Hannah Wolstenholme, Sales and Charter Broker at Edmiston, tells us that the calendars are filling up earlier than they have historically as people want to be on board longer. “What may have been a 7-day charter in 2019 has now turned into a 10, 14 or 21-day trip.”
Extended periods at sea have been made possible by improved connectivity and design features on board. Sailing for months at a time has become the new norm, but safety remains paramount, says Federico Ferrante, President of Azimut-Benetti U.S.A. “Besides the beautiful weather, Florida is above all safe. Owners can feel completely at ease whether they moor and stay on board, or leave their yachts for refitting and come back after a trip.”
According to The State of Yachting 2021 report, 19 percent of the mega- yachts (120+ feet) being built this year are destined for U.S. owners. Chris Callahan, Sales and Charter Broker of Moran Yachts, Fort Lauderdale, tells us, “Year-over-year sales have been up tremendously. We expect the trend to continue into 2022 with several deals pending and a number of new construction projects in the pipeline.” These include the 163-foot Mangusta ALISA, 200-foot Hakvoort TOP FIVE II and 464-foot Lürssen NORD, all delivered this past summer. The fall and winter will also see the 242-foot Amels Project SHADOW and 377-foot Lürssen Project ENZO go to their owners. We look forward to seeing them on the pristine waters of South Florida.