Sail-World.com : Abu Dhabi Yacht Show - where are the superyachts?
Abu Dhabi Yacht Show - where are the superyachts?
'The yachts Moonlight, left, and M/Y Jana on display at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show on Yas Island.'
Sammy Dallal/The National
One element is largely missing from the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show this year: superyachts. Superyachts were large and in charge at last year's Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. But they are largely absent this year.
Only a handful of yachts over 30 metres in length made it to the show, which started yesterday at Yas Marina. Last year, there were 34 of these extravagant vessels, with the most expensive valued at US$100 million (Dh367.2m). 'Piracy and regional unrest are both massive influences on the show this year,' said Andy Treadwell, the managing director of Informa Yacht Group, the organiser of the show, which is focused on the so-called superyacht sector. 'They can't get their boats here because insurance premiums are too high.'
Yacht companies are finding it difficult to convince underwriters to insure larger vessels against piracy.
'On top of that you throw into the mix the political instability at the moment, the unrest in Bahrain and elsewhere in the region, and people are just worried,' Mr Treadwell said.
Some yachts from abroad were in Abu Dhabi in preparation for the show, but departed in the past few weeks as the unrest spread across the region, he said. There were 'four or five' boats over 30 metres at the show yesterday.
In January, the organisers expected 20 yachts over 30 metres at the show.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact
Sail-World.com
as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website. Look_here_to_see_examples
