Gold Coast City Marina inundated for Superyacht Rendezvous as CEO Trenton Gay aims to make it annual

THE man behind an Australian-first mass gathering of superyachts on the Gold Coast wants to dispel stigma the industry is just “rich boys and their toys”.

THE Gold Coaster behind Australia’s first mass gathering of superyachts wants to dispel stigma the industry is just “rich boys and their toys”.

Superyacht Rendezvous organiser Trenton Gay was yesterday overseeing the arrival of 15 floating palaces worth more than $150 million into Gold Coast City Marina.

Crew were busy prepping the line-up for a launch party tonight, with Mr Gay saying the industry support exceeded his expectations.

Gold Coast City Marina are having a Superyacht Rendezvous party on Friday night. Bree Pitt and Alicia Mangold on the gang way to the boats. Photo: Richard Gosling

The marina CEO said economic benefits of growing superyacht visitation were considerable for crew, fitout tradies, maintenance staff and suppliers such as florists.

“Anyone with one of these has done well and can afford it because they’re not cheap but the second part is they are employing a lot of people,” he said.

“When they get ready for charter and get provisions they will spend $100,000. All the local suppliers get a feed out of it. When they come into the yard they spend multi-millions on fit-outs.”

Gold Coast City Marina are having a Superyacht Rendezvous party on Friday night. Trenton Gay on the gang way to the boats. Photo: Richard Gosling

The luxurious Australian-owned 40-metre Sahana — here for the Rendezvous — had its multi-million dollar fitout at the marina and charters for $100,000 a week.

Sahana trips are managed by Burleigh’s Cameron Bray, whose charter management company Northrop & Johnson Australia has a fleet of 15 superyachts available for hire.

“We are trying to get rid of the stigma it is rich boys and their toys,” Mr Bray said.

“You’ve only got to come and see how many people are working on yachts, doing fit-outs, dropping flowers, alcohol off. This industry creates livelihoods.”

Gold Coast City Marina’s Superyacht Rendezvous party will be held on Friday night. Photo: Richard Gosling

The amount of support for the Rendezvous event, aimed at highlighting the sector and Australia as a cruising destination, has already convinced Mr Gay to hold it annually.

“I would have thought we’d get six to eight yachts out front so to get 15 shows the industry has come on board,” he said.

A recent Superyacht Australia report showed if the Federal Government relaxed red tape for foreign vessels to charter, along with waterway dredging on the Coast, it could result in a $1 billion boost to GDP and thousands more jobs.

Mr Gay said the time was right for Australia to boost visits, with the Asia-Pacific region growing in popularity with owners.

“The industry has huge potential for growth with just a little bit of support from Federal Government,” he said.

Tonight’s VIP party, costing more than $100,000, is a yacht-hopping event with themes including a gin bar, fine French wines, a Craggy Range Wines and Indonesian cooking school.

SUPER STUFF

Australia gets one per cent of the world’s superyachts here a year, about 60 to 70 visits;

Industry leaders say boosting it to three to five per cent will have huge economic benefit;

The Superyacht Rendezvous aims to highlight the sector, lobby Federal Government.