Newport Charter Show Recap
The New England yacht charter season officially kicked off with a fantastic show at the Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard from June 19-22. Over four busy days, charter brokers, managers, and yachting industry professionals toured 14 gorgeous yachts and attended informative seminars about pressing issues in the yachting industry.
Yacht crews did what they do best and wowed attendees with creative tablescapes, served up delicious signature cocktails, and hosted sensational parties to show what fun lies in store for potential charter guests cruising New England this summer.
Members of Exclusive Yachts’ leadership team were in attendance, with co-founder and CEO Bill Charbonneau, Head of Operations Jacquie Charbonneau, Head of Sales Lou Clarke, and Chief Marketing Officer Julie Perry all in Newport to view yachts, attend seminars, meet crews, and spread the word about Exclusive Yacht’s exciting new approach to yachting.
Several yachts stood out to the Exclusive Yachts team, including the fabulous 87’ Ferretti M/Y Hoya Saxa with its sleek Italian style as well as 112’ Westport M/Y Spirit and its chic beach house interior.
Capt. Bill Wassmer on M/Y Lexington was a wealth of information about New England top charter spots. M/Y Lexington will be cruising the Northeast again this summer before heading down to the Chesapeake and eventually back to Fort Lauderdale in the late fall.
The team also spent time on one of the flagship members of our Exclusive Yachts fleet, the stunning 110′ Horizon, M/Y Freedom. Capt. Brendan Emmons and crew are looking forward to hosting Exclusive Yachts’ Open House in Newport, July 14-15 where those who are interested in learning more about Exclusive Yachts can meet the team and enjoy a cocktail cruise around Newport’s beautiful harbor and Narragansett Bay.
In addition to yachts being open for viewing over the duration of the show, crews participated in a variety of competitions, ranging from a ‘Chopped’ style chef challenge to flower-arranging and a lighthearted yoga competition. The tablescaping and signature cocktail competitions also ensured that the talented crews could exhibit their gorgeous design ideas and mixology skills onboard their vessels.
As with every charter show, it was a fantastic chance to get to know the different crews and talk in-depth about their experience, local knowledge, and plans for the upcoming season. With destinations like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Sag Harbor, and Block Island all within reach, Newport is the perfect jumping off point for short excursions or longer getaways.
The Exclusive Yachts Team was also happy to have the opportunity to meet with valued partner Outlier Jets’ VP of Sales, Patrick Hill, in Newport. It was the perfect time to discuss how Outlier Jets and Exclusive Yachts can continue to work together on creating seamless experiences for members in a variety of desirable locations. With private flights available between Naples and various destinations in the Northeast, from Nantucket to the Hamptons, Outlier Jets make vacations happen at a moment’s notice and members will be sitting on the deck of their yacht, sipping cocktails and feeling that sea breeze before they know it.
The Newport Charter Show was a wonderful occasion for Exclusive Yachts to view the best yachts available in New England this summer as well as connect with old and new friends in the luxury yachting industry. Thank you to the show organizers, Veronica Brown and team at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard and the show’s presenting partner The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.
Exclusive Yachts was honored to be a part of such an informative and fun event. As they say in New England, ‘Happy Summah!’