A good 2022 boat rental season
At the time of the first assessment of the 2022 boat rental season, Loïc Bonnet, director of Dream Yacht Charter, is cautiously optimistic, without hiding his satisfaction with the attendance of his bases. "Unless there is a big hurricane by December, 2022 will have been a very good year. The West Indies have been very busy. Europe this summer as well. We only deplore 2 total losses and 2 other boats damaged in the storm of August 18 in Corsica. Only Polynesia is at a slightly lower level than before the Covid. On the other hand, we have less visibility beyond 6 months than before. We do not know what the coming winter will be made of. The cost of airfare is a real issue, both in the short and long term."
Making boats last, for the economy and the ecology
The economic context and its consequences on the price of new boats is pushing Dream Yacht Charter to change its business model. Between delayed delivery times and the increase in catamaran and monohull prices, the company has already signed riders with many clients to extend their charter management program by one year. But the reflection must go further, also for ecological reasons, explains Loïc Bonnet. "We sell our boats with guaranteed income programs that correspond to a percentage of the purchase price of the boat. Faced with the increase, we have started to lower this percentage by 1% like other colleagues. We also have to run them longer. We have experienced a race to renew, but, and this goes in the direction of ecology, we will have to accept sailing on older boats. To do this, the shipyards must make more durable boats to be able to operate longer, and clients must accept 8-year-old boats that today they refuse."
Promoting the profession of skipper
The change in the clientele of the boat rental industry, with consumers who are far from boating, has changed expectations. The use of skippers is growing, but professionals do not always meet the required profile, who must not only know how to sail, but also act as a guide and steward on board. The director of Dream Yacht Charter illustrates: "It is difficult to recruit. This profession must be upgraded, both in terms of money and recognition. It is not a job for wankers. We need to professionalize it, even if it means hiring on a year-round basis, even if it's difficult, because sailors earn more on charters.There is work to be done with the Nautical Industries Federation, such as an academy to train in tourism and hospitality."
Diversification into marinas and floating hotels
The rental management and sales activity has good prospects. Out of 163 slots reserved for boat building in 2023, half were already sold in September 2022. For Loïc Bonnet, there was no sign of a decline.
The future also involves diversification. Dream Yacht Charter wants to continue to set up its Aqualodge floating home rental offer, which will soon double in size. At the base level, a "destination" marina offer is being developed, which has been started at Anse Marcel in Saint-Martin. It combines hotels and services with nautical activities.
