Call of the Sea

They have turned their hobby into a business. They speak a language that transcends borders. They have their feet on the ground and their heart at sea. Meet the yacht dealers and brokers at Limassol Marina.

Company’s success: “Blue Point is not just me. It’s a team ‘sport’, where everyone – from the receptionist to the sales & marketing and service division – is valuable.” Although the first and main offices are in Aradippou, having a second service point at Limassol Marina made sense and there are more offices to come. “We’re looking forward to the Ayia Napa Marina which will be ready to start operating in 2019, and we will be opening an office there too,” he says. “The new marina in Ayia Napa and the upgraded small harbor at the Golden Coast will give the industry another welcome boost. Our industry still has great potential in Cyprus, not to mention the serious benefits that would accompany a final reunification of the island.”

Marios makes another noteworthy point: Cyprus is a small island, so the coastline is limited. But, on the other hand, this means that you don’t need more than a medium-sized or even small boat to enjoy the clear waters and explore all the beautiful locations which are close to each other.

Does his commitment to his business, combined with his passion for boats, take its toll on family life? Marios does not sugarcoat his words: “Especially in summer, it’s a 24/7 job; that goes with the territory. But the family is not sidelined. From a very young age, my son regularly accompanied me on the boat, and has inherited my bond with the sea; after completing his studies in Marine Business in the UK, he joined the business.” What many people who have never sailed before don’t realize is that sailing is a great family activity that offers something for everyone: sunbathing and swimming, as well as snorkeling, fishing or water-skiing. As Marios puts it: “You can think of it as a family picnic... at sea!”

The new SDX 250 is the go-to for effortless, family-day boating, and makes every weekend a joyous escape.

With the happy customers at the delivery of a new yacht

Azimut stand at the Limassol Boat Show 2017

With a series of dealers almost side by side at Limassol Marina, does competition cause any tension? “Quite the contrary,” says Marios. “We all share the same passion, but each has his own clientele, brands or specialized field. Naturally, there is healthy competition, but that is a positive thing. It motivates us to perform better and of course, the client always wins,” he says with a smile, “and that’s exactly what we want.”

AZIMUT 27Metri: This unique concept wide body 27Metri megayacht reflects perfect harmony of flowing lines and unparalleled volumes for the segment.

He’ll also do whatever it takes, even travel to Thailand to supervise the refitting of a 30-metre luxury sailing yacht. “She was a 23-year-old beauty with excellent structural integrity but in dire need of an extensive overhaul before her sale,” he says of the De Vries Lentsch custom-built high-spec bluewater all-aluminium sailing yacht. All scenarios were examined, from a local refit to a shipyard in New Zealand or Holland. As a result, this interesting multimillion-dollar project kept Yiannos busy travelling to Phuket for almost 3 years, liaising weekly with the onsite captain/engineer, reporting to the client, and assessing solutions. Nearly all systems were either upgraded or completely replaced, the interiors extensively modified and upgraded, and the yacht sold immediately on completion.

“Custom-built yachts are my thing,” says Yiannos. But given the fact that custom builds can be competitively priced when compared to production yachts, and that production yachts can often be delivered much faster than custom-builds, is it worth the wait? The answer is convincing: “Custom yachts are primarily for seasoned yachtsmen who already boast personal experience with several boats and yachts and have a very clear picture of what they want. If you’re making a seven or eight-figure investment, don’t you want your yacht to be different?” We feel this way about our homes, and the same applies here: essentially, yachts are floating homes. In fact, the many parallels between the two are surprising. Clients love exclusivity and Yiannos offers this in yachts starting from 15 meters to well over 40 meters.

With Mr Van der Valk and his team at the Van der Valk shipyard in the Netherlands

In Thailand while working on the sailing yacht Serenity

One such case was Yiannos’ last project. It began in 2015 with a client looking into a semi-custom design from his associated shipyard in Holland. This experienced owner had a clear vision of his requirements, and a semi-custom envelope needed more than a handful of modifications. Utilizing the skills of renowned super yacht designer Guido de Groot, they created a one off, all-aluminum pocket-superyacht of almost 28 meters with amazing technical and aesthetic innovations and boundary-pushing naval architecture. In fact, yacht Anemeli became a unique Fast Displacement Hull Design (FDHD) yacht that broke records and introduced many world firsts. It’s an exciting journey that will take you to the heart of the yacht ownership experience; but you’ll need a skilled captain, like Yiannos, to steer you in the right direction.

Van der Valk Flybridge 27M is a fully custom built, two level yacht from the drawing board of renowned superyacht designer Guido de Groot, initiated by Yiannos Nicolaides.

Beautiful Italian built trawler style yachts allowing bespoke interiors, Sundeck Yachts are based on the concepts of sea-worthiness, long-range cruising and robust construction.

Also notable is the fact that Sun-seeker Brokerage has established itself as the global market leader in the sale of new and pre-owned yachts from 40 feet upwards. That significantly increases the likelihood of an impatient buyer finding his preferred yacht, even a new one, with minimum waiting time, if not immediately. Evros says: “At any given moment, Sun-seeker Brokerage has about 250 pre-owned boats and yachts for sale all over Europe.This is where having the backing of a large group makes a difference.”

As a member of the Sunseeker London Group, Sunseeker Cyprus can also assure clients of standardized and professional client service in 20 countries including Monaco, Italy, Greece, South of France, Spain, Egypt. “All the members of the Group have access to the same client database, so a Sunseeker owner is automatically a member of this international community,” Evros says.

The answer reverberates across the industry: Ideal winterization conditions, safe environment for yacht owners, their families, and their crew – and of course the excellent and comprehensive facilities at Limassol Marina.

“Last summer I was at the marina 24/7,” Evros says. “I was either working in the office or living on my boat. Anytime a client called, I was here.” Now that he has erased the line between hobby and work, the inevitable question is: Does Evros have time to actually enjoy the sea and his own boat? “Actually, our boat keeps the family together. My two daughters were comfortable on board from a very young age. This is where we spend quality time together. During the summer they join me, so although I’m always here for my customers, I’m not sacrificing family life.”

Awarded as the Sunseeker London Group’ Best Broker in December 2016, Evros is flanked by Mr Richard Tiley.

Mr Chris Head, Sales Director.

Much as he loves his boat and the lifestyle that is associated with it, Evros is realistic: “Yachting is obviously not a necessity, it’s a lifestyle. Of course you can live without sailing. But once you’ve ‘tasted’ it, life without it will never be the same.”

155 Yacht, biggest yacht ever produced by Sunseeker.

The stunning 131 Yacht, available for viewing and charter in Greece.