This month, SuperYacht Times is interviewing a range of industry leaders in the brokerage sector to find out their views on the 2018 superyacht market. Today we hear from Irina Blagodyr, the head of Bluewater Russia. Bluewater had a good year in 2018, particularly during the month of May, when they completed the sales of both the 49-metre Asteria and the 50-metre Mosaique. However, May was not their only successful month of last year, as the sales of the 36.6-metre Giorgia in July and a Custom Line Navetta 33, also in July followed afterwards. With her experience in the Russian yachting market, Blagodyr provides a unique perspective on the market of 2018 and for what is to come in 2019.
In 2017, 284 30+ metre used yachts were sold. Similarly, in 2018, around 280 (to be confirmed) used yachts were sold. How does your sentiment of the market compare? Do you see that the market is stable or growing?
Stable. I believe the market may move up and down by 5 to 10 percent, but year-by-year a similar number of yachts will be sold.
The same sort of clients exist. Generally, they are from Eastern and Western Europe and the Americas. We are seeing fewer customers from the Far East.
In our experience yachts offering discounts will experience sales faster than yachts holding out for prices close to the asking price.
Yachts built after 2010 are much more likely to be sold quicker than older vessels. The sweet spot range for current buyers is 30 - 50-metres. Yachts that are well-priced and attractive to the charter market are yachts we are focusing on at Bluewater.
The world will experience a correction, not as bad as 2007 and 2008, but a correction nevertheless. At Bluewater Russia we are ready for this correction and we will assist our clients with all of their yachting needs throughout this tricky upcoming period.
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