Singapore Yacht Show 2015: The highlights

Never before has the phrase “The show must go on” been more aptly implemented than during last weekend’s Singapore Yacht Show 2015. Despite the continuous heavy downpour throughout the days (Thursday to Sunday), the show still went on as planned. The gloomy skies might have been discouraging but the sunny disposition of the organizers and guests alike more than made up for it.

As promised, the event was all about luxury and glamour, and we sure had plenty of fun getting up close and personal with the big boats. But superyachts weren’t the only thing that had our attention. Read on for our highlights of the Singapore Yacht Show.

The Gala

Events like these are basically an excuse for everyone to dress up to the nines, sip champagne and check out fashion shows – and we certainly did plenty of that at the gala dinner hosted to raise funds to The Red Pencil children’s charity. Our evening began with a delectable four course dinner by three starred Michelin chef Bruno Menard before we proceeded to take in a number of fashion shows from David Morris, Renee L, and Covetella. A few of Andy Warhol’s prints, artwork and iconic memorabilia (a Rolling Stones’ signed guitar anyone?) were up for sale in the silent and live auction. But upstaging all was a masterpiece painting tribute to the late Lee Kuan Yew by The Glitter Painter Michaël Raivard which was created on the spot in less than 15 minutes. There were many bids for the live painting in the dark, but eventually, a discerning gentleman won the bid at SGD42k.

The Ferraris

Come on now, did you really think the yacht show was only going to be about boats, boats and more boats? Of course not. These sexy Italian machines are the epitome of luxury when it comes to sports cars and lucky for us, there were plenty of them on display at the event’s venue.

And speaking of machines………

The submarine

Believe it or not, there was a proper, functioning submarine at the show, to the delight of many guests. The sleek C-Explorer 3 submersible from show exhibitor U-Boat Worx, is the ultimate toy, that can go down to a depth of 1,000m. This ultra-modern submersible is built to explore the deep sea in air-conditioned comfort and allows adventurous types to explore hidden shipwrecks, search for new species or simply enjoy the breathtaking marine environment. Certainly an experience we’d sign up for if it’s available!

The yachts

But of course, what’s a yacht show without, well… yachts? The biggest and the best of the superyachts convened at ONE°15 Marina Club for the ultimate face off, each boat vying to get as many visitors on board as possible. We had the opportunity to check out almost every sailing vessel on display and while we loved almost all of them, there were only yachts we’d put our millions on! (If we had the money) The first would be the Nomad 65. Decked out in gold and white, this 65 ft 9 beauty comes equipped with all the luxuries one could demand on a boat. Crowd favourite Wally 47 also caught our fancy. The spacious sport cruiser blends design and performance explicitly, making this a sailing delight on the seas. Last but certainly not least is Anastasia, who holds the record for largest superyacht to ever be displayed at the show. This 75.5m boat has won a number of prestigious awards including the World Yacht Trophy for Best of the Best Custom Motor Yacht over 40m and the Robb Report Best of the Best Custom Motor Yacht of the Year and after viewing her, we can certainly see why.

Our booth

At the end of the day, more than the cars, boats and fashion shows, it was the visitors who made the event a memorable one. We had an incredible time connecting with the people who stopped by our Marie France Asia booth and sportingly agreed to be photographed with our goofy props. A big shout out goes to our lovely models who stayed upbeat and entertained the crowds despite the rain and the long hours. Want to see how much fun we had? We have posted the images of our lovely visitors on our Facebook page, so make sure you check them out!

Karen George