Industry interview gives an insight to the future - Australian MarineBusinessWorld.com newsletter
by Peter Rendle 3 Dec 2020 14:00 PST
Bryan Stewart, Vaikobi International Sales & Marketing Manager © Vaikobi
Mark Jardine, Sail-World Managing Editor, chats with Bryan Stewart, International Sales and Marketing Manager at Vaikobi about building the paddling and sailing brand, increasing distribution in Covid times, the uplift in participation in water sports and looking forward to a more normal year in 2021!
View Bryan's video interview here.
Further optimistic news from the Boating Industry Association of Victoria. BIAV is delighted to announce, and invite exhibitors, for the 60th Melbourne Boat Show, which is going to be Bigger, Better and Boatier! 17-20 June 2021 - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). An enhanced level of interest in, and desire for boats and boating, is materialising as we come out of COVID, or reach 'COVID normal'. Early signs in relation to this are extremely favourable, and the demand for boats and boating is exceeding all expectations. The Melbourne Boat Show is set to capitalise on this and be a great show for exhibitors.
Also, the Marina Industries Association (MIA) has announced details of the Marinas21 Study Tour which will be held on Wednesday 26 May immediately following the Marinas21 Conference and International Trade Exhibition. In a demonstration of industry collaboration, three remarkable Gold Coast facilities will showcase the quality of the extensive boating facilities available to boaters in the region. Luke McCaul of Gold Coast City Marina is the Chair of the Study Tour Organising Committee and explained, "This is probably going to be the best study tour we have ever brought to our delegates. We have allowed more time than previously to gain deeper insights into each business. All facilities have worked together to create an innovative and educational program that will be sure to educate and motivate all who attend."
Overseas and for the 11th consecutive year, Horizon Yachts has received a prestigious Taiwan Excellence Award. Presented at the 2021 Taiwan Excellence Awards ceremony on 25 November, the new Horizon FD102, the latest and largest yacht in the highly acclaimed FD Series, was also recognized with the Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. The FD102 is the twelfth Horizon yacht model to be honoured with a Taiwan Excellence Award and the fifth to receive a Gold Award. Established by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs in 1993, the awards recognize innovation and excellence across a variety of industries. Held annually, the awards are presented to nominees who surpass a rigorous selection process that analyses four major areas including R&D, Design, Quality and Marketing. The qualifying product must also offer Innovative Value while satisfying the key criterion of being Made in Taiwan. Gold Awards are presented to the best in class of each category.
Increasing reliance on VSAT connectivity by superyacht professionals revealed by third research programme focusing on use of on-board satellite communications. Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, has published its third Superyacht Connectivity Report, focusing on the future requirements of superyacht professionals and the growing demand for advanced satellite technology to enable new ambitions of yachting freedom and adventure. Providing a state-of-the-industry assessment of satellite communications usage within the superyacht fleet, the report confirms that demand for, and spending on, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) connectivity is forecast to grow significantly in the next five years as digitalisation expands in the sector. This adds further data to create a deeper understanding of the established trend in this area highlighted in the preceding 2018 and 2019 reports.
Locally, Australian veteran owned high-performance watercraft company - The Whiskey Project Group - is pleased to advise that the acquisition of Yamba Welding and Engineering (YWE), and Naiad International, was completed today. This follows the announcement of September 2, 2020 that the newly formed The Whiskey Project Group had agreed to acquire regional NSW boat manufacturer YWE and the New Zealand based maritime design company Naiad International. This strategic acquisition bolsters Australia and New Zealand's maritime industrial capability, safeguarding sovereign supply chains, securing naval design intellectual property, and stimulating regional boat manufacturing expertise and jobs - heralding a new era of sovereign maritime capability for military and specialist watercraft.
New yachts this week includes the X-Yachts X56. Recently late in the afternoon, the X56 was launched for the very first time! After rigging, in-water tests and adjustments of technical installations a thorough series of sea trials will be conducted under close supervision of the design & engineering team. "We feel convinced that the X56 will live fully up to our expectations, but realistically and historically there will always be minor adjustments with a new model, first of its kind in the Pure X Range, and we are eager to find all mistakes and points of improvement now, in order to have the corrections implemented as early as possible", Thomas Mielec, Director of Design & Engineering, explains.
More industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com and at www.sail-world.com - over 400,000 readers accessed the combined global websites over the past 30 days. If you need to keep up with the latest power boat news go to www.powerboat-world.com
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com