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Nelson’s superyacht industry set to boom Andrew Board Nelson is primed to be the latest must see destination for the rich and famous, creating a new million dollar industry for the region. Today, a multi-million dollar superyacht is set to sail into Nelson Haven, the fifth this summer and with each spending around $30,000 in the region, it is having positive spinoffs for the local economy and three local businessmen say that is just the start to a new luxury tourism market in the region. John Baudier, Haden McCrorie and Dave Pinker started Yacht Services NZ last November, which, among other things, specialises in servicing superyachts. They say the number of extremely wealthy tourists coming to the region is set to explode and it could be worth millions to the local economy. The trio have in fact been so successful in getting superyachts to Nelson that Port Nelson is considering a reshuffle of the marina to accommodate them all and Nelson Tasman Tourism is working with them to help bring more to the region. Haden, who grew up in Richmond, worked on a superyacht for eight years and his knowledge of what is needed by crew is such that he can tailor an entire visit for overseas guests. In the past few months he has worked with chefs to arrange gourmet food delivery, arranged hanger space for private jets at Nelson airport and even planned wine tours and accommodation for the guests. John admits they have been busier than they thought, thanks in part to a positive response they have received from agencies in Auckland who are now sending clients to Nelson and Marlborough. “This
SUPER SIZED NEW BUSINESS: Yacht Services NZ directors Haden McCrorie, left, and John Baudier. Photo: Andrew Board. year there are as many superyachts in New Zealand as there were during the America’s Cup in 2003, and next year we know there is going to be more.” John and Haden refused to say if anyone famous had visited Nelson this summer, as privacy is a cornerstone to their success, but John did manage to tease. “They may not be household names but if you read the Wall Street Journal you may have heard of some of them. Some guests we had looked after had their own Gulfstream G550 here in Nelson, go look up how much they are
worth and you will have some idea of the money they have.” A Gulfstream G550 jet airplane is worth around US$50million according to the manufactures website. Nelson’s key advantage is Haden, says John. “The superyacht industry is pretty small and often it’s the crew that make decisions about where they are going and they talk with each other. They know Haden, or know of him, and when he says ‘why don’t you come down here’ they trust him. And they haven’t been let down, every single
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super yacht we’ve had here loved it.” The majority of the superyachts are owned by wealthy Americans, Europeans and Australians. Harbour master Dave Duncan says the arrival of multiple superyachts to Nelson is exciting for the region. “This is something new and something that will be of massive benefit to Nelson financially so we are working hard to make that easier for them.”
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