Yacht parties make waves during Singapore Grand Prix season as F1 fans seek new thrills

SINGAPORE - While the paddocks groan with the weight of Formula 1 and racing car enthusiasts, the docks at the marinas will be the bridge between F1-weekend partygoers keen for speed on the seas.

Yacht chartering companies in Singapore that spoke to The Straits Times have seen an increase in bookings – between 20 per cent and 50 per cent – during the

F1 Singapore Grand Prix season

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At The Yacht Club, there is “at least a 50 per cent increase in bookings compared with the normal months”, said the company’s yacht charter manager Jeremy Tay.

The company can handle a total of 1,000 guests over 45 different yachts, which are docked at either ONE°15 Marina at Sentosa Cove or Keppel Bay.

Customers mostly book the yacht before or after the Oct 3 to 5 race days, and a lot of corporate and personal parties are held on board the yacht, Mr Tay added.

Mr Tan Jian Yong of Infinity Sails said while the firm does not record the intention of specific bookings by customers, it has seen “a clear increase in inquiries and confirmed charters in recent weeks by about 20 per cent”.

His company has two yachts – one can take up to 18 guests and the other, 32 – and they have each been booked to sail out between three and four times a day during the F1 weekends.

With yacht charters becoming a common getaway day or weekend-trip for the affluent Singaporean, companies are planning more exclusive experiences to tie in with the F1 glamour.

Mr Nick McLaughlin, general manager of ONE°15 Charters Luxury Yachting, said there has been an uptick in berth booking inquiries from visiting yachts looking to be part of the action.

“Most sail in from regional yachting hubs such as Thailand and Indonesia,” he said.

Yacht charters have also increased – the marina’s ONE°15 Charters has seen a 40 per cent increase in inquiries and 20 per cent rise in bookings, he added.

It has more than 50 yachts in its fleet, ranging from 60ft catamarans to superyachts upwards of 80ft.

Mr McLaughlin said: “Superyachts, in particular, are proving popular during F1, offering the top-of-class premium experience that many charterers are seeking.”

Speaking of premium experiences, a number of luxury yacht charters are going all out by offering sail-outs in the Marina Bay waters during the F1.

The Marina Bay area is a zone that is typically off-limits to yachts due to legal restrictions, making any cruises around the area extremely rare and exclusive.

It also costs upwards of $25,000 to bring a yacht into the Marina Bay area, according to Mr Tay of The Yacht Club, and another $5,000 to $8,000 to have the yacht stay in the area each day.

“The yacht has to stop operation for a week to be sent to the shipyard to get a fresh water coating for the bottom of the yacht, to protect our Singapore waters,” he said.

Then, approval from PUB is needed to use the crane located at the entrance of the Marina Barrage to lift the yacht into the bay area, which can be done only between 9am and 11am.

The crane is only able to lift yachts spanning 65ft or less, with a maximum number of guests on a yacht limited to between 18 and 20, said Mr Tay.

Approval is also needed to use the jetties located in front of Marina Bay Sands or the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

The yacht operators, however, noted that views of the race can be limited as Singapore’s water level is below that of the race course, but fireworks, glamour and the rarity of sailing in the Marina Bay during the Formula 1 season make the yacht experience an exclusive and attractive one to clients.

Interest remains high, assisted by the race tourist influx.

Data by the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that total international visitor arrivals (excluding arrivals of Malaysians by land) to Singapore in October 2024 was 1,391,735, and more arrivals are expected this year. According to data by Bloomberg Intelligence analysts, there is a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in inbound flight bookings to Singapore in October because of the F1 Grand Prix.

Ms Lynn Chng, a product manager at Zenith Yacht Charters, said the company usually sees around a 20 per cent increase in bookings in the lead-up to the F1 period, compared with the regular season. She added that the Token2049 cryptocurrency conference that took place between Oct 1 and 2 is also a contributing factor.

“There’s a noticeable uptick in demand for larger vessels – particularly superyachts 75ft and above,” she said.

While there is a slight increase in tourist bookings during the F1 period, Ms Chng said the difference compared with local demand is minimal. They also receive a number of corporate bookings, particularly for team-building or client entertainment.

Zenith Yacht Charters has a cruise package around the Marina Bay Sands area during the F1 race. The cruise aboard its Zen Sea yacht is available from Oct 3 to 5, with prices starting from $1,488 for a two-hour charter and for up to 10 guests.

Yacht Luxe, started by Ms Liyann Seet in 2022, has more than 310 yachts available for charter worldwide, including Monaco and Miami.

The yacht chartering company has 44 yachts in its Singapore fleet, an increase from 31 yachts in 2024 due to the “demand for both charter and yacht ownership” in Singapore, said Ms Seet.

She added she has seen a roughly 20 per cent to 30 per cent rise in bookings during this period compared with regular weeks.

More than 30 yachts have been booked to sail around the Southern Islands during Token2049 and the F1 weekend.

Yacht Luxe also has a by-invite-only luxury yacht cruise around Marina Bay Sands for its VIP clientele during race time. A Sunseeker Manhattan 68ft yacht will be deployed for the event and can accommodate a maximum of 11 guests each time, excluding the yacht captain and crew.

Her company will do a total of 12 sail-outs on the yacht during the F1 weekend, in addition to two corporate clients who have also booked two separate yachts for private sail-outs in the Marina Bay area.

The yacht company is also actively expanding its portfolio to include the Monaco Grand Prix.

“Watching Formula 1 from a luxury yacht – whether cruising through Singapore’s Marina Bay or anchored in the glamorous Monaco harbour – remains one of the most exclusive and memorable ways to experience this global sporting spectacle,” said Ms Seet, who is also a hedge fund manager and model.

Mr McLaughlin of ONE°15 Charters said: “Even though track views are limited, the demand shows that if you’re not on a yacht during F1 week, you’re missing out on one of the most exclusive ways to live the race.

“Similar to how Monaco is defined by its iconic trackside yachts, Singapore is carving out its own identity where F1 glamour and luxury yachting go hand in hand.”