Simpson Marine Reports Record Year for Asian Market

The challenges faced over the course of 2020 and 2021 need not be emphasised, yet the yachting industry has seen unprecedented growth with the value private escapes made even more prominent.  Many owners and newcomers to yachting have seen their yachts as a safe haven to escape from the frantic world.

“Simpson Marine’s mission has always been to bring people closer to the ocean and help them enjoy the freedom of life at sea,” says Mike Simpson, Founder and Managing Director of Simpson Marine. “It is therefore heartening to see many first-time boat owners being welcomed into the yachting fold during 2020 and 2021.”

Hong Kong is well established as Asia’s largest yachting centre, and has proven to be the busiest market with marinas remaining open and yachting activity mostly unaffected. The city registered an even greater growth than usual, providing a significant boost in a time where other South-East Asian countries have been more affected by the pandemic and border restrictions.

Simpson Marine has been at the heart of this success, experiencing substantial growth in all business activities, including new yacht sales, brokerage, yacht charter, yacht management and services.

The company’s special relationship with iconic Italian shipyard, Sanlorenzo, has been a constant source of inspiration for the Asian market. A significant number of Sanlorenzo yachts have been delivered across Asia, including models such as the Alloy, SX112, SL102A, SL96A and SD96.

The partnership is set to continue to bring high-quality superyachts to Asia in 2022, with two units of the SD118 sold after her world premiere in 2021. The order book also includes a 52Steel, the largest Sanlorenzo yacht sold into Asia to date, which is set to launch in summer 2022.

Partnerin with Simpson Marine has been equally as lucrative for the Beneteau Group, with brands Beneteau and Lagoon reaching double digit sales. here has been significant growth for the Beneteau Outboard ranges, including the Antares and Flyer. The arrival of the flagships Antares 11 and Flyer 10 into Hong Kong generated a lot of interest for this segment with numerous sales of models from both lines. The new Beneteau Power flagship Grand Trawler 62, that will set new standards for long-range cruisers, is also due to arrive in Asia in early 2022.

Lagoon continues to enjoy an excellent reputation as the world’s leading catamaran brand with deliveries of new models LG40, LG42, LG46 and LG50 made into Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. Bigger models from Lagoon have also enjoyed particular success with the arrival of Asia’s first SIXTY 7 power catamaran in Taiwan and another SIXTY 7 on order for Hong Kong while Lagoon’s sailing SIXTY 5 is now located in Hong Kong as well. Expected to arrive in 2022 are two of Lagoon's latest models, the Lagoon 55 and the motoryacht flagship SEVENTY 8.

While international charters have been limited by severe travel restrictions, Simpson Marine has registered unprecedented growth in domestic charters. Simpson Yacht Charter registered 900 day charters and 40 overnight charters in Hong Kong in 2021 along.  This adaptation to local charters was also reflected in Thailand, where although there has been a decrease in international travellers, a total of 500 days of short-term charters were sold in Phuket and Pattaya. The progressive opening of borders has already resulted in a promising number of long-term charters in 2022.

Integral to Simpson Marine’s holistic offering are the company’s Yacht Care and Yacht Management divisions, which have welcomed several new yachts into the fleet. The Hong Kong Yacht Management office along welcomed eight new Sanlorenzo yachts in 2021 under the Yacht Management scheme, while Simpson Yacht Care has been at its busiest with a total of 50 yachts under their care by the end of 2021.

A solid order book suggests further success to come for Simpson Marine in 2022. With yacht availability and quick deliveries being high priorities for Asian buyers, Simpson Marine has been securing a long list of stock boats for the Asian market but supply remains limited.

With four decades at the centre of the Asian market, Simpson Marine’s experience and dedication to providing memorable moments at sea is unrivalled.