Future Trends in the Yachting Industry

Yachting is a fast-moving target. As an industry, we have to keep up with, or surpass, the expectations of our highly sophisticated clientele, so analyzing future trends is a big topic. Fortunately, the thousands of businesses and professionals in yachting — including yacht crew — are a tech-savvy population who are not following trends, but creating them. Here are a few of the trends knocking on your hull soon. 

Power and Builds 

Lürssen Werft

Lürssen has invested in the future by developing an innovation lab to simulate and test the integration and operation of a marine hybrid fuel cell system on board a yacht powered by methanol. Their commitment to practical applications of future-view technology was demonstrated by the 2022 launch of the 160-meter motor yacht Blue. She is equipped with a highly efficient diesel-electric propulsion concept designed in-house, an electric Azimuth Pod Drive, and cutting-edge exhaust and wastewater treatment systems. What is in the far future? Sales Director Michael Bremen commented, “Why not build a nuclear powered yacht — new technology for sure — but we will need a different name for it!”

Feadship

Hydrogen-fueled yachts are no longer concepts, but reality, with the launch of 119-meter Project 821, boldly designed by United Kingdom firm RWD. “Clean technology, not just for this project, but for the world,” said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director and Royal Van Lent CEO.

Quantum Marine 

Quantum Marine supplies stabilizer and control systems to most of the largest yachts built today, plus military and commercial vessels. Their recently announced F45 Integrated Hybrid Power System features a blend of traditional hydraulic system and a direct electric drive, giving a potentially 60% greater efficiency. 

Crew Entrepreneurship

One of the most vibrant and fastest growing areas of yachting, the industry can only benefit from the practical knowledge of our crew, with many examples of creative crew entrepreneurship.

Superyacht Galley Designs 

“First hand operational knowledge in the galley is hard won and critically valuable to the guest experience when designing a new build,” said Chef Brennan Dates, who segued his onboard career into a new stratosphere, launching Superyacht Galley Designs. He’s already created galleys on five new builds, for vessels built in Germany, Holland, and the U.S., on builds up to 150 meters.

Washdown 

During her four years as a superyacht deckhand, Leah Tennant was increasingly frustrated working with toxic chemicals and at the waste of multiple cleaning materials used throughout. Leah created Washdown, a line of environmentally friendly, multi-purpose products for cleaning both interior and exterior surfaces. Her lessons learned and applied? “Yachting taught me work ethic and drive, attention to detail, and learning to deal with the 1% gives you the confidence to speak with anyone.”

Breezy Blooms 

Maja Bergstrom has had one of the most interesting specialty jobs aboard as a dedicated florist. Traveling the world on a “gigayacht” she learned firsthand the complications of sourcing and maintaining fresh flowers and plants. Bergstrom began Breezy Blooms when off rotation, offering classes to interior crew on the floral arts. 

Eastward Bound From the Med?

As explorer yachts, supply vessels, and yachts sailing to the farthest extremes of our oceans becomes increasingly popular, so does the challenge of finding new destinations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is looking to do just that by building what is possibly the most ambitious maritime and yachting facility in the world. 

Sindalah Island, recently launched with great fanfare, is located in the newly built Neom region on the Red Sea and is less than a full day’s cruise from the Mediterranean. Designed and operated by IGY Marinas, this facility offers berths and mooring buoys for yachts up to 180 meters, boasting modern amenities and technology. When added to existing marinas in Egypt, Jordan, and beyond to the Indian Ocean, this could become a future destination, attracting yachts seeking new horizons, a moderate winter climate, and pristine diving. 

Sustainable Yachting  

Yachtsmen and women have long been at the forefront of marine conservation. Many yachts and yachting businesses are conscientiously building programs to benefit the world around them. 

Some of the many yacht-centric environmental groups include Water Revolution Foundation, Blue Marine Foundation, Yachts For Science, and The International SeaKeepers Society, which has accomplished more than 500 ocean science projects on yachts in more than 47 different countries during the last 10 years. Start-ups like Expedition Zero are pointing the way to truly “green” cruising. 

Damen Yachting have inspired a whole new generation by building their ruggedly capable explorer and support vessels and are leaders in the conservation field. Their Sustainability Manager Moena Maggi calls herself “the supporter of dreams for today’s most innovative yacht owners.”

Marina Bahia Golfito, whose motto is “Conservation is the New Trend,” is well known to the yachting community as a jump-off to The Galápagos Islands, Alaska, and the South Pacific and is located on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Working with the University of Costa Rica and the International SeaKeepers Society, they are establishing a marine research center to bring marine biology, ocean studies, and yachting closer together.

Yacht Crew Marketing

Recent years have seen an upsurge in crew recognition and education, and increasingly, yacht crew and charter vessels have begun creating unique and highly effective marketing programs.

Capt. Kelly Gordon is a highly respected and sought-after speaker at educational forums worldwide on her favorite topic of crew mental health. Besides launching the nonprofit Yachtie Minds Matter, she and Media Manager Emily Taffel bring much needed attention to this difficult subject — online and at international conferences.

Wildly popular, with millions of views on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, Capt. Paul Clarke and the crew of M/Y Loon market themselves by illustrating the fun of yacht charter through videos featuring every water sport imaginable, crew activities, and the spectacular locations they cruise. Loon has two fully dedicated content creators working aboard on rotation and Clarke, whose tenure on Loon has seen him at the helm of three increasingly larger yachts, also manages a side business called Superyacht Socials, which employs seven people full-time. 

Women in Yachting

Gone forever are the days when yachting was male dominated. From the rise of female captains to the business of yachting, women are making big waves. The Association of Women in Yachting and Professional Women in Yachting are but two of the many associations focused on supporting and mentoring women through hosting seminars and conferences at yacht shows worldwide.

She of the Sea, born of a conversation between two female skippers about gender diversity in yachting, is dedicated to “move past the outdated status quo and propel ourselves into the future.”

Titta Outi-Vaisanen has launched numerous businesses under the umbrella of TUV Consulting. Based in the South of France, her Superyacht Foodies conferences have attracted crowds of yacht chefs and crew to experience culinary delicacies from her native Finland and beyond. Look for her on your home screen soon, as she has been tapped to produce a TV documentary on superyacht and luxury sectors.

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