From Chinese trawlers to superyachts, Yacht International’s 21-year evolution

With 21 years under its belt, Yacht & Villa has rebranded as Yacht International.

Mark Seaton, MD,  says the decision in part came due to covid.

 “We underwent a significant expansion of activity in our yachting business after the covid crisis and realised that we wanted to create a distinct identity focussed entirely on yachting,” he explains.

Established in 2005, the company’s now a boutique yacht brokerage firm undertaking the sale, purchase, and construction of luxury yachts worldwide with principal sales offices on the French Riviera.

Trading as Selene Europe it started as a yacht dealer based on the Cote d’Azur and in London.  It began with sales, technical service and European imports of Selene full-displacement trawler and explorer yachts built at Jet Tern Marine shipyards in Dong Guan and Zhuhai in the South of China.

Opportunities in Chinese boatbuilding

Seaton says this developed into a significant business venture with more than 60 new boats sold, project-managed, built, imported on cargo ships and delivered to customers all over Europe within the company’s first decade.

“The China boatbuilding market went through an amazing transformation during the first decade of the new millennium and it felt like anything was possible,” he says.

“We were lucky in that we identified a shipyard and brand that offered an excellent mix of quality / price and a product (full displacement trawler yachts) that had few competitors in Europe at the time.

“We were able to work closely with the shipyard to optimise the specification of the yachts (CE Certification etc.) to the European market.”

Lessons from the 2008 financial crash

The financial crash of 2008 forced a steep learning curve.

“We learned our biggest lessons regarding clients’ interests,” he says. “At the time, we had several yachts under order, and in construction, at the Chinese shipyard for clients, as well as several demonstration vessels and part-exchange vessels in stock.

“We survived that difficult time, delivering all our new construction yachts, and ensuring successful outcomes for our clients and partners. We learned a lot from that period, especially regarding protecting the financial interests of our clients, and came out of it stronger. “

Bigger yachts made business sense

He says the move into selling, building, and managing 30-metre-plus crewed superyachts was a natural evolution and eventually became the firm’s primary focus.

“We chose to exit new yacht series production construction in China in 2011 due to rising production costs (shipping, labour) and increased risks (like exchange rate volatility and late deliveries of vessels creating potential legal liabilities).

“The experience has equipped us very well for selling 24-metre-plus superyachts as we had become very experienced in the legal and financial aspects of handling complex high value yacht sales across international jurisdictions.”

Seaton adds that, in many ways, it can be easier to sell superyachts than yachts under 24 metres. For superyachts, owners are generally equipped with experienced captains and crew, family offices, and legal and accounting teams, which often leads to smoother and faster transactions.

Over the following decade as Yacht & Villa, the company established itself as a boutique superyacht brokerage, carving out its spot in the market by offering “an exceptional level service to a small number of clients,” able to “provide ‘à la carte’ services and bespoke marketing solutions as opposed to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.”

Seaton says that over the 21 years, some client expectations have not changed at all – particularly regarding new construction. “The actual process of building the yacht (working with designers on initial drawings, developing the specification, choosing the shipyard, visiting the vessel during construction) is often as stimulating and exciting for the client as the finished product itself.”

A new generation of yacht owners

What has changed is the generational shift towards younger buyers. According to Seaton, they’re much more environmentally aware and use their yachts much more as an extension of their lifestyle with a focus on fitness, wellness, open ‘lifestyle’ spaces and closer connection with the sea.

“This has changed the way that we work with clients especially for new construction where we aim to work with innovative young yacht designers who can interpret and bring to life these new trends.”

He says their sources of income has also changed. They “may have built wealth in technology, digital economy, crypto, or new financial markets as opposed to traditional old money industries.”

And as for the future? Yacht International’s looking at opportunities and challenges with harnessing new technology, in particular digital / social media, artificial intelligence and video. Plus, he says: “We are also always on the lookout for exciting new shipyards that can offer high-quality production in emerging markets.”

More information about the company can be found on its website.