What Do You Really Get When You Buy A Super Yacht?

Written by: Daniel Hilarion Created: 02 November 2016

Sanlorenzo Elite Days show off what the yachting lifestyle truly is.

Having grown up around boats, I’ve always had a healthy amount of respect and awe for the ocean. But being on a proper motor yacht sailing down the northwest coast of Italy, no less, was just something on a whole other level. Maybe it was the pizzazz the Italians seem to own or the concept of la dolce vita that is their way of life. Yachting to the people living on the coastal towns of Italy is more than a weekend activity; it is both lifeblood and life’s ambition.

So there I was standing on a deck of the SL106, Sanlorenzo’s latest hybrid propulsion yacht, thinking that I could get used to the sun, wind and a low rumble of the engine as the boat cut effortlessly through each wave. Everything in that moment seemed perfect.

When people first consider getting a yacht, the usual things that come to mind are the costs involved and how often they will be able to use it. What people don’t about think about is this: you’re not just buying a yacht, you’re buying into a whole new lifestyle. And in the case of Sanlorenzo, you’re also signing up for an exclusive members-only club of sorts.

This is most apparent at the Sanlorenzo Elite Days. This year, the yacht maker held a showcase of its fleet and new releases in Rapallo, bringing together 400 VIPs, including Sanlorenzo yacht owners and partners, from all over the world in a two-day extravaganza, culminating in a gala dinner in the Portofino marina. Guests at the Elite Days indulged themselves in gourmet food, classic cars and sea toys, and also got to experience the full Sanlorenzo fleet on sea trials.

But more than just a product showcase, the Elite Days serve as an annual meet-up of likeminded individuals who love and live the yachting lifestyle. Whether they be yachting aficionados or just the eccentric billionaire who will be sailing down the Mediterranean come summer, the event is a chance to meet the Sanlorenzo family and check out one another’s pride and joy.

So what is it about the yachting world that affords so much love and admiration from those in it? To a layperson, this is something that is rather tough to nail down.

Yachting is unlike owning a supercar. Supercars are, for the most part, a self-indulgent solo experience. Neither is yachting akin to flying in a private jet. The latter is focused on getting from A to B, whereas the former’s appeal lies in the journey. Yachts also appeal to a wider range of people. Sure you have the geeks who are aroused by each ship’s specifications, but almost every aspect of the yachting lifestyle can be enjoyed by someone out there.

I guess the best way to describe it is as a perfect storm of luxury, an indulgent experience that can be shared and enjoyed.

Sanlorenzo is brokered by Simpson Marine in Asia. Established in Hong Kong in 1984 by Mike Simpson as a yacht sales and charter company, it is widely regarded as playing a pioneering role in the development of the yachting industry in Asia.

For enquiries on Sanlorenzo yachts, visit www.simpsonmarine.com.

Written by: Daniel Hilarion

Daniel covers a broad range of lifestyle beats at Billionaire, having honed his craft at publications like August Man and Harper’s Bazaar. Before joining the publishing world, Daniel was a consultant representing technology companies such as eBay, Google AdMob and Inmarsat — a move that has been dubbed ‘moving to the light side of the force’.