Metrics for the superyacht market are trending up, with sales and charter revenue up across most brokerage firms in 2019. Yet, owners and buyers are getting increasingly cautious, bracing for an economic slowdown. With yachting still far off its 2008 heights, anxiety grows over whether the sector can sustain another crisis.



A decade ago, the yachting market lost half its turnover. Sales plummeted as American and European markets tumbled, pressuring owners to sell and buyers to hold off, resulting in a drop of nearly 40% in brokerage yacht prices. Abandoned new builds and rare new orders lead to yard collapses that rippled throughout the industry. 

Figures now show the market has recovered only 56% of what it lost, before inflation, which puts it at less than half of previous volumes.

Owners and buyers alike are now becoming increasingly cautious as signals of a possible economic slowdown are multiplying. US Government bonds clearly indicate this anxiety in the market with 3-month yields at 2.27% and 10-year yields at 2.1%, an inversion that so far only occurred ahead of a recession.



Indicators of anxiety in yachting are also clear. Speculation builds have returned in the past 18 months, with several small to midsize yards increasingly financing the construction of their own yachts in the hope of finding a buyer along the way. The last time the market saw this at a significant scale was in 2008.

Several new builds over 70-meters have now been sold for more than their construction costs. Another throwback to 2008 when yacht flipping hit scale and completed yachts were selling at 15 to 20% premiums over new build orders.

Ferretti Group, the Italian yacht building conglomerate, is now thinking of going public according to Reuters. The last time the group considered such a move was in 2008.



As the market grows increasingly reminiscent of 2008, some industry players have started heading for the exits, providing an interesting opportunity for capitalists. Whilst M&A talks across yachting have skyrocketed in volume in the past 12 months, some deals have already been closed.

US broker MarineMax acquired Fraser Yachts, a leading brokerage previously owned by the Azimut-Benetti Group, leaving several brokerages still on the market for consolidation. Dutch yacht builder Moonen has also disclosed it is bringing in a new investor, whereas Wider Yachts was acquired by a group involving Zepter, owner of the 50-meter yacht Joy Me.

Global Yachting Group, which went public in 2017 with a market cap of over £50 million, now trades at half that market cap as traders remain skeptical of yachting's performance in the event of a new recession.



Recessions in itself are a normal component of any open markets, cyclical in their nature. Yachting, however, will cruise in unchartered territory as the sector is still far off from having recovered from its 2008 levels and lacks the required capital to sustain a new correction. Despite the recent uptick, many yachting firms remain unprofitable.

A slowdown could also equal opportunity for larger players looking to expand their market share. Combined, the 10 largest yards already account for over 60% of active new builds. History has shown scale and efficiency were amongst the rare factors that could make a yachting organization profitable, even in a recession.



Even if it were to avoid a slowdown, yachting still seems to be poised for deep changes. The private aviation market over the past decade has seen commissions for brokerages rapidly decrease with a liberalization of information and the entry of tech companies.

The latest of which, Central Jets, now lets users subscribe for €199/month and charter any jet direct from its owners with the platform taking only a 3% processing fee, a steep discount from the 50% margins traditional brokers used to charge.

In aviation, the advent of such business models eradicated a large part of small traditional brokerages and slashed earnings for larger groups, handing back savings to the end users. Whilst yachting is still in its early days of seeing such models come in, a restructuring of current 20% charter and 10% sales fees could be hard to process for most organizations.

Latest News

42m Song of Songs Listed for Sale
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Sixteen Swan Yachts to Compete in 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race
Nautor Swan will field sixteen yachts in this year's Rolex Fastnet Race, representing nearly the entire production history of the Finnish builder. The fleet includes models ranging from classic Sparkman & Stephens designs to contemporary German Frers creations.The 100th edition of the 695-nautical-mile race begins July 26 from Cowes, Isle of Wight, with a record 451 entries from 34 nations. The course passes Fastnet Rock off Ireland before finishing in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France.At a pre-race reception hosted by Nautor Swan Global Service at the Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Hamble, the all-female crewed Swan 46 Anne Bonny received the Spirit of Swan Award. The yacht is sailed by Belgian team "Swanne Bonny."Notable entrants include:Coco De Mer (Swan 62RS)Truwen (Swan 38)Galiana Withsecure (Swan 55)Miri (Swan 48)The participation follows recent Swan successes including ClubSwan 125 Skorpios' 2021 line honors victory and Swan 441 Best Buddies' dual handicap win at the Aegean 600. Simultaneously, the new ClubSwan 28 makes its competitive debut at Lake Garda.Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts. Credits: Nautor Swan
Azimut Yachts Unveils Renovated Avigliana Headquarters
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Ferretti Yachts Launches New 800 Model in Cattolica
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Sanlorenzo Prepares SL110A Asymmetrical Yacht for Cannes Premiere
Sanlorenzo will debut its new 33-meter SL110A motor yacht at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 9-14, 2025. The vessel represents the latest iteration of the shipyard's asymmetrical design series, following previous SL102A and SL106A models.Developed in collaboration with Zuccon International Project for exterior design and Piero Lissoni for interiors, the SL110A combines structural innovation with performance capabilities reaching 27 knots. The asymmetrical hull configuration provides 15% more interior volume compared to conventional designs through strategic spatial planning, including staggered port and starboard gangways that maximize usable area."The asymmetry is not just aesthetic: it unlocks greater interior space, uninterrupted views, and a feeling of openness that transforms life on board," stated Sanlorenzo CEO Tommaso Vincenzi.The yacht's redesigned bow area replaces traditional anchor storage with an integrated sea-facing terrace and swimming pool. Retractable bulwarks create 8 square meters of additional deck space when anchored, while a pivoting stern platform accommodates both tender and jet ski storage. The full-beam master suite spans 45 square meters with direct access to the foredeck pool area.Interior accommodations include five cabins for 10 guests, with two convertible twin/double staterooms. Crew quarters provide six berths in three cabins with a separate mess area. Material selections feature Calacatta marble, resin-finished ceilings, and engineered wood paneling throughout living spaces.Bernardo Zuccon of Zuccon International Project noted: "Asymmetry on SL110A is not simply a formal gesture - but a tool to reshape the spatial harmony onboard." The design eliminates 30% of traditional structural obstructions compared to previous models, improving sightlines across 210 square meters of total deck area.Technical enhancements include upgraded sound insulation in engine compartments and improved stabilization systems. The flybridge offers configurable layouts as either sun lounge or dining space, while the main deck lounge incorporates sliding glass walls that expand to create a 22 square meter waterside terrace when stationary.Production will continue at Sanlorenzo's La Spezia facility, with the Cannes display model being the first of six scheduled builds for 2026 delivery. Base pricing starts at €18 million before customization options. The SL110A represents the continued development of Sanlorenzo's asymmetrical series, which currently accounts for 40% of the shipyard's motor yacht orders.Sanlorenzo was founded in 1958 in Viareggio by yacht builder Gionvanni Jannetti. In 2005, Massimo Perrotti became the majority shareholder in the shipyard. Sanlorenzo builds yachts ranging from 28.60 to 73 meters in length. Credits: Sanlorenzo