The biggest thing happening in India in terms of the ultimate luxury market, yachting is no longer considered an extravagance meant for the super rich exclusively. In fact, fractional ownership is a great idea, since unlike a car, you don’t drive a boat daily

Imagine catching the warm sunrays on your face as you lie down on the deck, staring into the horizon and gently bobbing on the blue blue sea. Yachting is the biggest thing happening in India in terms of the ultimate luxury market. Visit the Gateway of India and see the number of private yachts at anchor in the harbour. A few years ago there were hardly any. Today, there are hundreds.

“Socio-economic growth has opened the doors for indulging in luxury in India. At the same time, with the 7,600 km coastline of India and a yachting season that can span over all 12 months across both coasts of India - the trend of yachting is here to stay. The rich naval
and sea-loving heritage of India would mean that yachting is only a logical extension of an Indian's lifestyle,” believes JC Zenia, a yachting enthusiast who has helped set up Team Giira, which offers unbiased consultation in sales, charters, events and maintenance, besides taking yachting to the Internet (www.giirayachts.com).

Mumbai has one of the world’s biggest natural harbours and its coast runs through the entire length of the city. There are fantastic opportunities for sailing and a whole array of watersports that is not possible in the best of the cities around the world. Not surprisingly, those who can afford it want to indulge in yachting.

“The next few years will see a major acceptance towards yachting and related activities, once people realise the immense recreational value it carries,” predicts KK Meherzad of Team Giira.

Shakeel Kudrolli, managing director of Acquasail Pvt Ltd who launched the part ownership concept in yachts, confirms that companies are buying more sophisticated sports-cum-leisure boats to offer special hospitality to their premium customers instead of taking them to conventional five-star hotels. “Some of the corporations are buying yachts for meetings
and leisure activities for internal teams, while some are using sailing as a teambuilding
exercise,” he reveals.

Bringing this paradigm of luxury for the first time to the Indian shores is India's first tri-deck 7-star super luxury yacht - M.Y. Ashena. Available for personalised charters, private celebrations, high powered corporate meetings and holidays on the Indian coast, this beauty draws inspiration from the unique Burmese style teak hull, embodying the charm of classic old style yachts, offering tasteful sophistication and refined exclusivity.

Today, boating is not for the super rich only. Anyone who’s well off can now afford one. In fact, fractional ownership is a great idea since unlike a car you don’t drive a boat daily. Also, the cost of ownership goes down. More on this later.