The annual Newport Charter Yacht Show will return June 22–25 at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, drawing a fleet of charter yachts, brokers and industry professionals to Newport’s waterfront, organizers announced.
The show serves as a marketplace for charter yachts preparing to cruise New England waters, giving crews a chance to present their programs and amenities to brokers and charter agents, according to organizers. More than 80 charter brokers traditionally attend, and the fleet ranges from 50 feet to more than 200 feet, the show said.
Among this year’s debuting yachts, Fraser Yachts Florida will present the 180-foot M/Y Lady Beth and the 119-foot Back Nine and a Half. Organizers said Lady Beth is the largest yacht slated for the show so far.
“Lady Beth sleeps 12 and is great for groups or multigenerational families where grandparents and parents can each have their own master suite while the kids take the four additional staterooms on the lower deck,” said Sarah Egger, a charter manager with Fraser Yachts.
Egger, who said she typically manages eight to 10 yachts at a time, described the event as a favorite for its timing at the start of summer. “If you have a boat that’s chartering in the Northeast and you need to have it seen, you have to be there, because that’s where the brokers go,” she said.
The International Yacht Company will introduce three first-time entries: the 151-foot M/Y Avalon, the 121-foot M/Y Away and the 129-foot M/Y Bella Vita. Catherine Towner, Avalon’s purser and chief stewardess, said the yacht’s 32-foot beam creates a spacious atmosphere and that its layout suits families and groups.
Beyond yacht inspections and business meetings, the show features networking events and crew competitions, organizers said. Events include the USSA Crew Night, sponsored by the U.S. Superyacht Association, with a Captain & Deck Challenge featuring flower arranging, fender filling and a stew obstacle course, along with a new film festival for engineers. Other contests include a chef competition, tablescaping and cocktail creation.
A morning seminar hosted by the American Yacht Charter Association is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, following breakfast, and is to cover charter-related topics, according to the show.
The public is invited to view display vendors along the patio outside Belle’s at the shipyard, open daily Tuesday, June 23, through Thursday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Friday, June 26, several yachts will remain for the 13th annual Newport Yacht Rendezvous, which benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County and features cocktails, dinner and dancing.
More information is available at www.NewportCharterShow.com.
