REPORT. Superyacht. The HULL FORMS. LIGHTING TSR is granted exclusive access on board the 70m motoryacht during her final day of sea trials.

Transcription

1 The Superyacht TRUTH OPINION ISSUE 172 AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 2016 KNOWLEDGE IDEAS A N D E X P E R T I N D U S T R Y A N A LY S I S GALACTICA SUPER NOVA HULL FORMS AV/IT LIGHTING TSR is granted exclusive access on board the 70m motoryacht during her final day of sea trials. In an exclusive with TSR, Van Oossanen discuss their three new hull concepts. A look at what is behind some of the most innovative AV/IT installations on board recent launches. The current state of lighting technology and where it might be heading in the future.

2 Regional report Palma de Mallorca Mediterranean editor Bryony McCabe tracks Palma s evolution as the epicentre of superyacht sailing technology and expertise. PHOTO: PALMA SUPERYACHT SHOW 28 ISSUE 172 ISSUE

3 Regional report: Palma t started around 20 years ago Iwhen Palma was seen as a great place to stop off because of its location in the Med, recalls Steve Branagh, director of RSB Rigging. He explains that the island is an easy place for yachts going to and from Gibraltar to get equipment fixed and then continue on to the next destination. Palma has changed significantly in the last few years, in terms of both the growth of berthing for larger yachts and the associated industries required to support and supply them. At a time when superyachts were much smaller in size, it made sense that sailing yachts stopped off on their way to or from an Atlantic crossing, something motoryachts of the same size were not able to do. Therefore, Palma had more sailing-yacht crew stopping here and settling down, and it has just become a bigger and bigger community that has, in turn, created companies dedicated to servicing the sailing-yacht sector, he adds. The rest is word of mouth. With much work on the part of local businesses to collaborate with the local government, Palma has changed significantly in the last few years, in terms of both the growth of berthing for larger yachts and the associated industries required to support and supply them. The region s specialism in sailing has fed itself the more the industry has grown. It has attracted more expertise and experience, which in turn attracts the decision makers who have trust that they will receive high quality service and support, while also able to enjoy the varied cruising grounds of the Balearics. There are more and more sailingyacht owners buying properties on the island, which makes it more cemented that the boat will be here, adds Siggi Mansaker of Evolution Sails Palma. The northern European yards that specialise in sailing yachts are all setting up in Palma. Everyone has to be closer to the clients, and if the yards are picking one place to set up a service centre, it has to be Palma. A sailing yacht s haven As well as providing a vibrant city, with varied cruising and convenient access, the benefits of Mallorca s extensive network of quality contractors and suppliers for sailing yachts is clear. Being able to get almost any of the work that you would find on a sailing boat done with the contractor base that is on the island is the biggest asset, says Branagh. It is a huge advantage for a sailing yacht to be parked in the middle of Palma and have that number of skilled people available. There are a number of different sail makers, hydraulic companies, mast companies and rigging companies, so there is competition, and competition leads to a fair market for the clients, agrees Quinny Houry, director of Doyle Sails Palma. As a result, you have a choice of who to work with, unlike many other places in the Med, where there is only one supplier that is inundated with work and therefore can charge what it wants. While other sailing destinations, such as Valencia and Tarragona, draw boats in with very good berthing prices, Houry explains that these savings can often be turned on their head because the very best sailing-specific expertise is located in Palma. What can happen in these places is that you start to run out of contractors who are able to do the work, he says. So contractors from Palma are flown in to do the work. The costs for accommodation and daily charges get factored in and the overall price can escalate. Composite specialist BMComposites sees the fiscal regime in the region as another advantage for yachts in Palma. If the vessel is not EU registered then VAT/IVA is not payable on refit works, which is a serious attraction for owners and yacht managers, says operations manager Ben Parnwell. This, combined with the relaxation of charter taxation laws, has made Spain a very attractive base for many boats. There are a number of different sail makers, hydraulic companies, mast companies and rigging companies, so there is competition, and competition leads to a fair market for the clients. Quinny Houry, director, Doyle Sails Palma 30 ISSUE 172 ISSUE

4 DOYLE SAILS PALMA THRIVES ON THE COMPETITION THE AREA GENERATES. We consider the location of Palma to be a big part of the success of BMComposites and the reason for the success for many of the local businesses. Mark Branagh, managing director, BMComposites Location, location, location Being based here in the hub essentially brings in business, explains Houry. You are right where the clients are; they don t have to come and find you, as long as you fulfil obligations and do what you say you can do, you have a good chance of doing well. Then it becomes a judgement call on how big you grow and how many clients you take on. For BMComposites, the decision to move their offices to the Global Building in STP has allowed for more face-to-face interaction with clients. Our management team is on hand to consult on jobs and our technicians can be deployed rapidly, explains managing director Mark Branagh. We consider the location of Palma to be a big part of the success of BMComposites and, in fact, the reason for the success for many of the local businesses. In 2013 Baltic Yachts set up a service and refit office in STP, Palma, the first of the northern European sailing yacht yards to have an official presence in the region. For CEO Henry Hawkins, the decision was twofold: firstly, it filled the operational role of offering after-sales support to the many Baltic sailing yachts in Mallorca. On a number of occasions they were sending staff to Palma to assist their own boats. Secondly, Hawkins saw a Palma office as a business opportunity for the yard. We had been looking to expand Baltic and try to get away from a totally project driven framework, he continues. We are building bigger boats year on year and with these projects come massive peaks and troughs, both in personnel usage and in revenue stream. The service and refit sector across the yachting board has seen a large jump in the last few years due to the number of owners wanting to extend the life of their yacht by undertaking refit work, so we saw an opportunity for another leg for the company to stand on. Only three years in business, Baltic s Palma office has already made a significant impact on the company s revenue stream. The first year the company was down there, the Baltic Refit Services and Repair turned a very healthy profit, which, as a first year setup, was an excellent view to the future, acknowledges Hawkins. It also offers us a window we are not the closest to the yachting community here in Finland but we work hard to stay in contact with our boats. By having a team in Palma we see clients more regularly and have our finger on the pulse. 32 ISSUE 172

5 Regional report: Palma Challenges We sometimes have to deal with clients who have an outdated view of working practices in Spain, admits Mark Branagh. The tired old stereotype of a mañana culture is no longer valid at all. The industry in Palma is well used to meeting the tight deadlines of superyachts and has developed a great capacity to exceed client expectations through close cooperation between companies. Palma s island backdrop can be both a positive and negative for sailing yacht clients and companies. While it means that the expertise is concentrated within a small radius, it can sometimes limit the companies in terms of facilities and infrastructure. Previously RSB Rigging were lifting rigs that were 63m and under, which the cranes on the island are fully capable of handling. With sailing yacht deliveries getting ever larger, this could potentially be a challenge. Now rigs are 75 metres and weighing 30 tonnes, explains Steve Branagh. The crane limit potentially restricts us on how big we can go rig-wise, but the boat can pay a bit extra for a crane to come in from the mainland. However, it may not be such a bad thing to have a size limit, as it means that the smaller clients keep being looked after. What can happen when one big project comes in is that all the contractors on the island focus on that. For Mansaker, lack of berthing is what may hinder the industry in Palma in the future. The marinas are full and the only way they can make more money is to increase the prices and I don t think there is much more room for that, he comments. If clients are not willing to pay the prices to be here, then they will find somewhere else. And this includes the companies here if the companies are busy, which many of them are, the prices may go up, so I think that is the biggest risk for Palma. While Palma s island backdrop means the expertise is concentrated within a small radius, it can sometimes limit the companies in terms of facilities and infrastructure. RSB RIGGING EVOLUTION SAILS LOFT Palma is becoming more and more popular with the sailing fraternity and it is now the norm that the yards are full and companies busy all year round. The future Based on its reputation, Palma is becoming more and more popular with the sailing fraternity and it is now the norm that the yards are full and companies busy all year round. So how will it continue to grow in the future? There is obviously going to be a natural ceiling, admits Hawkins. I think it will just come down to a more efficient use of time and space. You can t just turn up like in the good old days and expect to be hauled out a week later it has to be planned. And that is what the companies within Palma will be facilitating: you will see less of captains organising their own refits because they need the support. For Houry, Palma s future will see an increased focus on sailing. I think it will become more specialised in sailing yachts and create the space for more of them because the industry here needs it, he explains. Yes, there are companies that can do both, but the hydraulics companies, the rigging companies, the sail makers and the winch manufacturers are all moving here and now nearly all the major shipyards that build sailing boats are setting up here, which will mean a greater priority on their work and clients. Palma s evolution as a hub for sailing expertise has been a natural one, based on its ideal location, island setting and appeal to yacht owners and crew, but its explosion of popularity in recent years has been down to the companies in the region. With the industry s reputation for high quality sailing products and efficient service, sailing yachts wanting to carry out specific works now see Palma as the only place to be in the Med. g 34 ISSUE 172 ISSUE

6 Regional report: Palma Looking over the horizon Palma s sailing experts outline the technologies and processes they re employing to supply the sailing yachts of the future. BMComposites Building on their speciality in composite structures, BMComposites launched a sister company, 3DTech, in June This innovative company will focus on providing a design and engineering service not previously available in Palma, explains Mark Branagh. This will benefit not only BMC and its clients but also local companies that can use the technology to further their own capabilities and improve efficiency. Using BMComposites skills and experience in practical design, and combining it with engineers trained in the latest manufacturing techniques, 3DTech intends to establish Palma at the forefront of superyacht technology. The new company will focus its efforts on custom design, structural engineering, 3D scanning, 3D rendering, 3D printing, CNC machining of metal and composite mouldings, and prototyping. 3DTech aims to create, design and deliver the highest quality products and components to all sectors of the superyacht industry, which opens the way for new designs and techniques that may previously have been deemed too expensive or impossible, adds Branagh. Also, with 3D modelling software the client can see designs, mockups or exact scale models before agreeing on the final version. This enables far more involvement in the design process and ensures clients get exactly what they want. The launch of 3DTech will help to continue Palma s growth as as centre of excellence in technological innovation. g RSB Rigging As well as pulling bigger rigs, RSB Rigging has invested in providing inspections of external access tracks and cranes and load testing cables, which has seen the company move into the motoryacht sector and not be totally reliant on the sailing market. These services have exploded over the last 18 months, explains Steve Branagh. We have been working, especially with Pure Refit, to take doors and other big gear off powerboats. Our expertise in rig lifting translates into this well. g Doyle Sails Five years ago, the Doyle Stratis team brought out ICE, a creep-free, highly durable and high-modulusfibre sail membrane, in response to market demand. Fifty per cent of the sails we are making now are ICE sails, explains Quinny Houry. In this fast moving industry, ICE and its properties have made a huge difference, as it exhibits similar properties to high modulus carbon. As yachts get heavier and bigger, we need to make lighter sails, which means easier handling. ICE provides weight reductions and elongation numbers equivalent to a sail made with 100 per cent standard modulus carbon, but without the durability issues that come with high carbon content laminates making it a well-suited product for superyachts. Doyle is also developing a new non-woven surface for sails, which is currently being trialled on a few test boats. A non-woven surface will mean that the sail holds less water, making it lighter, while still being highly durable. g S/Y RED DRAGON PHOTO: DOYLE SAILS PALMA Evolution Sails In order to cater for the lack of cohesion between the design and build of a sailing yacht and the sailing system design, Evolution Sails has expanded its Palma team to offer project management for sailing systems, which involves every component above deck that makes a yacht sail. We have started to provide this service because we have been asked to; it doesn t exist elsewhere in the market at the moment, explains Siggi Mansaker. On a large sailing yacht there are many different choices from the standing rigging, sails, ropes, winch options and headsail furling options. All of these components have to be working together. As a result, Evolution is able to assist yard and project management teams, which are normally very focused on the deck downwards. g TO COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE, ISSUE172@SUPERYACHT.COM WITH SUBJECT: PALMA DE MALLORCA 36 ISSUE 172 ISSUE