Superyacht Australia Hosts Australia Thailand Rendezvous 2024

With 17 superyachts in attendance on the day and 22 engaged throughout the week, this year's edition of The Australia Thailand Rendezvous was certainly a prominent occasion on the South Pacific's yachting calendar. Taking place during Phuket’s peak cruising season, the Phuket Yacht Haven Marina was undoubtedly a stunning backdrop for the occasion.

The event was sponsored by Australian shipyard Echo Yachts, with key stakeholders and representatives from across the Australian superyacht industry in attendance including Doug Steel and Chris Blackwell from Echo Yachts, and Alex Binks from Rivergate Marina & Shipyard, to name but a few. 

David Good, CEO of Superyacht Australia commented: ‘Many Mediterranean-based vessels will be considering an alternative plan for their 2024 summer season rather than returning to Europe via the Red Sea. Asia Pacific offers outstanding cruising options and Australia can provide refit, maintenance and sustainment support that rivals the best Europe can offer. Therefore, the timing of this event provided expert information for captains on options for keeping the vessels in Asia Pacific and including Australia in their upcoming schedule.’

The show included a diverse range of activities for attendees to take part in, including the Echo Yachts VIP Captains Lunch, which saw an attendance of 13 captains alongside Chief Officers and Chief Engineers. There was also a spirited Crew Cocktail Making Competition between M/Y AZAMANTA and M/Y GALILEO, offering a taste of Australian flair through the use of a range of gins from the region. 

These entertaining activities offered an abundance of opportunities for networking amongst industry peers and visiting yachts in Thailand, highlighting how these gatherings are ideal for networking and collaborations. These reinforced relationships will also work to benefit Australian marinas with regard to future visits for superyacht maintenance and refit work. 

Chris Blackwell, Sales and Marketing Manager of Echo Yachts, commented: ‘Echo Yachts would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Superyacht Australia for hosting the extremely successful 2024 Australia-Thailand Rendezvous event at Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket. The Echo Yachts sponsored ‘Captain’s Lunch’ provided a perfect setting to meet many large superyacht Captains and showcase the world-class custom-newbuild, refit and maintenance capabilities of our superyacht shipyard near Fremantle in Western Australia.’

Superyacht Australia has extended its gratitude to Echo Yachts, acknowledging its generous sponsorship, the support from Asia Pacific Superyachts and the Phuket Yacht Haven Marina team, alongside showing its thanks to the attendees themselves. David Good concluded: ‘Thank you to the companies and crew who attended to make this event exceptionally enjoyable and memorable.’