Newport Charter Yacht Show presented by Helly Hansen Newport
Industry Gathering Showcases Luxury Yachts for Charter in New England
For charter yacht brokers, lots of homework goes into finding the perfect match for clients who wish to book a week’s vacation or extended trip on a luxury yacht. Working to their advantage is the Newport Charter Yacht Show presented by Helly Hansen Newport, staged annually by Newport Shipyard in Newport, R.I. Scheduled this year for June 17-20, the show provides brokers with one-stop shopping for unique charter opportunities in New England, and it allows attendees, including agents (who represent the yacht rather than the charterer) and other industry professionals, to network and absorb as much knowledge as possible about their ever-evolving marketplace.
Set to appear at the Newport Charter Yacht Show are 24 world-class yachts. Nineteen of those are motor vessels, five are sailing, and they are all docked within easy walking distance of each other at the mega yacht-friendly Newport Shipyard. Just over half of the vessels are more than 100 feet in length, with the longest being the 150’ Delta Motor Yacht (M/Y) Time For Us, shown by Burgess of New York. The smallest sailboat is the 60’ catamaran Cygnus, represented by Ocean Explorer Catamarans while the smallest motor yacht is the Nordhaven 63’ Asturias, shown by Superyacht Sales & Charter of Ft. Lauderdale (which also has three larger yachts in the show). In between are all sizes, makes and designs of beautiful rides and just about any amenity or water toy one can think of to go with them.
At 150 feet in length, the motor yacht Time For Us, shown by Burgess, is the largest yacht among 24 at the 2019 Newport Charter Yacht Show presented by Helly Hansen Newport. (photo courtesy of Burgess)
“I’ve been coming to the Newport Charter Yacht Show for years, and I know of many cases where yachts have been booked for the summer season by brokers attending this show.,” said Kathy Kennedy, COO for AvYachts of Fort Lauderdale. “This year, we are introducing two Westport yachts that have never before been offered for charter in New England, so this is a very important show for us.”
Both yachts – the 130’ Endeavour and the 112’ Jopaju – were “built to explore.” Endeavour is a stylish, family-friendly yacht that boasts spacious interiors and expansive top deck areas designed for the ultimate in entertainment and relaxation. It features five staterooms (to sleep 10) and a resplendent on-deck master suite. “It has a clean, contemporary feel, a top deck with a jacuzzi, a great chase boat and a full set of new toys. What else do you need?,” said Kennedy.
Clockwise from left: the Captain and crew of the 130’ Endeavour; Endeavour at berth; the 112’ Jopaju underway. Both motor yachts will be shown by AvYachts. (Photos courtesy of AvYachts)
Jopaju has four staterooms (to sleep eight), a large country kitchen and a “mother-in-law” suite on the VIP deck that makes it perfect for families with a nanny or…a mother-in-law.
“Both yachts have experienced charter captains and a talented full-time crew that we want brokers to get to know,” said Kennedy. “These crew have bonded well and are phenomenal. In chartering, it’s all about the experience, and the crew is primarily responsible for making that experience special.”
Alex Duke, Charter Manager for Worth Avenue Yachts of Palm Beach, will be at the show to help present three of his company’s motor yachts: the 126’ Trinity Odin, the 80’ Hatteras Pneuma, and the 71’ Marlow Explorer Halcyon Seas. All three are making first-time appearances at the show and are new to chartering in New England.
“Halcyon Seas gets a lot of attention because Marlows have a 4’5” draft that allows them access to every major marina,” said Duke. “They fit New England really well with their traditional Down East styling, and Halcyon operates with just a Captain and a stewardess who have exceptional cruising knowledge in the region.”
The 71’ motor yacht Halcyon Seas charters with a Captain and a stewardess and will be shown along with two larger yachts by Worth Avenue Yachts. (Photos courtesy of Worth Avenue Yachts)
Duke added that even though brokers want to see the boats and meet the crew, they also want to build trust with managers like him. “If they know the boats are managed well – that we respond quickly, we’re accurate, and we let them know exactly what’s going on – that helps them sell their clients. They also can validate that the yachts are exactly as we have represented them online.”
One of the most storied yachts at the Newport Charter Yacht Show is the 141’ sailing schooner Columbia, a historic American-built replica of the famous Gloucester, Mass. racing/fishing schooner of the same name built in 1923. Meticulously handcrafted above decks and below, where tiger, maple and mahogany are accent woods, she is a piece of history rebuilt for the modern age with every comfort imaginable. “The emphasis on Columbia is the hands-on experience of sailing a traditionally rigged gaff schooner blended with luxury head-turning beauty,” said Capt. Seth Salzmann.
One of the most storied yachts at the Newport Charter Yacht Show, the 141’ sailing schooner Columbia, shown by Classic-Charters, sails with eight crew for cruising charters and up to 20 crew for racing charters. (Top photo courtesy of Classic-Charters; bottom photo credit Mark Krasnow Photography)
Columbia, shown by Classic-Charters, sleeps up to 12 guests and has a family-style salon/bar/galley area that is great for a group of friends or large family. She sails with eight crew for charter and up to 20 crew for racing. “The Newport to Bermuda race, the Marblehead to Halifax Race, the Classic Yacht Regatta circuit – she’s perfect for events like that,” said Salzmann.
Sandy Carney says she has booked Columbia once before. A long-time charter broker, she opened her own company, Sanderson Yachting, in Newport 13 years ago. She has attended the Newport Charter Yacht Show 27 times. “It’s a way of checking on my inventory,” she said, adding that she needs the full four days of the show to make her rounds. “It takes about an hour to inspect each boat and talk to the crew, and every day at noon, the brokers have lunch aboard the different yachts so we can experience what it’s like to be served aboard.”
Attendees also participate in a lively Yacht Hop that showcases each yacht in “full entertainment mode” and review skills of the captains and crews in a series of contests scheduled throughout the week. These include the marquee Chef Competition (this year’s theme is sustainable luxury), three Captain & Deck Challenges (fender inflating, small floral design, and an obstacle course, all hosted by show vendors), and Crew Competitions (Tablescaping, Signature Cocktails and Designer Water).
Marine and Specialty Vendors: Open to the Public
During the Newport Charter Yacht Show, the public is invited to check out exhibiting vendors along the “checkerboard patio” outside Belle’s Café at Newport Shipyard. Vendors will be open daily Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, June 20 from 10am-5pm. Returning vendors include presenting sponsor Helly Hansen with its mobile pop-up shop; AERE Marine Group, Newport Yacht Interiors, WheelHouse Technologies, CUTCO Cutlery, and Marigot Bay Resort & Marina. New to the show this year are:ShipShape; Tuckernuck Yachting; Marine Diagnostic Tools; Nantucket Naples Yacht Group; Moneycorp; and HiDow. The U.S. Superyacht Association will have its own sponsors showing under a special tent; they include Aere Marine Group, APB (All Points Boats), Boston Yacht Haven, Humphree, Snag-A-Slip, Platypus Marine, Inc., and YATCO.
The American Yacht Charter Association (AYCA) will host industry-related speakers on Tuesday and Wednesday morning during the show and a historic trolley ride tour of Newport.
It also will host its annual Seminar Series, which features a roundtable format beginning with breakfast and registration at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20. For complete information, including topics, sponsors, and seminar registration details, visit the AYCA seminar page on the Newport Charter Yacht Show web site.
Information: www.NewportShipyard.com and www.NewportCharterShow.com or contact Veronica Brown, Show Manager, Newport Shipyard, +1 401 846 6000, veronica@newportshipyard.com.
About Newport Shipyard: Newport Shipyard, one of the most popular and recommended shipyards in the U.S., is a full-service marina and shipyard with over 3,500 linear feet of dock space that can accommodate yachts up to 300+ feet. Its amenities include a dockside café, ship store, fitness center, courtesy vehicles and crew housing. With its friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere, and event planning capabilities, Newport Shipyard is host to many prestigious yachting events including the Newport Charter Yacht Show, the Candy Store Cup superyacht regatta, Newport Yacht Rendezvous benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, Newport Brokerage Boat Show held concurrently with the Newport International Boat Show, and more. For the full Newport Shipyard experience, visit: www.NewportShipyard.com
About Helly Hansen Newport: Helly Hansen Newport, the oldest Helly Hansen licensed store in North America, has been owned and operated by Jay Lasky since 1992. Known for Outfitting Active Lifestyles for Big Weather, Helly Hansen Newport strives to be the trusted solution for the best quality outdoor gear for active lifestyles and everyday needs. Helly Hansen Newport prides itself on delivering an exceptional customer experience and has been serving online customers since 1998. For more information, visit: www.bigweathergear.com