
Some superyacht industry representatives say this is the year of the refit. They base this on the experience after past recessions. Existing yacht owners typically start feeling more comfortable spending on major maintenance and refurbishment. Likewise, buyers of brokerage megayachts budget to personalize their new acquisitions, whether through solely decorative changes or entire overhauls.
These are some of the driving factors behind the second-annual edition of YARE (Yachting After Sales and Refit Exhibition), which runs this Thursday through Sunday in Viareggio, Italy. YARE organizers state that more than 120 exhibitors will be on hand, more than last year. Reflecting the global nature of the refit and repair business, 85 percent of the firms are from outside of Europe.
Since Viareggio is the heart of the megayacht business in Italy, several shipyards are organizing tours of their facilities. These include Perini Navi, Sanlorenzo, and Overmarine Group (parent company of Mangusta). Sanlorenzo is additionally unveiling its Experienced Yachts program, focused on trade-ins. Experienced Yachts will offer RINA certification and a two-year warranty, among other items. Show attendees will be given maps indicating the yards and subcontractors who will be welcoming visitors.
Besides tours, attendees will have networking opportunities and educational seminars at their disposal. The Italian Superyacht Forum, hosted by The Superyacht Report Group and conducted in English, kicks off the first day of the show. That evening, YARE’s organizers are hosting a party at the Pucciniano Theater in nearby Torre del Lago, which the famed composer Giacomo Puccini called home. The rest of the week’s seminars will all be in Italian, focused on the charter business, LED lighting options, painting, advances in local yacht construction, and more.
Leave a Reply