The 2006 Dubai International Boat Show that has just ended was the most successful in history for Gulf Craft Inc, the UAE-based builder of luxury yachts.
Sales worth more than $10 million were concluded during the event, and deals worth at least as much again are under negotiation, according to the company’s executive manager Erwin Bamps.
“The Dubai boat show is always a landmark event for us, and more so than ever this year,” he says.
“Particularly significant was the degree of interest from US customers – both individuals and dealers. Smaller yachts like our Majesty 44, Majesty 50, and Majesty 61, as well as our super-yacht division have received major attention – and there is every prospect of significantly expanding our agency representation to new areas of the US.
“We received equally strong interest from existing and potential dealers in Italy, Monaco, UK and the Netherlands who are keen to stock and sell our range.”
Gulf Craft is one of a handful of specialist yacht-builders worldwide with the skills and capacity to produce vessels of more than 100 feet in overall length, and already exports more than 70 per cent of its annual production of around 400 craft.
Middle East buyers have ordered two Majesty 88 luxury yachts, a luxury model that made its debut at this year’s boat show, and the same number of Majesty 66 luxury yachts were confirmed, underlining the continued interest in this 2004-introduced Majesty Yacht.
“Top of the bill is the sale of a Majesty 118 super yacht during this show event, which we haven’t yet included in our boat show sales figures as we will only finalise our customer’s requirements in terms of interior decoration and equipment specifications in the next few weeks,” says Bamps.
“Our growth in the semi-customised super yacht market remains strong and we are confident about carving ourselves a significant market share in this niche market.”
The Oryx 36 sport cruiser – the sea-borne equivalent of a high-performance sports car – was also unveiled at the boat show and became a centre of attraction at the Gulf Craft stand.
With a burnt-orange colour scheme, the Oryx 36 stands out from the all-white hulls that dominate the yachting world.
“The Oryx 36 is a trendsetter for our ranges of smaller leisure and pleasure craft that are benefiting from the reputation that our luxury and super-luxury classes have established,” says Bamps.
“Customers are assured that the quality and craftsmanship of the larger yachts carry through to the smaller vessels as well, and this has been responsible for the surge of boat show interest in the smaller sector.
“During this year and next year, we will be investing further in the smaller ranges and the 2007 Dubai boat show will see the launch of several more all-new or revamped models.”
Earlier thus year, Gulf Craft took over former competitor GC Marine and it bestsellers Seabreeze 33 and Sooly 26 also had continued success at the latest boat show, receiving orders from territories as diverse as Saudi Arabia and the Asia-Pacific region.
“The new Challenger 47 introduced on this boat show, offers the GC Marine customers a reliable, luxurious fishing boat with style,” adds Bamps. “We have had tremendous response and enthusiastic feedback from this show, and are confident about the sales opportunities for this vessel in 2006, a year in which GC Marine will make more waves with the introduction of new models.”
