Newport Charter Yacht Show Gets Rousing Round of Applause [In the News]

This article was featured on newportchartershow.com in June 2022

NEWPORT, R.I. (June 29, 2022) – On June 23^rd, a prolonged, synchronized blast of horns from a magnificent fleet of luxury yachts marked the successful conclusion of the 2022 Newport Charter Yacht Show presented by Helly Hansen Newport and produced by Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard. The melodious “hoorah” also signaled the start of the charter season in New England and the long-lasting effects of the Show’s four-days of activities on that industry’s success – for the present time and into the future.

“I’m working on charter bookings right now as a result of the Newport Charter Yacht Show,” said Charter Management Director Jeff Shaffer from Superyacht Sales and Charter, “so it was definitely well worth attending.” Shaffer represented the 88-foot No Matter What, which was not only new to the show but also a brand-new build (2022) by Sanlorenzo in Italy. She specializes in term charters (New England in the summer and Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands in the winter) and is a clever crossover of a traditional flybridge yacht and a rugged explorer.

“No Matter What is perfect for an active on-the-go type,” said Shaffer, adding that the yacht’s vast array of water toys include jet skis, an e-foil, Seabobs, paddleboards, surfboards, wakeboards, scuba equipment and snorkeling gear. “We’ve got two tenders, an inflatable dock, and a wide ‘beach club’ with a lowering platform that makes access to the water fun and easy!”

Indeed, each of the participating yachts had plenty to crow about, such as the 92’ Slipaway’s massive fly bridge where “everything happens”; the 75-foot Rebecca of Vineyard Haven’s ability to deliver an authentic sailing experience aboard a modern vessel built with traditional shipbuilding methods; and the 85’ Lexington’s relatively shallow draft that allows it to berth dockside at certain destinations when other large yachts must anchor out.

“We hosted 38 brokers on Tuesday, which was really nice,” said Assistant Charter Manager Elena Vitelli of Blue Oceans Yachting, which represents Lexington. She explained that all participating yachts were open to brokers daily for viewing, with many of them hosting luncheons mid-day so brokers could consider compatibility of cuisine, service and surroundings with the preferences and tastes of their charter clients. “There were special Newport events for brokers and contests for crews, so that was more-than-usual for a charter show, and it was nice to have those options.”

Appearing on the Show’s agenda for the first time was “Broker’s Experience Newport!,” an all-day tour coordinated by American Yacht Charter Association and Rhode Island Commerce.

“I even live in Newport and I thought the day was amazing,” said Edmiston Yachts’ Rana Johnson, who represents the 151’ Nadan, a show stopper because of its elegant vintage profile, ultra-luxurious interior, and exclusive affiliation with Over Yonder Cay, a privately owned island nestled in the Bahamas’ Exuma chain. “We took a bus tour of Ocean Drive, went sailing on a 12-Metre yacht, checked out archive rooms at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and toured The Breakers mansion. These are things you have to think of when letting charter guests know what they can do in Newport.”

In keeping with the entertainment aspect of the show was the ever-popular “yacht hop” that saw the award for best representation of the “Gilded Age” theme go to the largest yacht in the show, the 164’ TCB, represented by Northrop & Johnson. The yacht’s crew often hosts a murder-mystery dinner for guests, so they were ahead of the curve in the costume and décor departments. TCB received the newly commissioned Herman Pundt Best Yacht Hop award, dedicated to longtime charter yacht manager and broker Herman Pundt, of Denison Yachts, who was a huge supporter of the Newport Charter Yacht Show. Herman died in 2020 after a brave battle with cancer.

TCB also won a floral arranging contest held for the captains and crews, while Nadan won the fender inflating, and the 116’ QTR, represented by Worth Avenue Yachts, won the yoga challenge. With its “Tropical Sunset” drink, Lexington took home first prize in the signature cocktail competition, sponsored by Gosling’s Rum, and the 115’ Lady S, represented by Charter World, and Nadan won judges’ best and fan favorite, respectively, in the tablescaping competition. (Lady S’s theme was “Understated Elegance”; Nadan’s was “Gilded Age Gatsby.”)

All the Captain and Crew Competitions were sponsored by Dockwalk magazine and Aere Marine Group, who deemed Lady S the overall winner.

Perhaps the most anticipated challenge at the Newport Charter Show is the Charter Yacht Chef’s Competition, and this year it was made extra special by sponsor Shoreside Support. Shoreside Support supplied the ingredients for a “mystery basket” that each of the seven competing chefs received a day before the event. It included Wagyu beef cheeks, halibut cheeks, local razor clams, caviar and specialty fruits, vegetables and micros that were to be incorporated into both an adult and child’s version of a theoretical charter lunch or dinner serving, with the theme “luxurious comfort.”

The winner of it all was TCB’s Chef Alex Flannery (Tampa, Fla.). He created a high-end surf-and-turf “Taco Tuesday” entry, and the judges – Bruce Newbury, “The Food Dude” – WADK and syndicated radio host and columnist; Kitty McGowan, president of US Superyacht Association and former yacht chef; and Shoreside Support’s New England Manager of Client Relations Cole Bettony – loved his concept and the way he tied together the adult tacos and child’s quesadilla, using all but one of the ingredients in the basket to cater differently to both palates.

“Both dishes were super delicious, looked beautiful, and his was the only entry to use pickled elements (rhubarb and florentino), said Bettony. “Any charter guest – and the kids – would light up when served this. Chef Alex understood the assignment and he executed very well.”

Chef Alex jumped into a charter chef life after working in fine dining restaurants and as a pastry chef for 15 years. He has also cooked for royal families on Belle Island and celebrities on Over Yonder and David Copperfield’s Musha Cay. “I enjoyed the intensity of the competition and the opportunity to be creative and improvise. I chose a lunch dish because it’s casually comfortable yet you can achieve so much with it.”  Despite his laid-back demeanor, Chef Alex admitted that he felt pressed for time due to a busy schedule preparing food for the crew as well as for broker luncheons and other gatherings.

“We all know that what makes yacht chartering work is the people: the brokers, the yacht managers, suppliers, shipyard/marina staff and especially captains and crew,” said Winifred “Winnie” DeCoster, a long-time charter yacht provision specialist who organized the Chef’s challenge and emceed the closing awards. “Part of the charm of the Newport Charter show is the intimate, friendly vibe, where people arrive at set-up only connected with their boat and boat mates and leave with a dock full of friends that they will see all over New England during their summer season.”