Yachting Exclusive: December Yachting Round Up

ST TROPEZ, FRANCE, January 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) Despite the recent good weather in the Mediterranean, which has seen an unseasonal extension of the summer luxury yacht charter season, every good thing must come to an end and as we move into 2012 the focus of the luxury yacht charter market inevitably moves west to Florida and the Caribbean. Unfortunately the good weather clearly did not manage the move west and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which took place between the 28th and 31st of October, was hit by stormy wet weather that had an inevitably negative effect on attendance.

As we approach the winter season there are worrying signs for the industry as an over-supply of charter yachts is leaving owners battling to secure bookings. Meanwhile, an increasing number of owners are opting to give the winter season a miss altogether, choosing instead to send their yachts to shipyards for refits. There is however good news for crew seeking employment as there continues to be demand for highly-skilled and experienced hands.

As we entered the changeover period from the summer season in the Mediterranean to the winter season in Caribbean, the luxury yacht charter market has inevitably calmed down. Although the demand for luxury yacht charters was back to the levels of 2007, the increased supply of available yachts has meant that competition for bookings has been high meaning that yacht owners have had to fight hard to secure bookings and fill up their calendars. As such, new strategies have to be considered in order to make yachts stand out from the crowd. One such initiative is the Fraser Yachts' Diamond Collection, which was launched in May and the fact that it has been so well received suggests that offering exceptional levels of service is definitely the key to gaining a reputation as a successful charter yacht.

Since the economic crisis hit the yachting market in 2008, yacht owners have become particularly cautious with regard to their spending. As such the owners of many of the luxury charter yachts that we manage at Fraser Yachts are choosing to keep their vessels in the Mediterranean rather than making them available for Caribbean yacht charter. Last year's Indian summer has made this a more attractive proposition, as even if a yacht is made available for winter charters, it is unlikely to recoup the operational costs of two trans-Atlantic voyages. As a result more refits are being commissioned in Europe, rather than in the US, despite the low value of the Euro.

Despite this recent trend the demand for crew remains at a healthy level and those willing to make the journey to Florida and the Caribbean have an excellent chance of finding both employment and adventure. This is a time when the most professional and experienced crew are looking for new opportunities and challenges and as such it is a good moment for owners and crew agents to hunt for the best crew. Although the luxury yacht charter market is down as a whole, demand for crew remains healthy and experienced, highly skilled candidates are still in relatively short supply.

Fraser Yachts is a full service yachting company offering superyacht charter and mega yacht charter, luxury yacht sales and construction, as well as yacht management and crew-placement services. For further information regarding the Fraser Yachts Diamond Collection or luxury yacht charter please visit the Fraser Yachts website at www.fraseryachts.com.