Darwin eyes off developing super yacht industry for high-flyers

A UNIQUE international yacht owners club for high-flyers could be spending more time in Territory waters as part of the developing super yacht service industry

Meridian Adventures may stage their super yachts out of Darwin. Picture: Supplied

A UNIQUE international yacht owners club for high-flyers could be spending more time in Territory waters as part of the developing super yacht service industry.

Meridian Adventure Sail Yacht Owners Club provides hassle-free private yacht ownership. To be an owner in the club, they need to own one of the three types of vessels Meridian Adventure supports, with its own professional crew.

So far the membership extends to the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and Asia. No Australians have joined the club yet.

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The founder of Meridian Adventure, Sean Calleymore, said the club was not a commercial entity but a group of yacht enthusiasts who enjoyed sailing in “low impact” vessels.

“We are the front runners in a new movement of affluent people who want low eco friendly yachts,” Mr Calleymore said.

“We sail the yachts to unique or remote destinations where the owners join us. We then look after their needs while on board. Darwin can expect to see more yachts and super yachts, especially now we know the logistic services which are available here for us.

“Next year we expect to be sailing the Whitsundays so the potential is we will come through Darwin on our away to destinations in Indonesia.”

Meridian’s yachts were supported by local company North Australia Yacht Support. General manager Ayla Wharton said it took the efforts of a few groups to ensure the visit went smoothly.

“The super yacht industry is all about word of mouth and it won’t go unnoticed on the international level that Darwin has pulled this off,” she said.

“Without the help and commitment from Bhagwan Marine, the Department of Lands and Planning Duck Pond management and Australia Border Force it would have been impossible to accommodate the multi million dollar fleet.”

A former chef on super yachts in the Caribbean, Ms Wharton set up NAYS six months ago.

Since then, there has been a steady stream of luxury vessels including Senses, owned by Google’s Larry Page, arriving in the NT.

“The owners of these yachts are looking for more diverse, expedition-type adventures,” Ms Wharton said.

“Darwin is so well located within Northern Australia but also in relation to southern Asia.”

In 2016, the super yacht industry was worth nearly $2 billion to the Australian economy, contributing an estimated $190 million to tourism alone.