British yachtmakers feel the wind in their sales

British shipyards are catching the breeze as global yacht building returns to pre-crisis levels, and are set to build around an eighth of all luxury boats next year.

Having taken on 109 new projects in 2019, up from 52 this year, UK shipbuilders leapfrogged from fifth to third place in global rankings, beaten only by their rivals in Italy and the Netherlands, data from Boat International Media shows.

But Italian shipmakers are running away with the top spot, with 379 projects under construction or on order.

Orders in the Mediterranean country are dominated by the three builders Azimut-Benetti, Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo, who have all increased production since last year.

Stewart Campbell, Editor of Boat International, said: “The global order book shows that the market continues its steady march back to pre-2009 highs, with 830 superyachts on order or in-build globally.

“Italy remains by far and away the most prolific builder of superyachts, followed by the Netherlands, with the UK climbing two places this year to third.

“It’s been a bumper year for Plymouth’s own Princess Yachts, which itself has climbed five places in the builder rankings, from ninth to fourth. The important brokerage market (used superyacht sales) is also growing strongly.”

Over 440 superyachts were sold in the 12 months to September, the best year in a decade.