Superyachts and the potential they hold for the Southern African region were explored during the inaugural African Boating Conference held in Cape Town earlier this month. Industry figures charted a bold new possibility, one that would see vessels glide from Cape Town to Mozambique, Madagascar, the Seychelles, and beyond.
According to Hillary Buckman, founder and director of Ocean Media Australia, the momentum is promising. “Australia and New Zealand have thriving superyacht industries, and the same could hold true for Southern Africa,” she said, moderating a session aptly titled Beyond the Cape: Mapping a Superyacht Route around Southern Africa.
The concept is clearly something the African industry is excited about, both in terms of offering superyacht owners a new experience and the benefits it could bring the region. “A lot of us have sailed in this part of the world and know there are rare experiences to discover,” said Dave Elton, Managing Director: Del Shipping & Trading.
“I have first-hand experience of how a single yacht can have a profoundly positive impact on a local economy. The crew generally really wants to help support the areas they visit. SoI’m very excited to see this concept develop, and see the positive impact on local communities.”
One of the greatest selling points of the proposed route is the cultural and environmental variety the potential stopovers offer. “Besides offering a sailing venue out of the Med season, Africa has something money cannot buy; culture and biodiversity. There’s so much potential in this region,” said Gilbert d’Offay, Manager: Asia Pacific Superyachts, Seychelles. From coral islands to coastal ports steeped in history, each potential stopover brings its own sense of discovery.
Raising awareness about what makes the region unique was a recurring theme. “I’m a big fan of leaning in to what makes you different, as well as trying to understand what the client wants. If you look at the order books to understand the type of boats being built, it’s clear that people are looking to visit places that are relatively unexplored,” said Andrew Bance, Director of Pangaea.
“We shouldn’t compete with what is, but instead highlight what can be. South Africa is a long distance away, but we’re seeing an increased number of yachts visiting. It’s a case of raising awareness within the industry.”
When asked to plot their ideal Southern African superyacht route, the panel agreed that stopovers would include Cape Town, Mozambique, Madagascar, Reunion, Seychelles and the islands off the Tanzanian coast, but stressed the need for “stepping stones” to make the journey easy for captains.
And while there may be consensus on the concept of a Southern African superyacht route, there are practical considerations that need to be taken into account. From a South African perspective, Don McKee, co-founder of YOASuper Yacht Training, highlighted space constraints and safe anchorages as two of the main issues superyachts faced.
“Cape Town is amazing but there are challenges such as space constraints. Durban and other ports up the coast also have limited marina offerings and boats end up going to a commercial berth which isn’t great. We need to expand the land-based industry to tackle that; more marina facilities are needed to encourage superyacht captains and owners to come here,” he said.
But perhaps the biggest requirement to make the route a reality is collaboration between Southern African roleplayers. “A lot of people have done a lot of work in their individual regions, but now we need to work on harmonising regulations between various countries to allow for a smoother passage,” said Gilbert d’Offay. “It’s not just about the boat trip and where they will go, but also about their time at the various countries because boats often end up staying longer than they intended if they enjoy the destination. But all players need to work together to create a seamless experience for the owners, captains and crews of the superyachts.”
If realised, the route could signal not just a maritime milestone but a mindset shift: a chance for Africa to invite the world’s elite sailors to explore its coasts and its culture with fresh eyes.
Ntokozo Maseko has never been one to wait her turn. At 25, she became the youngest editor in the history of South Africa’s heritage title BONA, steering the four-language magazine into the digital era and winning the title a Thetha Masombuka Award for linguistic excellence along the way. Named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans, she has since built a 17-year career shaping the voice of iconic brands across luxury, lifestyle, and culture.
Her editorial eye has graced various mastheads; from a legacy print title, an innovative digital magazine to a pan African luxury platform. Today, as inaugural Editor-in-Chief of Robb Report Africa, Ntokozo curates a world where African excellence meets global luxury, telling the stories of the continent’s most remarkable people, places, and creations with precision, wit, and unapologetic style.
