Greetings from the VIPCA Show in Yacht Haven Grande
It’s been two years since I attended a “physical” yacht show. Two years! The only thing good to have come out of COVID, is the fact that we are now much more appreciative of our environments – near or far – and the people in them. We finally recognize how fortunate we are to be able to have access to events such as the VIPCA show. Seaduction has spent this last week checking out all there is to see at this annual show for crewed yachts based in the US Virgin Islands. It was so good to see other brokers, crews, and vendors. Having lived in the BVI until March 2020, so many of the people I reconnected with here were not just contacts from the yachting industry, but old neighbors and friends. As you can probably imagine – there were lots of smiling faces and hugs all around!
Hosted at Yacht Haven Grande, one of the only full-service marinas in the Virgin Islands, the VIPCA show attracted some of the most incredible yachts. With YHG priding itself on being able to accommodate larger yachts of over 100’ in length, real beauties rocked up to show off all their best features. Visitors had a chance to explore not only the many different models docking in for the show, but also, to get a true feel of what Yacht Haven Grande is all about, and all it has to offer. One of its greatest perks is how easy it is for guests to get to by flying into St. Thomas. On top of that, it has all the amenities needed for crews to provision and turn over a yacht at arm’s reach.
As one of the larger of the crewed yacht shows on the islands, the VIPCA typically hosts yachts that are both privately owned and those which are part of a fleet. It is very well attended and offers educational elements that keep brokers up to date with industry happenings. During the CYBA AGM, for example, we were updated on the state of the BVI and foreign-flagged yachts’ ability to charter there. Until now, only yachts located, flagged, and crewed in the BVI have been able to charter here, so the selection has been very small. We are looking forward to having that option again as a charter destination for all yachts in the next couple of months!
Marine Stewardship, a campaign targeting the impact of anchoring and fishing behaviors on the Virgin Island reefs, and the Green Flag Pledge program, which asks crews to commit to important stewardship practices, were discussed too. The focus of these talks – typically held in the form of breakfast seminars – change from year to year, depending on what is currently important. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot on the schedule this year due to COVID protocols but, nonetheless, we all came out of the show a little the wiser.
Picking my top three yachts from this years’ show is a tough one - each crew and each yacht has so many different strengths. I’ll start out by saying that all of the crews are phenomenal. In terms of yachts, however, I must admit that I have developed a weakness for the new 65’ Lagoons that are now beginning to replace the 62’ Lagoons. Aeolus and Justified Horizons are two such yachts. The craftsmanship and quality of both are stunning, and they each have different layouts which will accommodate different types of groups.
The other yacht I was thoroughly impressed by was Big Nauti. BN is a 54’ Bali catamaran. The use of space is genius- it feels much larger than a 54’ yacht. It features a wall between the aft dining area and the galley, which folds up at the touch of a button! This makes the airflow and entertainment aspect really easy and enjoyable. It also has seating on the foredeck, a large flybridge with additional dining options, and the owners had two full-size side-by-side refrigerators installed. It’s all very well thought out.
Attending these shows is a part of my job that I take quite seriously. I visited a couple of yachts that have not worn well, and the owner has not put in the money to keep them in tip-top shape. These things are hard to tell just by looking at pictures; it’s important to get a real feel of the space and the quality, only then can I be sure that they are up to par. It is important for a broker to take the time to physically inspect yachts and meet crews – how else would I be able to recommend them confidently? Seaduction is all about providing customers with an experience of a lifetime, the holiday of their dreams, and it’s up to me to ensure that the yachts we offer can make them become a reality. So if that means having to visit dreamy Yacht Haven Grande for exciting shows like VIPCA on an annual basis, I’m more than happy to do that, ha!
