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Gulf Craft abroad July-August 2011 36
July-August 2011 Gulf Craft abroad 2011 SOUTH-EAST ASIA TOUR MAJESTY OF THE ORIENT As Asian economies and markets develop at a rate of knots, the Middle East is building a bridgehead between established markets and cruising grounds in the west, and new opportunities in the east. One company capitalising on this situation is UAE-based shipyard Gulf Craft, as we discovered when joining them on their recent tour of south-east Asia. By Mik Chinery/Craig Barnett The ceiling fan slowly stirs the warm scented air of the Phuket Boat Lagoon Hotel’s reception as I await the arrival of Erwin Bamps, Gulf Craft’s COO. Taking in the different scents and sounds of Thailand, between watching an endless stream of Chinese tourists check-in and the buzz of activity in the adjacent boat yard and marina, its easy to understand why so many companies, investors and individuals are pouring into south-east Asia. The place is buzzing, it’s beautiful and there’s a sense of energy in the air. But more than that, it’s fun and exciting and there’s still enough of a pioneering ex-pat atmosphere to get the juices flowing. When my interviewee arrives, its easy to see he’s feeding off the energy too. We’ve met on countless occasions before, but this time Bamps’ usual ebullient enthusiasm has kicked into overdrive. He’s in his element here. Without even a prompting question he waves his hand to take in the scene and launches into a machine-gun summary of Gulf Craft’s presence in Asia, what attracts them here and his plans for the future. Probably the easiest interview I’ve had to do. I sit back, press record and join him surfing a wave of ideas, opportunities and potential. As Erwin and I shoot the breeze, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and all-round industry veteran Mik Chinery is mooring up the new Majesty 88 and Majesty 56 that he has delivered from Singapore. The yachts have been shipped over to Asia as part of a tour that took in the Singapore Yacht Show, Malaysia and Thailand, before returning to Singapore for Boat Asia 2011. Right now, they are next door, in the opulent surroundings of the Royal Phuket Yacht Club, where Tony Nixey of Go Boating, Gulf Craft’s representative in Thailand, is frantically putting the final touches to a glittering gala event. What follows is the tale of Gulf Craft’s Southeast Asia tour, from a cruising perspective with Mik Chinery, an insight to the local market through Tony Nixey, and a regional overview from Erwin Bamps. Hang on… it’s quite a ride. 37
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