Float your boat
If you’re serious about living the luxury lifestyle and have the designer wardrobe and grand apartment to prove it, take the next step - buy a yacht and live it up on the high seas, says Lucy Davis
"The top end of the market in Asia has not been affected by the credit crunch,” says Ailsa Angus, PR and Marketing Manager for Simpson Marine, “and it is likely that it will not be affected at all"
In luxury-obsessed Hong Kong, designer brands underpin our high society, and from the discreet glint of a Patek Philippe watch under a shirt cuff to the gleaming Italian sports cars negotiating city traffic, there’s no eluding the upscale. Yachts are another way for the rich to make a statement, and bobbing up and down in local marinas are countless cruisers, from compact sailing boats designed to hold the chosen few to luxury yachts that are spacious enough to accommodate the largest entourage.
If you’re keen to join Hong Kong’s elite, then buying a yacht is one sure-fire way to pave your entry into this exclusive set, and several companies can assist with such nautical investments. Simpson Marine, for instance, one of Asia’s leading yacht dealers, represents five elite yacht brands all catering to different tastes and price ranges. You can pick up everything from a svelte sporty model to a cavernous P. Diddy-style vessel boasting up to four bathrooms.
In spite of the global economic downturn, sales remain steady even for the most lavish boats, according to Ailsa Angus, PR and Marketing Manager for Simpson Marine. “The top end of the market in Asia has not been affected by the credit crunch and it is likely that it will not be affected at all. Some sales in Europe and America have slowed down, but not to a large extent.”
If money is no object and only the best boat will do, then consider the range on offer from Italian company Azimut. One of the most respected names in the yachting industry, it is highly regarded for producing exquisitely crafted boats that offer a timeless elegance. Broker Robin Wyatt says, “The smallest vessel Azimut offers is the fly-bridge 39 Evolution [39-foot long], which starts at HK$4.1 million.” The flagship vessel, meanwhile, is the 116-foot Azimut 116, a six-cabin yacht that will set you back a cool HK$110 million.
Creating everything from small wakeboard boats to 60-foot cruisers, Sea Ray, the world’s largest manufacturer of pleasure boats, appeals to first-time buyers due to its chic but user-friendly designs. Broker Mark Woodmansey says, “As well as new sailors, the Sea Ray is popular with the young and hip boating crowd. The smallest range boat is the 175SP [17-foot long] and prices start at HK$181,971. The flagship model is the 60-foot 60DA; prices for this begin at HK$17.1 million.”
If it’s a catamaran that floats your boat (for those who have yet to get their sea legs that’s a twin-hulled yacht), then don’t overlook Lagoon, soon to be the world’s largest producer of multi-hull vessels. Broker James Rayner says, “The Lagoon is most suitable for the cruiser sailor who craves volume and space but still wants a sailing boat, not a power boat.” The smallest vessel in the range is the Lagoon 380, a 38-footer that features three cabins and two bedrooms, and costs around HK$2.38 million. The largest, the 62-foot Lagoon 620 has four cabins and four bathrooms in addition to ample lounge and dining space; prices start at HK$13.8 million.
Should you be in the market for a sailboat (a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails), then Beneteau may have just the thing for you. The smallest sailboat offered in this range is the First 21.7S, a 21-foot long boat that starts at HK$200,178. At the other end of the scale, the Beneteau 57, a 57-footer, retails for around HK$5.4 million.
James Rayner, Broker for Beneteau as well as Lagoon, says, “The Beneteau 57 is a Farr Yacht design [widely acknowledged as the top racing yacht design team] and Category A rated, which means that it can be taken on long voyages offshore. The boat can comfortably sleep ten, and has a configuration of a maximum of five cabins and five bathrooms. Alternatively, it can be configured for more luxurious and spacious living, with approximately three cabins and a larger saloon area.”
Once you have chosen the yacht that best suits your needs, buying a boat should be an enjoyable and non-stressful process, assures Simpson Marine’s Angus, who explains the procedure as follows. “First, you decide what options and extras you would like to be added to the boat at the factory, and then the contract needs to be signed; 25 percent of the total cost must be paid straightaway, with the final balance due two weeks prior to factory completion. The factory and sales representative will arrange for the boat to be shipped and then arrange commission of the boat upon arrival. This usually takes between two to four weeks.”
Before you select your vessel, there are several factors worth considering. “You should have a rough idea of what you are planning to do with the boat. Consider whether you are you going to race it, use it to take the family out, just cruise, or take it offshore visiting other countries,” says Angus. “In Asia, you need to consider where the boat is going to be moored, and if there is enough depth and space in this area. Some customers may wish to think about Yacht Finance [a marine mortgage or loan] if they are unable to pay directly for the boat.”
Once the financing is organised, you are free to plan your nautical adventures. Happy sailing.
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