgrades for the Cooktown 2020 Festival. Of course, the Olympics in Japan in 2020 and the America’s Cup in New Zealand in 2021 are all huge world events drawing international vessels to the South Pacific’s waters.”
“We need all hands on deck to ensure we plant the seeds for superyacht owners to to come and explore our natural wonders and at the same time have all their running maintenance and refit needs also completed at their request with our recently increased capabilities” stated Chairperson Carrie Carter. “Here in the customs clearance port at Cairns Marlin Marina we are able to accommodate vessels up to 140m – that’s the largest of any dedicated superyacht marinas in Australia!”. “We provide wonderful cruising and land itineraries and work in collaboration with our marinas (Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, Coral Sea Marina Resort and Hamilton Island Marina) to encourage vessels to extend their stay and increase their experiences by cruising to Port Douglas and North, and South to the Whitsundays”.
The South Pacific stand drew big crowds to join in the hosted drinks for show attendees with the amazing Cook Island dancers featured each afternoon, our thanks to David Good of Superyacht Australia for arranging this new collaborated marketing approach.
SuperYacht Group Great Barrier Reef Manager – Joanne Drake will also be attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show late October to continue promotion of this growing industry and share the word of the Great Reef Census.
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION:
Joanne Drake
Manager
Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef
Ph: +61 458 794 001
Email: jdrake@superyachtgroup.com
Carrie Carter
Chairman
Super Yacht Group Great Barrier Reef
Ph: +61 429 391 046
Email: info@superyachtgroup.com
The Super Yacht Group Great Barrier is a non-profit, membership based consortium proactive internationally in promoting the GBR region as the perfect home port for superyachts. It attends major boat shows around the world, such as The Monaco Yacht Show, Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, The Singapore Yacht Show and Rendezvous in Tahiti and Fiji. With the assistance of the Cairns Regional Council and Ports North the group also hosts numerous inbound familiarisation tours.