Motor yacht handling company sees increase in high-net-worth visitors
A BUSY WEEKEND for motor yacht handing company Oceanskies has shown that the island is becoming a popular destination for high-net-worth individuals and their families.
Four luxury yachts stopped at St Peter Port on Saturday and Sunday, both to take on fuel and for longer stays.
Director of Oceanskies, Tom Becker, said that the company started out in 2013 with three members of staff and now employs 11 due to the growing demand.
‘In terms of numbers, we have pushed Guernsey as a destination very hard since we set up here and we are seeing a lot more yachts coming to the island.
‘Traditional yachts will come for the cheap fuel and for transfer of ownership.
‘You can have a look at our Facebook page, a lot pass unseen as they might arrive and leave at very unsociable hours.
‘The good news is that we are now seeing more and more leisure cruising in our waters and repeat visits with owners and their families on board.
‘These are, for us, great opportunities to showcase our island to high-net-worth individuals and to raise the island’s profile with this community.
‘The local spend can be quite important, from fuel, from food (some larger yachts will have 30-plus crew) and everything else, we are called upon to sort everything, hire cars, meals out, flights, taxis, hotels, visits to doctors, local activities, you name it, we’ve had to arrange it,’ said Mr Becker.
On Saturday a brand new 50ft Princess motor yacht arrived from the UK for a tonnage survey and 500 litres of fuel. The 70-metre luxury motor yacht Skat also arrived and a 52-metre motor yacht named Jade 959 took on 40,000 litres of fuel in the evening.
On Sunday morning a 50-metre motor yacht, Lady M II, moored for its second visit for fuel, taking on 45,000 litres.
Shortly after Lady M II was moored, Skat sailed, bound to Copenhagen.
