Phuket superyacht event lands major sponsor

PHUKET: The Asia Superyacht Rendezvous has landed premier independent yacht broker Merle Wood & Associates as a co-sponsor for this year’s event, to be held in Phuket in December.

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Merle Wood has established solid international yachting relationships throughout the world, including the US, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, South America and Mexico.

The company has concluded sales in excess of US$15 billion over the past 18 years.

“The great news was announced by Merle Wood when kicking off the Monaco Yacht Show,” organizers said in a press statement issued October 5.

The news follows principal sponsor Feadship signing up last month to mark a decade of supporting the elite Phuket event, this year to be held December 16 to 18.

It also follows Merle Wood’s Head of Superyacht Division, Francois van Well, celebrating his first major sale as a yacht broker late last month with the sale of the 61.2-meter Feadship motor yacht Secret.

Co-organizers of the Super-yacht Rendezvous are Gordon Fernandes, GM of Asia Pacific Superyachts, and Charlie Dwyer, captain of superyacht Yannekee Too.

“The growth potential for Phuket and the surrounding areas is massive as there are thousands of these floating palaces in Europe – yet there are no berths left for them at marinas – [which is] another major reason to bring their yachts to Asia for the winter,” explained Mr Fernandes.

“The whole of the superyacht world is looking to Asia as the next great cruising ground,” added Capt Dwyer.

“We are seeing a steady growth of yachts in the region as, in general, owners and crews love Phuket and the surrounding areas,” he said.

— Chris Husted