Yatchs by the bay

Once a preserve of the rich and famous, yacht-owning is no longer confined to industrialists and the glitterati but is witnessing a whole new breed of players which includes businessmen, professionals from the banking sector, IT, realtors and lawyers, says Sujata Dugar.

Come weekend and Dr. Arun Mullaji, an orthopaedic surgeon by profession, sheds his doctor’s coat and puts on his casuals and set sails with his family to Mandwa, Alibaug or the Elephanta caves on his 27 feet yacht Mystique. Watching the spectacular sunset, dining with his family while aboard the yacht, soaking the pleasures of a holiday with parents, wife and children — far away from the maddening city crowd, is something Mullaji looks forward to immensely. A busy doctor throughout the week, he turns yachtsman and indulges in his passion for sailing during such lazy weekends.

“Leisure yachting is fast gaining popularity in India and the large number of foreign yacht companies present at the recent boat show bears testimony to this potential market,” says director of the recently held Mumbai International Boat Show, Sujay Chohan. Moreover, the over 100 speedboats and yachts docked at the harbour off the Gateway of India, from a minuscule few two years back, is a visible proof that the winds of change are certainly blowing across India.

Little wonder, top international yacht companies like Azimut-Benetti (Italy), Ferretti (Italy), Princess and Sunseeker (UK) along with various others like Gulf Craft (Dubai), Sea Ray Sunsport (USA), Chantiers Jeanneau (France) and Larson (USA) are all here to woo the Indian buyers.

From the quaint sailing yacht from European manufacturers Jeanneau or Beneteau, a slick speedboat or motor yacht from Larson, Gulf Craft or Bayliner or the luxury yachts manufactured by Azimut, Ferretti or Sunseeker, they’re all making their presence felt for the new as well as discerning boat shoppers.

“Yachts provide the ultimate luxury environment for work and play and people are looking for such style statements,” feels Atul Bhonsle, who represents the world renowned Azimut-Benetti in India.

For instance, the Italian Azimut-Benetti which has yachts ranging from 39 feet to 116 feet and priced between 350,000 Euros to 10 million Euros may seem a steep buy, but if Atul is to believed, a 68 feet Azimut yacht may soon anchor itself on the Mumbai harbour by end-August 2007 and a 98 feet Azimut Leonardo soon thereafter. Costing 1.8 million Euros and 5.5 million Euros respectively, these purchases reflect the potential Indian yacht buyers.

Says Gautam Dutta, the managing director of Marine Solutions, a Mumbai-based retail yacht company and sole distributor of Ferretti, Jeanneau and Sea Ray in India, “a 1.5 million Euro priced 55 feet Ferretti is soon to find its way into the Indian shores.” A 35 feet Jeanneau and a Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport is already here in Mumbai.

So if a Ferretti, considered to be the Roll Royce of the yacht industry, sets the buyer back by a jaw dropping Rs 5 crore atleast, the less expensive branded powerboats could range between Rs 15 lakh (18 feet Larson sports boat) to Rs one crore (26 feet Beneteau power yacht).

As far as sailing yachts are concerned, Aquasail’s founder director Shakeel Kudrolli who represents Beneteau states a 5 and 1/2 metre i.e 18 feet yacht is priced at Rs 18-20 lakhs whereas the 25-40 feet yacht is priced at one crore to start with. Meant for the avid yachtsmen keen to explore the high seas, these sailing yachts certainly have niche takers in India. A 27 feet Beneteau sailing yacht is already on its way to the Indian shores. Unlike the popular power or motor yachts which makes one feel like “driving a car on sea” according to Kudrolli, sailing yachts are strictly technical and meant for those who enjoy the sensation of sailing and bobbing on the deep blue sea.

For others, the reasonably priced Gulf Craft boats at Rs 50,000 $ (Rs 23 lakhs) or the large 65 feet at 1.4 million $ (Rs 5.95 crore) or Larson’s 37 feet sports boat ranging
from Rs 14 lakhs to Rs 1.5 crore is a great buy too.

Well-equipped with data related to the yachts — visuals, DVDs and a plethora of necessary details pertaining to buying, these Indian counterparts explain all the nitty gritties to prospective buyers. If a yacht is docked in the Mumbai harbour, they even take them on a full-fledged tour of the yacht.

That apart, most of these distributors also provide end solutions ranging from consultancy, yacht management and all transactions pertaining to buying yachts.

According to Atul Bhonsle, buying a speedboat, to start with, is certainly a good buy and one gets to flaunt this style statement at the price of buying a new car.

“It’s like getting a yacht at the price of a brand new Honda Civic car!” he elaborates. So for those already boasting of a fleet of cars, Bhonsle feels, investing in a yacht is a definite style quotient. In fact such is the craze that some buyers even join hands and pool in finances to purchase a single yacht. Most of these yachts provide a lifetime warranty and hold value for years together.

Once a preserve of the rich and famous, owning a yacht is no longer confined to industrialists and the glitterati but is seeing a whole new breed of yacht owners which includes businessmen, professionals from the banking sector, IT, realtors and even lawyers choosing to become part of the growing armada of boaters.

“The younger generation with high disposable incomes is looking for this ultimate lifestyle experience,” reasons Chohan about the noticeable change along the Mumbai shoreline. A whole new lifestyle — adventure, fine dining in the blue sea, bonding with family and being close to nature — beckons these high sea adventurers and they are latching on hook, line and sinker! They can afford it and they want it right away. Moreover, for these well travelled breed, the unexplored 7,600 coastline together with a warm tropical climate, makes it an ideal cruising option without having to go far off to the French Riviera.

However, as Arjuna awardee yachtsman Aashim Mongia of West Coast Marine puts it, “people are looking at value for money and are not yet brand conscious as far as yachts are concerned.”

The chic yacht owners use it for weekend getaways to explore the beautiful coastline and spend time with family, to ferry across to their farmhouse in Alibaug, to throw onboard parties in the middle of the blue sea or to hold business meets or for cracking business deals.

Comprising varied facilities ranging from the simple cabins, bathroom, kitchen options to state-of-the-art facilities — plush leather work upholstery, satellite television receiver, refrigerator, navigation aids like the Global Positioning System (GPS), wi-fi and jacuzzi, one is spoilt for choice in most of these luxury yachts.

What more, with foreign manufacturers adhering to certain world wide norms of manufacturing, these yachts are well-graded and maintain high quality safety norms, says Arjuna awardee (yachting) and former president of Royal Bombay Yacht Club Gulshan Rai.

With only a handful few Indian yacht manufacturers in the country at the moment, the foreign manufacturers are keen to tap the growing Indian economy. What’s more, as marinas worldwide get exhausted, virgin Indian shores seem to be the next best destination for these players.

Ironically, Mumbai or for that matter India doesn’t have a single marina to moor yachts. Industry experts feel that the number of yachts likely to swarm the Indian shores by year 2008 will make the government wake up and take note.

After celebrity yacht owners like liquor and airline tycoon Vijay Mallya who owns the 1906-built 50-metre steam-powered yacht called Kalizma and the 312-footer Indian Empress or industrialist Gautam Singhania’s 47-ft yacht called Ambassador 47 and another called Ashena,it is the turn of the young, jet-setting professionals, techies and CEO’s to ride on this new wave.

After all, it’s one thing driving a Ferrari and another sailing in one.