On Sail

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday October 28, 2006

DENISE CULLEN

Forget the plane, the finest way to arrive at Southport is by yacht.

When you're stretched out on the decking at the Southport Yacht Club, the Broadwater metres from your table, it's easy to see why so many end up marooned here.

Although two airports are less than an hour's drive away, the yacht club's presence means more interstate and international sun seekers are opting to sail, rather than fly, into town for their holidays.

"This part of the market, people coming up from Sydney, and Melbourne and Tasmania, is growing," says Neale Hollier, the club's commodore.

With a refurbished clubhouse and extensions to the marina planned for later this year, the club is bracing for a swell in demand for berths for superyachts, expensive vessels chiefly from North America and Europe.

"We see that as a massive market ... [which has] traditionally been going to the Mediterranean and Caribbean," Hollier says. "Now they're starting to look at Australia."

Despite a recent increase in number of multimillion-dollar superyachts being built in the last couple of decades, there are only an estimated 7000 of the vessels worldwide.

Typical onboard facilities include guest cabins in addition to the owners' suite, indoor jacuzzis, sauna and steam rooms, plunge pools, playrooms, cinema, private sitting rooms and that billionaire's essential, a helicopter pad.

To cash in on the growing destination cruising market, the Southport Yacht Club was instrumental in forming a "superyacht cluster", a group of companies which will promote services to visiting luxury vessels.

"It's nothing for [superyacht owners] to restock the fridge to the tune of $10,000-$12,000, or to refuel using 20,000 to 60,000 litres of fuel," Hollier says. "One person recently spent about $9500 just restocking the bar cabinet."

Queensland's Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, says the cluster will make the region Australia's dominant superyacht destination.

"In the past year, the local superyacht industry generated $20 million in refit, maintenance, berthing, providore and tourism services and activities," she says.

Hollier appreciates the boost these numbers will give the industry and the local economy, but you get the impression that dollar signs don't turn his head. He's more for the simple life, kicking back in a boat, enjoying a glass of wine, and sharing his nautical knowledge with his grandchildren.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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