Superyachts Inundate Gold Coast for 2018 Commonwealth Games

By Rebecca Bradbury 23 November 2017

More than two dozen superyachts have confirmed berth bookings along the Gold Coast, Australia, for the duration of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) which run from 4^th to 15^th April.

Ten superyachts measuring over 30 metres in length are booked into the Southport Yacht Club during the sporting event, while the Gold Coast City Marina will welcome at least 12 luxury yachts, ranging from 32 to 55 metres.

Several of the yachts making their way to Southport Yacht Club will be coming from Sydney, with the others coming from overseas, and the bookings mean the marina has no room left.

General manager Bret James said: ‘If we get anymore we don’t know where we are going to put them. We will then have to talk to Gold Coast Waterways Authority and see if they can assist us somehow. But’s it’s a good problem to have definitely.’

The Gold Coast City Marina, meanwhile, is expecting more than 20 yachts to stay on after GC2018 for the city’s second Superyacht Rendezvous which takes place a week after the games draw to a close.

Running on 21^st and 22^nd April, the rendezvous aims to promote southeast Queensland as a cruising destination and yacht charter spot and the Gold Coast as a refit and repair hub.

The superyacht bookings have city leaders buoyant about ongoing efforts to raise the city’s profile as a superyacht destination

With the average foreign superyacht visitor estimated to pump from $15,000 to $25,000 per day into the local economy, the bookings have city leaders buoyant about ongoing efforts to raise the city’s profile as a superyacht destination.

But Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter recognises there are benefits beyond attracting more superyacht visits. He said: ‘More important is the impact it has on the Gold Coast brand which is now diversified to include a sophisticated traveller looking for the best in the world’.

GC2018 will be the largest sporting event Australia will see this decade and the biggest sporting spectacular the Gold Coast has ever seen. More than 6,000 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will come together for an 11-day sporting and cultural event.