The Singapore Yachting Festival is back for its fourth edition, showcasing premier yachts alongside an expanded slate of curated lifestyle experiences. Arthur Tay, CEO of SUTL Group, tells us more about the festival and his aim to raise Singapore’s boating profile both locally and globally
Set against the glittering backdrop of ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, the Singapore Yachting Festival returns this April with a renewed sense of ambition, and a broader vision of what the yachting lifestyle can be. Regarded as Asia’s premier showcase for luxury vessels and marine innovation, the festival has evolved into something far more immersive: a convergence of design, dining, wellness and nautical aspiration.
From April 23 to 26, the fourth edition brings together some of the world’s leading yacht manufacturers, cutting-edge marine technology, and a growing roster of lifestyle partners. Yet beyond the gleaming hulls and on-water displays, this year’s festival signals a shift. It is not just about showcasing yachts, but also about inspiring the younger generation to enjoy the sea and boating/marine lifestyle.
Anchored in Singapore’s position as a regional hub for finance, luxury and hospitality, the festival continues to draw high-net-worth visitors, industry leaders and global media. But as show director Jonathan Sit notes, the evolving global landscape has prompted a fresh approach — one that expands the experience beyond the vessels themselves, inviting a wider audience into the world of yachting.
Evolution of the festival
ONE°15 Marina acquired the Singapore Yachting Festival in 2024, recalls Arthur Tay, CEO of SUTL Group (SUTL), which owns and operates ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove. The venue has hosted the festival for the past 10 years. Tay adds that yacht shows in the initial years took inspiration from the Monaco Yacht Show, showcasing mostly mega yachts which naturally catered more to ultra-high-net-worth-individuals (UHNWIs).
However, Tay later realised that for Singapore, the festival should bring in more mid-range yachts instead of only mega yachts. “Not that Asians cannot afford [those], but it’s a big jump,” explains Tay. He also wants to make the festival a celebration of not just the maritime lifestyle, but also of food, music, wine, whisky, automobiles and even wellness experiences. It is important to appeal to a younger demographic in order to have a more sustainable festival for more visitors to enjoy, says Tay.
All hands on deck
The festival offers a rare chance to step aboard some of the newest yachts in the region, with an impressive line-up ranging from sleek day boats to luxurious superyachts by leading global brands. Ideal for island hopping, day boats include the Asia premiere of the Saxdor 340 GTWA, alongside popular models such as the Galeon 440 Fly and Merry Fisher 1295 Fly. Flybridge yachts continue to impress, with highlights including the Absolute Navetta 64, Sunseeker Manhattan 68 and Azimut Fly 62.
See also: Boston’s World Cup games saved after town strikes funding deal
Sunseeker Manhattan 53
Sailing enthusiasts can explore the Beneteau Oceanis 54 and Hanse 460, while catamarans remain a strong feature, from the Excess 13 and Lagoon 51 to power models like the Prestige M48 and Leopard 53. Innovation takes centre stage with forward-looking designs such as the Azimut Seadeck 7 and Princess X80. At the top end, standout superyachts include the Princess Y95, Nomad 101 and vessels from Sanlorenzo.
Fans of heritage vessels would be pleased to hear that the 130-year-old vessel Vega 1892 is making a return to the marina at the festival. It currently serves as a humanitarian cargo ship (aka “Sails of Hope”), delivering medical, educational, and IT supplies to remote island communities in Indonesia and East Timor.
The 130-year-old vessel Vega 1892
Special zones + lifestyle offerings
In line with Tay’s goal of broadening the appeal of the festival, special zones have been created to highlight various exhibitors and enhance engagement. A new aspect for 2026, the official spotlight zone partner, Tropicana Corporation, unveils a curated section of masterclasses and talks that delve into the craftsmanship, provenance and design philosophy behind some of the world’s leading brands. Conceived as an immersive, multi-sensory experience, the space invites guests to engage more deeply with the stories shaping luxury today.
For more lifestyle, arts and fashion trends, click here for Options Section
The programme spans a refined mix of tastings and conversations. Wine sessions led by sommeliers, in collaboration with Angra Wine & Spirits, offer insights into rare and expressive viticulture, while whisky masterclasses with Brown-Forman trace the heritage of the Scottish Highlands through distinguished pours from The Glendronach and Glenglassaugh.
Navetta 53
Complementing these are curated oyster and cheese tastings by Classic Fine Foods, alongside a speaker session by Porsche, which explores the marque’s enduring pursuit of design excellence and performance, bringing a broader creative perspective to the festival’s lifestyle offering.
The Superyacht Wellness Experience, a new wellness offering by Teiah Hospitality, is a ticketed experience centred on the science of high-performance living. Guests are guided through a two-hour journey exploring biohacking techniques and recovery rituals, demonstrating how advanced wellness technologies can support focus and wellbeing both on and off the water.
The Experiential Zone offers visitors a more hands-on experience and a chance to engage directly with a new generation of water-based equipment, with activities ranging from electric foiling and paddleboarding to fishing and underwater propulsion devices.
Porsche, as the official car partner for the Singapore Yachting Festival, will showcase its inaugural fleet services programme, with six Taycan cars supporting VIP transfers throughout the festival. Daily supercar parades will feature a collection of marques including Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren.
At the Festival Village, visitors can explore a mix of dining concepts, including Skillet, known for its wood-fired barbecue, alongside craft cocktail offerings from Lap Spirits.
Excess 13
Adjusting its sails
Singapore is widely regarded as the primary luxury yachting hub in Southeast Asia, serving as the central marina and services hub for the region’s affluent community. It acts as a central gateway to the region’s premier cruising grounds for yacht owners, with a mature ecosystem that supports the sale, maintenance, and docking of leisure vessels and superyachts.
On the reasons Singapore enjoys this status, Tay points to several key advantages: a safe country with a stable economy; a high concentration of UHNWIs; the proactive support provided by the Singapore Tourism Board and Sentosa Development Corporation in developing marine tourism and the marine industry (Tay adds that the government is very efficient in promoting Singapore); and world-class marine infrastructure and services.
On that last note, Singapore has award-winning facilities such as ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Marina at Keppel Bay and Raffles Marina to cater to the leisure yacht and superyacht owners from around the world. In the case of ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Tay and his team have, over the years, become a trusted partner and brand as “we have worked very hard to earn that trust and we have delivered”, he says.
Obtaining the right accreditations is also very important in building trust. ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove was awarded the Platinum Gold Anchor status in 2022, the highest international accolade in the marina industry, similar to a five-star hotel rating. “As a brand, you need to be accredited,” notes Tay.
He is ambitious about raising the profile of Singapore’s boating industry through active participation in boating associations. As the chairman of the Singapore Boating Industry Association (SBIA), Tay is passionate about strengthening the boating industry in Singapore. SBIA represents a diverse and growing network of boat builders, dealers, marinas, training providers, charter operators, service companies, and allied organisations, and Tay stresses that SBIA and all its members understand that they need to collaborate and work together to enhance and increase the visibility of the Singapore boating industry locally as well as internationally.
Tay is also the only Asian board member of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), a global trade body representing the recreational marine industry. With this link with ICOMIA, Tay hopes to elevate the Asian boating industry through events like the Singapore Yachting Festival and hosting conferences with ICOMIA to facilitate discussions on marine tourism and sustainability. ICOMIA and its European partners view Asia as a critical growth area for the global luxury maritime sector, and European boat manufacturers are increasingly targeting Asia to diversify their customer base and tap into Southeast Asia’s rising number of HNWIs.
“There’s still much to be done,” says Tay, returning to what he calls business fundamentals: excelling at what you do, understanding your customer, and recognising that no two marinas are the same. Each venue must be shaped by its local environment, with strengths carefully maximised.
To him, business is not complicated, but it demands foresight, long-term commitment and the resilience to endure setbacks. Having faced his fair share of challenges, Tay draws on decades of experience and lessons learned along the way. He credits his time studying in the US, including at the University of San Francisco, for shaping his entrepreneurial mindset and approach.
Changing the Singaporean mindset
Tay’s love for the sea runs deep, and it comes with a gentle nudge for Singaporeans to rediscover it. “We are all born islanders,” he says, pointing out that while we are surrounded by water, we have somehow traded it for skyscrapers, long work hours and air-conditioned routines.
This is understandable: the heat, the pace of city life, the lack of time. But Tay believes the sea offers something worth carving out space for. Step away from the pool, he suggests, and head for open water — where there’s diving, snorkelling, island-hopping, or simply the quiet thrill of being out at sea. “When you’re out there, it’s uncaged. There’s a sense of freedom.”
Yet that freedom comes with a quiet responsibility — to respect the ocean that makes such moments possible. Whether it is being mindful of marine life, reducing waste, or choosing more eco-conscious ways to explore, Tay sees a growing awareness not only among seasoned boaters, but also a younger generation of sea-goers who understand that enjoyment and stewardship must go hand in hand.
More than just recreation, it’s about reclaiming balance between work and life, city and nature. “Life is wonderful, and water is very magical,” he says, with a smile.
That philosophy is also shaping the evolution of the Singapore Yachting Festival. No longer just a showcase of luxury boats, it’s fast becoming a platform to reframe yachting as something more inclusive and experiential, positioning Singapore not only as a regional yachting club, but also as a vibrant maritime playground for a new generation to explore and enjoy.
