The digital shift is a major issue for the yachting industry's services. Its players are preparing for it, as evidenced by the buyouts and website launches observed in 2018. The new uses of rental, boat clubs and other alternatives to ownership have also held the spotlight. But these aspects should not overshadow more concrete services, from training to foil boats to recruitment or marina management.
Consolidation of nautical platforms on the Internet
In the last few years, boat rental websites have flourished, claiming to be the AirBnB of boats. After a few years of operation, they had gradually all opened up to professional renters in order to expand their offer and ensure better profitability. The market concentration that began in 2017 with the buyout between start-ups continued in 2018. It passed a further milestone by seeing major traditional yachting players take control of the main platforms. The group Bénéteau has thus got its hands on Hey Captain and the lessor Dream Yacht Charter on Samboat . The last important independent is today Click&Boat. But behind the websites, it is the contract management tools, the community and the know-how on the internet that interest the heavyweights of the boating industry, whose objective is to achieve a global offer, from the sale of new or used boats and their financing, to short or long term rental. The Band of Boats website, launched by the Bénéteau Group at the beginning of 2018, and its Leasyboat leasing offer are illustrations of this.
Rental, what future for boat clubs?
Find an alternative to boat ownership to meet the expectations of new boaters. That's the challenge for the boating industry according to all analysts. Throughout 2018, boat clubs, the Anglo-Saxon model of closed clubs giving access to boats for a membership and usage credits, have flourished. The independent Boat Club de France, since acquired by Dream Yacht Charter, and the manufacturer Bénéteau had led the way in 2017. They were joined in France in 2018 by the shipyard Jeanneau, associated with the American Freedom Boat Club and by the professional rental company Dream Yacht Charter. Similar models, such as SailEazy for the provision of sailboats, are also developing. If the different players willingly communicate on the number of their base, the number of members remains confidential, and a priori limited. It will therefore take time to see if this new model that excites the profession finds its audience, but 2018 marked a step in the construction of the offer.
Competition from unlicensed boaters continues to worry rental professionals and authorities who fear accidents. A first conviction in Quimper in 2018 is expected to set a precedent.
The port at the heart of the yachting of the future
Boaters need ports, but marinas also need users. How to attract them? What means do the port actors have to develop? The evolution of the missions of port managers is at the heart of the debate. The state Council in June 2018 reversed the requirement that marinas be transferred the NOTRe law transferred the concession to the agglomeration communities, without really deciding on the allocations. The short duration of the concessions and the requirement for major investments make many calls for tender for renewal unsuccessful. However, projects such as the port of Brétignolles are coming out of the woodwork and the Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan has announced its willingness to go beyond its borders .
Fleet maintenance tools
Connected boxes to manage boat fleets have emerged in 2018. From Sailsense to Nauticoncept, these companies offer base managers a history of the boat's sensors and a useful tool for preventive maintenance, as well as claims management with customers.
Recruiting
With the recovery of the marine industry, employment in the sector is in tension. Many initiatives have been taken to help with recruitment in 2018. These include the arrival on the market of agencies like AAA Marine or the creation of the vendée nautical campus .
Foil schools
There is no yachtsman without a sailing school. The arrival of the foil in light sailing is changing the way people practice. Sailing schools have had to adapt to offer a smaller group supervision for more safety on these technical, fast and potentially dangerous machines. In 2018, we have seen the arrival of new offers in the image of Les Glénans or the Foiling School in La Baule.
While digital has been in the news, not all nautical services have gone paperless in 2018!
