Held at the Newport Yachting Center and Marina on the historic Newport, Rhode Island waterfront, the recently concluded Newport Charter Yacht Show 2015 was a great demonstration of just how strong the superyacht charter industry is in New England. Following four days of glamorous parties, informative seminars and tours of 25 top-class yachts worth a combined value of over $100 million, the 34th edition of the prestigious event concluded on Thursday, June 25, 2015.
Newport Charter Yacht Show 2015 – Photo credit to Billy Black
This year’s Show hosted a truly amazing selection of yachts, from classic day-sailing vessels like the 32-foot restored wooden Dreamboat Latitude to luxurious motoryachts like the 130-foot charter yacht Plan A and the 172-foot superyacht Big Eagle. Moreover, there were plenty of options in style as well, including the largest Hinckley ever built: 85-foot sailing yacht Northern Star.
“Northern Star is really a sailor’s sailboat with yacht amenities,” said Jared Thomas Lazor, who is co-captain of the Northern Star yacht with his wife Andrea Gray McDonald. “People that like to charter Northern Star are the kinds that want to unplug from technology and explore and relax.”
Newport Charter Yacht Show 2015 from aboard a Superyacht – Photo by Billy Black
On the question how a superyacht charter vacation differs from that of a vacation in a hotel, McDonald answered, “This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience and an adventure. Our itinerary is customized to fit exactly what our guest wants to do every day. It’s our job as captain and crew to make our guests fall in love with the charter lifestyle. The reason that there are so many different charter yachts available is so that potential guests can find the perfect one for them.”
The event also featured plenty of educational seminars and guests had a unique opportunity to watch as the professionals onboard the yachts put their culinary and hospitality skills to the test in a series of crew competitions.
Luxury charter yachts on display at the event – Photo by Billy Black
Furthermore, there was plenty of waterfront entertainment during the event, including two nights of lively “Yacht Hops”, where captains as well as crews donned costumes, representing their yachts’ themes, and dazzled guests with clever cocktails and tasty hors d’oeuvres. The festivities kicked off with the show’s popular Welcome Reception on Monday evening, which took on a Caribbean Carnival theme with the help of the U.S. Virgin Islands – Department of Tourism, a new sponsor.
“It was a truly memorable event with our Caribbean ritual dancers, a mocko jumbie and island music from Image Band,” comments U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “Many guests and yacht captains – most of whom are frequent visitors to the territory – noted that it was the best welcome reception in the trade show’s history.”
