Exotic Charters Lovely Locations

The first citation read: With Sytske and Bart Kimman at the helm in Hong Kong, and Lies Sol in Phuket, this multinational team in Asia actually places more charters than a fast-increasing spectrum of other local companies. Operating to benchmark MYBA standards, their experience helps to ensure clients have trouble-free holidays afloat.

Jonathan Beckett, CEO of Burgess Yachts, has been visiting Asia-Pacific waters for over 20 years, and encouraged fledgling superyacht charters here.

Accolades for Burgess Yachts were based on a slightly different perspective: Jonathan Beckett, Chief Executive of Burgess Yachts, booked for the first very well-attended Superyacht Rendezvous in Asia, during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Show in 1997, and has been active in these waters ever since. Burgess Yachts now has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, and offers sales and management services apart from charters. Both operations have undoubtedly provided the experience and commitment on which the charter industry in Asia-Pacific waters has grown.

Singapore-based Burgess Yachts executive Jean-Marc Poullet advises that about 90 per cent of their agency’s superyacht charters continue to focus on Phuket and the Maldives.

“Asia’s two great archipelagos, the Philippines and Indonesia, still have restrictions on foreign flag charters, so until those issues are resolved, the type of vessels we handle – substantial superyachts- will not be chartering there except in very special circumstances.”

Yacht Style and Burgess Yachts are currently considering an indepth report on the multi-faceted regulations that cover the charter industry in Asia-Pacific, with a view to establishing more Med and Caribbean-style models which have led to significant income for countries that supported their introduction.

Charters in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines, are of course possible using a wide spectrum of smaller craft, from luxury phinisis to the latest sail and power multihulls, and from Hong Kong pleasure junks to quite large motor yachts operating under Asian companies and Asian flags.

Sophisticated Asian charterers and owners have been making fun-filled passages for many decades. Now their numbers are swelling.

In Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, Lies mentions new listings like 39m Lady Azul, 30m Dallinghoo, 27.5m Orient Pearl, 40m Gaia Love, 47m Tiare, 46m Mutiara Laut and 38m Adelaar. But there are lots more, which can be perused simply by googling the agents or emailing.

On following pages we look at some of the options in more detail, with the accent on exotic destinations this year. Space precludes an exhaustive line-up, so remember outfits like Boat Lagoon Charters and Sunsail and The Moorings and Dream Yacht Charters have offerings too, and where once only Burgess Yachts stood, two decades ago, there is now also Fraser Yachts, Yachting Partners International, Hong Kong-owned Camper and Nicholsons, Y.CO and a spectrum of others.

Words Bruce Maxwell | Images courtesy of Lies Sol