Having hosted 54 of some of the world’s finest superyachts available for luxury yacht charter and 64 charter related exhibitors, the MYBA Charter Show once again proved to be a busy and successful event. Taken place over a slightly shorter period of four and a half days between 28th April and 2nd May, the event was held in the Porto Antico, in the lovely Italy yacht vacation destination – Genoa, along both Marina Molo Vecchio as well as Aquarium Quays.
2014 MYBA Charter Show Photo Credit: Photo Motti
Indicative of the reputation of this long-standing ‘trade-only’ Show, it was quality and variety which described the assembled fleet – comprising 49 motor yachts and 6 sailing yachts, wherein 60% of the total fleet were ‘first time’ attendees of the Show.
Replacing the traditional Tuesday evening Gala Reception, this year’s less formal Show Opening Cocktail party – held on Aquarium Quay and across the water from the main registration area – proved popular with everyone and was co-sponsored by Maltese fine wine and yacht provisioning company, No.12. Later that evening, with the crowd in good spirits, a pre-coordinated merger with the Aquarium Quay yacht hop made the evening an even more vibrant and successful occasion than expected!
At 73.60 metres length and pointing her bow out furthest from Marina Molo Vecchio, charter yacht NAIA (ex.Pegaso) was the largest yacht present. While further along the quay, a stalwart of the very early days of the Charter Show made a welcome reappearance in the form of motor yacht Fair Lady, a 36.9 metres Camper & Nicholsons yacht, built in 1928, fresh from a major 6 month overhaul last year including a repaint, and looking her absolute best alongside more recently constructed yachts.
2014 MYBA Charter Show from Molo Vecchio Quay Photo Credit: Photo Motti
With charter management responsibility of four significant yachts present at this year’s Show, Vesa Kaukonen from KK Superyachts confirmed: “In terms of presenting our products to the global charter market the Show worked well for us – we had good feedback from the crews and have generated numerous charter leads with doubtless more to follow in the coming weeks.”
Co-sponsored by MYBA, Global Services and new associate sponsor, ‘Events by Zoom’, an amazing end-of-Show ‘Super Heroes’ Crew Party – held for all the hard-working yacht crews present at the Show – proved a spectacular highlight. ‘Events by Zoom’ flew in two international DJs for the event, which took place at trendy new venue, ‘BICU Restaurant’.
Pleased with the party feedback, Chair of the MYBA Charter Boat Shows Panel, Jacqui Lockhart, said: “Most brokers agree the single most important aspect of any successful charter is that provided by the captain and crew and why the crew party is intended as a big thank you to crew who make our Show possible, and as MYBA celebrates its 30th birthday this year, we wanted to share the occasion by making this year’s party the best ever!”
2014 MYBA Charter Show night view Photo Credit: Photo Motti
Reaffirming their sponsorship support, Global Services (Europe) Ltd, 2014 said: “We would like to thank all involved in making this year’s crew party another amazing one including all who attended. A great effort on the fantastic costumes and see you next year!”
Once again coordinated on behalf of MYBA by charter broker, Sarah Sebastian, and supported by SuperyachtWorld magazine as main media sponsor, and further sponsored by Genoa International Supplies, Yachting Matters magazine and with additional prizes courtesy of Y.Co, YPI and Northrop & Johnson, the Chefs’ Competition made a welcome return.
An ‘International Brunch with Baked Goods Basket’ theme provided the main challenge, and Chefs were divided into three categories based upon yacht length. A second ‘Yacht Service Award’, sponsored by media partner Yachting Matters and wine supplier Vins Sans Frontières, recognised the welcome offered onboard by crew and the ability to work as a team when presenting and serving the food and drink.
2014 MYBA Charter Show Chefs Competition Winners Photo Credit: Photo Motti
With a well attended MYBA Members’ forum having taken place at the NH Marina Hotel and trade seminars including a MYBA E-Contract Q&A session sponsored by MTN, and a Destination Seminar sponsored by CN Marinas, the business focussed nature of the Show didn’t disappoint and was praised by, among others, David Price from Hill Robinson who claimed this year to be his ‘best ever’ MYBA Charter Show.
MYBA Charter Show Chefs’ Competition Results:
Yachts 36m and under Chefs winners for the International Brunch
1st Leonardo Chef Giles de Cambourg
2nd Heliad II Chef Antonio Fernandez Figueras
3rd Baltazar Chef Barbara Fanera
Yacht Service Award
SUNLINER – Chief Stewardess Sha Mariemuthu
Honorable Mention to chef and Crew: SULTANA
Yachts 37 to 49 Chef Winners for the Internationals Brunch
1st Zoom Zoom Zoom Chef Micail Swindells
2nd Roxane Chef Matthew Sumner
3rd Sirocco Chef Jochen Provoost
Yacht Service Award
Roxane Chief Stewardess Mikaela Marinova
Honorable mention to chef and Crew: Eleonora
Yachts 50 + Chef Winners for the International Brunch
1st Galaxy Chef Cameron Davis
2nd Polar Star Chef Pepijn Mittelmeijer
3rd Turquoise Chef Graham Dutton
Yacht Service Award
Auspicious Chief Stewardess Marie Cupang
Honorable mention to chef and crew: Galaxy
