For Asian yacht owners, it’s space, not speed, that’s key

Jun 20 , 2017

How the latest yacht models from Beneteau, Ferretti and Sanlorenzo are being adapted for a growing Asian market

First owned by European luxury and leisure enthusiasts, yachts were originally designed for country-hopping in the Mediterranean. With the steady growth of the luxury market in Asia-Pacific, yacht companies are adapting new models to suit regional tastes.

“Manufacturers exporting to China have evolved their products to better meet the different needs of the Chinese clientele. The main players have moved from an ‘adapted yacht’ to a ‘designed yacht’ for the Chinese market,” says Carla Demaria, president of Monte Carlo Yachts.

French company Lagoon, the largest catamaran builder in the world, has taken advantage of this emerging market.“Sales of catamarans have gone up so quickly in Asia since we started in the market,” says Yann Masselot, Lagoon general manager, “and 25 per cent of the large Lagoons have been sold in Asia in the last 10 years.”

The company’s latest model made its Asian debut in Hong Kong in May, en route to its Filipino owner. The Lagoon 77 is 23.5 metres long – and fits exactly on a tennis court.

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Apart from its size, the yacht’s ability to be customised is a big drawing card for Asian owners, says Thibaut de Montvalon, APAC director for Beneteau, Lagoon’s parent company.

“[Customisation] is really appealing in Asia,” says de Montvalon, “because a lot of Asian clients – whether they’re from Japan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong or Indonesia – want to be unique”.

The Lagoon 77 is built by French company Lagoon – the largest catamaran builder in the world

The Lagoon 77 is not bespoke, but there are multiple layouts for owners to choose from, De Montvalon says.“You can make [the saloon] into either a cabin and a massage room, or you can have it as a meeting room, or you can have a private cinema, or have poker or mahjong tables.”