Owner of Aquarius moves yacht to Fiji

The latest owner to make the decision to move his yacht to Fiji for the charter season is the owner of the 30m M/Y Aquarius. Having based Aquarius out of New Zealand for the past several years, his decision to charter from Fiji this year is quite change. “The main reason for taking the yacht to Fiji was because my family and I really enjoy it, world class diving and just a great atmosphere everywhere you go,” he tells The Superyacht Owner. “For charter I can see the potential, who couldn't? It's an untouched paradise.” Other superyachts available for charter in Fiji at the moment include Big Fish, VvS1 and Suri.


Until 2010, Fiji’s position as a commercial charter destination was somewhat constrained by restrictive and outdated marine and immigration laws. First put forward in late 2009 by the Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the Superyacht Charter Decree was passed in April 2010 and has helped open the country and its 322 islands to superyacht charters and the revenue offered by the superyacht traffic.

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“For charter I can see the potential, who couldn't? It's an untouched paradise.”

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“The area has always been a popular destination for passing cruising and charter yachts and with the new charter regulations in 2010, this has made the area a commercial charter destination without any of the legal issues for foreign flag,” says Allan Jouning of 37 South yacht charter.

Ultimately, for Fiji to become a charter destination on the same scale of popularity as Tahiti or the Caribbean — and in turn a profitable place for owners to charter their yachts from — time and focused marketing will be required to promote it as a special and hassle-free destination. The owner of Aquarius is certain that it will happen: “It’s going to take a while for the area to boom but I think we're getting close." For Jouning, it is up to the yacht agents and charter brokers to really push Fiji. “The local tourist board is always struggling for funds,” he says. “But between all the yacht agents and charter brokers who work the Pacific and have the passion, we can market the area at Monaco, Fort Lauderdale and the Antigua shows.”



While it will most likely take another year for there to be a significant increase in charter traffic in the region, all indications point to a steady increase in the number of superyachts venturing to Fiji. In May 2011, Fiji’s Port Denarau marina conducted a survey that estimated that following the Decree in 2010, 700 yachts came to Fiji, of which 32 were superyachts. While the exact numbers of superyachts over the course of the past year is unknown, signs are that the number is growing. Last month Port Denarau opened an additional six superyacht berths on top of the existing 10 in time for the 2012 charter season in order to be able to accommodate the increasing number of superyachts.

Jouning says: “I can best describe cruising in Fiji as something like the Caribbean was 30 years ago — I operated a sail boat there in the ‘70s! During the winter season of May to October the east to southeast trade winds kick in, which give a nice temperature, similar to that of the Caribbean in December to April. The largest comment we get from people who cruise the Fiji waters are the Fijians — always smiling and welcoming you to their paradise.”

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