The Newport Yachting Center will be decorated with a collection of world-class yachts for the 30th Annual Newport Charter Yacht Show (June 18-21), which has garnered great enthusiasm from the marine industry under the show’s new owner, Newport Harbor Corporation. The four-day show, which will take place in historic downtown Newport, R.I., is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and caters to not only the charter trade but also consumers (attending with brokers) who can learn more about charter options in New England and world-wide through access to luxury yachts from 50 to 200 feet, industry focused seminars and ancillary goods and services.
“We have 24 yachts signed up to-date, and our number of on-site exhibitors has doubled from last year,” said Event Chair and Director of Newport Exhibition Group Tom DeLotto, adding that this year the show is directly preceding the America’s Cup World Series in Newport. “Everything is really coming together, and we could not be more pleased with the industry support from brokers, agents and marine businesses.”
Nicholson Yachts is one of the local firms that will be participating this year and currently has five yachts registered to appear at the show. “I’ve seen so many positive changes already, “said Owner and President of Nicholson Yachts Karen Kelly-Shea (Newport, R.I.) who has participated in the show since 1992. “The Newport Yachting Center is a great venue for the yachts and the perfect showcase for ‘selling’ charters starting in Newport, the sailing capital of New England.” Kelly-Shea explained that seminars at the show will focus on chartering in New England as an exciting, budget-conscious option to the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
“Having the show in Newport with tourism representatives from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine will help brokers from other parts of the country book summer charters,” said Kelly-Shea. “As far as local support goes, local charter brokers I’ve talked with are very positive about the changes, and the list of exhibiting vendors includes some of the best marine businesses on Aquidneck Island. After the show finishes I look forward to lots of emails and phone calls from brokers ready to book yachts in Nicholson’s charter fleet!”
Delotto added that the cost for a week-long charter in New England can be as low as $8000 for three couples. “You don’t have to charter a mega yacht for $100,000, though we do represent those options at the show. Brokers have all sorts of options, including vacations on charter yachts in the 40-50 foot range.”
Rikki Davis Yachts at Churchill Yacht Partners has five yachts listed in the show this year. “The main benefit of having the show in Newport is the experience the brokers get from being in this great city where they can glean first-hand knowledge of the location they will be selling to their charter clients,” said Maggie Vale (Newport, R.I.), a charter yacht broker for the company, who has been attending the Newport show for the past eight years. “In this industry we are selling a location as well as a product.”
DeLotto said that the supporting marine businesses, which include Gold Sponsors AERE’ Docking Solutions and The Private Journey, are “extremely vested” in the event. The week kicks off with a Welcome Cocktail Reception, sponsored by The Hinckley Company and IGY Marinas (Monday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m.), in the Hospitality Tent (open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.), which is sponsored by West Marine Megayacht Supply, and starting off each day of the show are the industry-focused seminars (8:15 a.m.) sponsored by ClearStone Coating.”
Among other Newport Charter Yacht Show supporters are Lanyard Sponsor Crew4Crew Yachts; Bronze Sponsor Dockwise Yacht Transport and In-Kind Sponsor Sea Bags.
Supporting Sponsors to-date are American Yacht Charter Association, Bluewater Books & Charts, BURGER, Come Sea U.S., Crown Bay Marina, GYF Global Yacht Fueling, Maritime Professional Training, Ocean Medical International, Oversee Yachts, Providence Jet Center – Quonset, U.S. Superyacht Association, Ward’s Marine Electric, Westrec Marinas and Yacht Insiders Guide, while Media Partners are Boat International Media, Dockwalk and ShowBoats International. The Charitable Partner of 2012 is YachtAid Global.
Spotlight: Culinary Competition
Chefs aboard participating charter yachts will go whisk-to-whisk on Wednesday, June 20 for the Newport Charter Yacht Show’s Culinary Competition, which has been split into two classes: the Grande Class, for chefs on yachts 100 feet and above, and the Premier Class, for chefs on yachts 99 feet and under.
For the Grande Class, the morning of the event, chefs will be provided with a “mystery basket” full of ingredients along with a short list of ingredients that can be used from their pantries. They will then return to their respective galleys to prepare four servings of a meal of any cuisine, and local restaurant chefs will determine a winner.
For the Premier Class, the chefs will prepare seafood chowder, the quintessential dish of New England and have free reign over the ingredient choices. Once the dishes are complete, show attendees will be invited to visit every competing yacht’s galley to taste the creations. Ballots will be provided onboard each yacht and the winner determined after results are tallied.
The winner of both the Grande and Premier Class will be announced at the Chef’s Awards Ceremony in the main tent that day at 4 p.m.
