2023 Superyacht Australia Soirée Celebrates Record Attendance

Superyacht Australia, the peak body for the Australian superyacht industry, first introduced the Soirée in 2020 on the back of the milestone Special Recreational Vessel (SRV) Act in December 2019. The legislation opened Australia up as a destination for the global fleet of charter superyachts, with the Soirée serving as an annual platform to showcase the industry in Sydney and promote charters in the South Pacific region.

Once again sponsored by Benetti Yachts and held at Sydney’s iconic Jones Bay Wharf, the Soirée this year featured 17 vessels, including 12 superyachts and five luxury superyacht tenders.

“The overwhelmingly positive response by key stakeholders to this year’s Superyacht Australia Soirée reflects the confidence in the sector which has seen phenomenal growth in the last 12 months,” shared David Good, Superyacht Australia CEO.

“The Soirée provides the perfect opportunity to view some of the finest vessels in the Australian fleet and reinforces yacht charter as the best way to experience amazing parts of Australia in true comfort, safety, and luxury.

“Overall, the 2023 Superyacht Soirée was a resounding success, exceeding all expectations and solidifying the event’s status as Australia’s premier luxury lifestyle event for superyachts.”

Exhibited by broker partners and captains, the superyachts on display included M/Y Mischief, M/Y Chaos, M/Y Impulsive, M/Y Quantum, M/Y Texas T, M/Y Aurora, M/Y Element, and M/Y Legacy.

Debbie Leenderts, Partner and Managing Director of Chapman Yachting said “Chapman Yachting was thrilled to showcase superyachts LEGACY and ELEMENT in the 2023 Soirée.

“We truly believe that each year the event brings more awareness to the industry and allows new clientele the opportunity to step onboard the vast choice of yachts we have available for charter across the country and see what they are capable of in terms of entertaining and cruising itineraries.”

The Soirée’s 422 guests were provided with an opportunity to step onboard and inspect each of these luxury vessels in the sublime setting of Sydney Harbour. There were plenty of extra attractions to complement the on-water display, with a trifecta of prestige European cars showcased by Scuderia Graziani – a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider, 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan, and 2021 Bentley Continental GT.

Elsewhere, guests were also treated to a display of the latest gadgets and toys, with Fliteboard, Seabobs and Schiller water bike toys presented by Marine Lifestyles/Water Sports Central.

The Benetti Lounge welcomed guests with luxurious hospitality, including tasting of fine wines from family-owned Hunter Valley vineyard, Tyrrell’s Wines, and spirits from Pennant Distillery and Glenfiddich.

After the pandemic slowed the initial impact of the SRV Act, Australia’s superyacht industry has been booming. There have been plenty of major announcements of marine developments across the country, and Soirée host Jones Bay Wharf even recently shared its own approval for an upgrade.

This investment shows no sign of slowing, with Shute Harbour Marina Resort showcasing a detailed model of its development, which will add 395 berths and luxury accommodation at the gateway to Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands.