After decades of cooperation with Jeanneau and Beneteau, which provide almost the entire fleet of monohulls of the two charter brands, the British company is now entering into an exclusive partnership with Dufour Yachts. At the start of the 2024 season, 25 new yachts from 37 to 53 feet will be delivered for the Mediterranean, followed by a much larger batch for the Caribbean and the Mediterranean in autumn 2024.
"We look forward to a long-term partnership and close cooperation that has already begun with the new vessels," said Sunsail/Moorings Vice President of Yacht Owner Programmes and Product Development, Franck Bauguil.
The aim is to develop the fleet even further in the direction of the wishes of charter sailors and owners of the purchase charter models of the two fleets. No further details are given. However, customers will still be able to choose between different manufacturers over the next few years, as the existing monohull fleet with many Jeanneaus and Beneteaus will only be phased out one by one over time when the ships are taken out of the programme at the end of their charter life, which usually happens after around six years.
The market has been undergoing a transformation for years
There has been a trend in the charter industry for some years now that is driving the sector: Shipyards are buying shares or even entire fleet operating companies, thus securing their sales markets and at the same time creating synergies for the fleets in terms of maintenance, spare parts and other expertise. The Beneteau Group started this trend a few years ago when it secured a majority stake in the French world market leader Dream Yachts.
A short time later, a majority stake in the Swedish company Navigare was also acquired. A year later, the CMP Management Group, which also owns the Bavaria shipyard, acquired a stake in Pitter Yachting and also purchased the German provider Suncharter. In the case of the latter two mergers, however, it was emphasised that the charter companies would continue to be made up of different brands.
Sunsail and Moorings are now apparently taking a different approach by not selling or buying shares, but by tying themselves more closely to a brand.
