They already drive flashy cars, wear expensive watches and eat at top-end restaurants. Now rich Chinese businessmen have found a new way to flaunt their wealth –Â luxury boats.
“They want to go out on the ocean and have fun — and take VIP clients to fish and negotiate deals,” said Zheng Weihang, secretary general of the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association.
With the second-largest number of dollar billionaires in the world after the United States, according to Forbes magazine, China is drawing eager foreign marina developers and boatmakers to its shores to tap the fast-growing market.
China currently has around 1,000 luxury powerboats and yachts moored around the country, and the number is expected to balloon to more than 10,000 over the next five years, Zheng told AFP.
The sixth edition of the Prestigious Asia Boating Awards will be hosted this year at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club.
For the first time ever, the Asia Boating Awards, the top event of the yachting calendar in Asia, will be staged in Hong Kong at the upcoming Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show on May 8, 2010.
Organised by Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines, the awards recognise the best yachts globally as well as top Asia-based yacht builders, Asia-based regattas, Asian marinas and yacht clubs, best maritime city in Asia and Asia’s top yachting personality.
This is the sixth edition of the Asia Boating Awards, having being staged in Singapore and Bangkok with the last two editions taking place in Shanghai.
Singapore was crowned Asia’s Maritime Capital at the fifth edition of the Asia Boating Awards, held at the prestigious Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Shanghai.
This is the second time the Lion City has been awarded the sought-after accolade – last year’s prize went to Qingdao, China.
The award recognises the tremendous effort that has been put into turning that city into a sailing and boating hub.
One of the world’s rising stars of mid-sized luxury yachts made a glamorous entry to Hong Kong with a lavish launch party ! Marquis Yachts, a US-based luxury yacht builder that sports the latest in Italian design, made a dazzling debut to Hong Kong with a sizzling launch party last month, on 3 September at the Aberdeen Boat Club.
Olivier Besson, managing director of Asia Yachting, the regional dealer for Marquis, said that four serious buyers came forward after just one viewing – a very impressive result.
Indeed, luxury sailing yachts and motorboats are becoming the ultimate accessory of the super-rich in China. Out of the just 400 private boats registered nationwide, almost all of them are motorboats. But, Adrien Magnan of Marine Dragon Consulting in Shanghai cites that the amount spent on luxury boats has been escalating upwards by tens of millions of dollars in the past few years. Pleasure sailing, virtually unheard of in China until a few years ago, is becoming increasing popular. Chinese millionaires are willing to spend a fortune on yachts and aircrafts. Looks like the wealthy Chinese customers are seeking a western lifestyle.
Robert VanGrunsven, the president of Marquis Yachts, arrived in a luxurious Maybach limousine, which dropped him off just yards from the speaker’s podium. VanGrunsven commented on the winning combination of European design standards and US build quality and pricing. Olivier Besson addressed the crowd shortly after, saying that the 420 offered Hong Kong boaters “total comfort, total style and total luxury when cruising local islands and bays.”
One of the key highlights of the glamorous night was a watch display by Blancpain, featuring models bearing best of brand products and riding onboard the 420, which executed several turns past the on-looking crowd. Rebecca Yeung, the 2003 Miss Hong Kong, was master of ceremonies at a night that illuminated and exhilarated. Asia Pacific Boating magazine and sister publication China Boating , both published by Blu Inc Media, were media partners of the prestigious event.
I have personnaly spent a day on this amazing yacht and wow, I must say it was very exciting.
This yacht is one of the first boats designed to take full advantage of the space-saving qualities of the Volvo-Penta IPS drive. The huge 60-sq.ft. cockpit with teak sole flows past a bi-folding door into the flush salon (inlaid hardwood) to create one huge entertaining area. No step up! Just one, large flowing deck which will keep cocktail parties mingling instead of breaking into two groups which always happens when the bridge deck is raised to accommodate the inboard engines. Just Check out the video below : )
Marquis Yachts in Asia are available exclusively through Asia Yachting (www.asiayachting.net).
