MYBA Charter Show: Overview

The MYBA Charter Show in Genoa was a resounding success with superyachts galore in residence alongside the magnificent S/Y Eleonora and a colourful mix of exhibitors including the industry’s leading provisioners, agents and port representatives.

Porto Antico’s Molo Vecchio and Marina Fiera quays showed off 53 vessels out of an expected 80 and highlights included the newly refitted M/Y Bibich, complete with Armani-sourced furnishings and textiles. The two year refit of the 2008 Turkish built superyacht, which took place at Amico, boasts iPad controlled entertainment systems, Italian marble bathrooms and a fully kitted garage including wake skates, wake boards, diving gear and a 6m by 4m jellyfish pool.

Other stand out craft included Fraser's art deco inspired  M/YLatitude and Y.CO’s M/Y Dyna R, which is proving a popular charter choice for families, featuring unusually stylish glass child gates and a top deck den featuring a Jacuzzi, home cinema projector and daybeds.

Launched in May 2013, the first of a new concept in Benetti Classics, she went straight into charter and is fully booked all summer. ‘We’re heading to the Caribbean after the summer season so we are looking for bookings at this show,’ said Captain Nick James. ‘Dyna R is very different to other Benettis in style and the owner’s Italian designer worked with Benetti to create a neutral colour palate. We ask clients for their colour preference and change it up so that it feels like their boat. With her big high windows, she doesn’t feel like a 37m boat, more like a 45, with lots of volume and light.’

Dutch based Neko Yacht Supply took the prize for most colourful - and popular - provisioner's stand with their dazzling array of fresh fish and seafood, wagyu beef with wasabi dressing and unusual delicacies like oyster leaves and watermelon radishes. Every evening, apero hour attracted a huge number of brokers, crew and industry professionals to sample the Champagne, gin and tonics, oysters dressed with crab and Beluga caviar, mini prawn cocktails and tuna sashimi with freshly grated wasabi. ‘We’ve had a great show,’ said manager Joost Van Gorsel. ‘We’ve been doing themed evenings and have had a really good crowd here each day.’

The Caribbean vibe and rum punches at the lively Antigua Charter Yacht Show stand were also popular among crew and visitors. Despite a typically Genoan downpour on Wednesday, the weather recovered sufficiently to allow the eagerly awaited Yacht Hop to take place with M/Y Axioma kicking off the partying with an electric set onboard by Blah Blah, who warmed the revellers up playing hits by Kings of Leon and The Killers.  

The entertainment continued on Rima II with Nice-based band The Troubadours playing Pharrell Williams and swing before the disco theme took over at Latitude’s top deck nightclub, complete with DJ deck, lights and a bar worthy of le Baoli in Cannes. The 80s ruled at M/Y Polar Star with wacky wigs, Relax T shirts, headbands, legwarmers and even the odd pair of hot pants as well as Sex on the Beach cocktails. Another highlight was the Chef’s Competition with Galaxy, Turquoise, Zoom Zoom Zoom, Sultana, and Eleonora all amongst the prizewinners.

Fraser CEO Fabio Ermetto said: ‘It is important to have a presence here to show our boats, the level of our crew and the kind of service Fraser is giving in terms of visibility and promotion. It’s a business to business show and gives the brokers the chance to see a lot of boats in a very short time because they are open and accessible and you can move around them in a day. We will try to increase our presence at this show in the future.’

MYBA vice-president Jacqui Lockhart said: ‘This show is unique. The central agents, brokers and captains all say it is a quality show. This year we were inundated with exhibitor’s requests and we could do with more space but the Molo Vecchio is only so long and this is where people really want to be.

‘With business being a little harder, it’s important to be here, particularly for the overseas brokers who come to visit and see what’s changed on a yacht and how the crew are working. The priority is for brokers to visit the yachts and meet companies that are providing services to charter.

‘This year is a bit slower as we have been adapting to the new VAT regulations and that has had an effect, as do world issues, but there is good demand for new yachts and big yachts.’

Joey Meen, training director of the PYA, also paid tribute to the organisation and inclusiveness of MYBA, adding: ‘A massive thank you to MYBA for letting us in! We’re not brokers or agents but they have allowed the PYA in as they are trying hard to work with us in the interests of yacht crew. We take our hat off to them for that.

‘We are more active here this year than ever before and were allowed to speak at the Captain’s Briefing. We’ve been on the boats, speaking to crew and telling them what we do, giving them updates on changes and career advice. We have recruited new members at this show and brought in corporate membership and sponsorship for various events as well as re-establishing regional offices around Europe and the world. It’s been fantastic.’  

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* Photo of M/Y Dyna R courtesy of Y.CO
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For more information on the ports of Genoa visit our Ports & Shoreside directory:
Marina di Molo Vecchio
Marina Porto Antico