It’s already been over 2 months since the first edition of the Balearic Yacht Show took place in November 2020. Looking back, it was a fantastic 3-day event with some of the most renowned local and international speakers. We also had some fantastic feedback and interactions within the conferences from our attendees. For those who may have missed a conference at the show or would like to watch it again, all conferences can now be watched online on the Balearic Yacht Show website at balearicyachtshow.com/schedule or on our YouTube channel. We also welcome and encourage you to share them on your channels!

Here is a summary of some of the top international conferences at the Balearic Yacht Show 2020…

State of the industry report (Superyacht Group) 

Martin Redmayne, president of Superyacht Group, is optimistic about the evolution of this market, he said during his speech in the first conferenceat the Balearic Yacht Show.

“I am absolutely optimistic about the future of the superyacht industry for the simple reason that we have a higher profile today than we have had so far.” Martin Redmayne was very positive, in the first presentation of the Balearic Yacht Show, the first virtual boat show in the Balearic Islands.

Seeing the evolution of the markets and the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on them, Redmayne bets on “a very busy summer 2021 for the charter world” and says that “superyachts are becoming a safe bubble in which to enjoy a vacation away from cities or large resorts.

To maintain the good growth forecasts of the sector, the president of Superyacht Group believes that it is crucial to “better educate our future buyers” as well as the workers of the industry, “workers who we have to take care of more and train better”. Redmayne has also stressed the need to bet on a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry. “A boat that spends a large amount of gasoline to sail at 30 knots is not attractive to the new generation of potential buyers, a generation more aware of the need to take care of our planet.

Finally, Redmayne urged the institutions to position themselves alongside the marine industries. “A superyacht is not the toy of a billionaire; we have to change that perspective and explain to governments that this industry has an added value”.

Why refit in the Balearic Islands? (Superyacht Times)

Shipyards in Mallorca remain at 100% occupation. The restoration and maintenance work of boats have not stopped during the hardest months of the pandemic in the Balearic Islands and the companies of this sector maintain a high pace of work with a view to a “boom” project in 2021.

On Day 2 of the Balearic Yacht Show, Ralph Dazert, director of Marketing Intelligence of Superyacht Times, moderated this round table session on restoration and maintenance of boats in the Balearics. Joined by him were Victor Perez, commercial director in Astilleros de Mallorca; Toni Salom, president of the Balearic Marine Cluster; Carlos Albons, production director of STP Shipyard Palma; William Kaye, captain of the M/Y Coral Ocean; and Rupert Savage, commercial director of the GYG group.

For his part, Victor Pérez (Astilleros de Mallorca) has recalled that we are facing an “open market” and although the local industry is strong and powerful enough, “it is always positive that companies from outside come to settle in Mallorca”. Likewise, Pérez highlighted the local work: “During these months of pandemic and state of alarm, we have been able to continue working in the projects that we had in progress, thanks to the local industry and the foreign companies that have their headquarters here. Otherwise it would have been impossible to keep the shipyards open in such a complicated times at an international level”.

The Boat of the Future (IBI news )

On the final day of the Balearic Yacht Show 2020, IBI news presented the conference ‘The Boat of the Future’.

A boat that will be more connected, more intuitive and easier than ever to use. This was presented by Tony Castro, CEO of Tony Castro Design Ltd; Jarrod Seymour, vice president of Garmin; and Jean-Erik Viitala, creative and innovation director of Axopar Boats in the round table moderated by Ed Slack, editor of IBI News, integrated into the last day of the Balearic Yacht Show.

The idea is to “simplify the user experience and create tools that are easier to use,” said Jean-Erik, who also recalled that “10 years ago, operating the control panel of a boat required an advanced level of knowledge and now everything is much more intuitive. For his part, the designer Tony Castro has opted to “create new things, develop ideas and concepts that the client does not know exist or that he needs but that in the end will work for him”.

The automation of functions is another of the great challenges facing the nautical world in the immediate future. Although the speakers agreed that boats “will not sail alone”, we will see improvements in navigation aids, new safety elements and applications that facilitate boat maintenance. “Where the focus is being placed – Seymour pointed out – is on automation and assistance in docking manoeuvres”.

How to become the Cleanest Greenest Superyacht hub in Europe (Superyacht Group)

Education and awareness, the basis for a more sustainable industry – The last conference of the Balearic Yacht Show 2020 discussed the main challenges for improved environmental sustainability.

The Balearic Islands are on the right track to become the European benchmark for environmental sustainability from the point of view of the marine industry, but there is still work to be done. This is the conclusion reached by Jorge Martinez, director of quality, environment and innovation of the Balearic Islands Port Authority; Lucia Mingot, director of quality and plant of Astilleros de Mallorca; Angus Johnston, director of business development of Ecoworks Marine; and Martin Redmayne, President of Superyacht Group.

For Jorge Martinez it is essential to be respectful of the marine ecosystem and reduce the use of fuel in the marine sector. Lucia Mingot has focused on the need to leave the waste that reaches the sea every day at zero and Angus Johnston has committed to creating a joint plan for 10 years in which all those involved in the marine industry can work with a common goal.

We would like to thank all exhibitors, visitors, speakers from different conferences, institutions and the media for their presence and participation in the first edition of the Balearic Yacht Show.

We will continue to promote the industry and services available in our islands at www.balearicmarine.org