David Walters Yachts celebrated 40 Years in Business in 2022, and it was a banner year! We started the year strong, coming off the high of a yachting market, unlike anything we've experienced in decades. With the yachting industry soaring high, there was tremendous anticipation that the floor would fall out and things would fall into a slump after a long stretch of record-setting sales. This sentiment was shared across the industry, but as our results show, that was anything but true.
2022 Proved to be another record-setting year, with total sales surpassing 57 million, raising the bar another 12% over total sales in 2021. Overall, the DWY Team orchestrated 151 yacht transactions, representing 81 buyers and 70 sellers in regions ranging from Europe, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and all across the United States. Of the 70 listings sold, our team of professionals aligned 12 yachts with buyers before the yachts were ever listed! Another 30 listings came under contract within the first two weeks of hitting the market.
Looking ahead to the coming year, we have several exciting developments and projects in the works. First, and in line with our strategic vision to expand our reach and penetration into new markets, I am thrilled to announce the opening of our first Caribbean office on the island of Saint Martin. The new office, headed up by our resident yacht broker and catamaran guru, Ritchard Findlay, overlooks Simpson Bay and is just a short distance from the Saint Martin Yacht Club. Cruisers and DWY customers can expect a warm welcome, expert local knowledge, and ready assistance upon arrival.
The DWY Caribbean office is scheduled to open on February 1st, with a grand opening event shortly after that. If you're headed to Saint Martin, contact Ritchard Findlay at ritchard@davidwaltersyachts.com or on WhatsApp at +590 690 09-4802.
On expanding, we are also increasing our representation and service on the Great Lakes. While a more detailed announcement will be coming later this Winter, DWY customers can expect a dedicated new boat and brokerage sales team representing clients on the Great Lakes by Spring 2023! This move is primarily driven by the success of the Italia Yachts brand on the lakes during the 2022 season. Including the first-place win by the crew of the Italia 11.98 Rose del Mar in the Chicago to Mackinac Race and the first-place overall win by the crew of the Italia 9.98 DeTour in the Bayview Mackinac Race. With the first boat touching freshwater just two years ago, the fleet has grown to five Italia Yachts competing on the Great Lakes, with more coming in 2023.
And it's not just the Italia brand that's taken off on the Great Lakes. In the Spring of 2023, the first Hylas M49 motor yacht to arrive in the US, Live Lucky, will be launched in Muskegon, Michigan, and turned over to her new owner for a summer cruising the pristine coastlines. Our incoming sales team on the Great Lakes are longtime racers, cruisers, and current Hylas owners. Their passion and knowledge will be a real asset to past, present, and future DWY customers throughout the Great Lakes region. Stay tuned for more details!
Our latest marketing projects include a long-anticipated launch of the new David Walters Yachts website scheduled for February and an exciting revival of the CHANNELS Newsletter originally launched by David Walters in the Spring of 1989. The new website and mixed media newsletter will bring the latest news, updates, events, and of course, our entire inventory of new and brokerage yachts to our audience in a way, unlike anything we've done before!
Two significant developments are coming in 2023 for our new boat programs. First, we look forward to the world premiere of the new Hylas M47X motor yacht. Equipped with twin Cox 300 HP diesel outboards, this exciting new down east model is a first of its kind for the US market. The yacht will be on full display at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, Bay Bridge Boat Show, the Newport International Boat Show, and the US Power Boat Show in Annapolis. Offered exclusively by David Walters Yachts, the new line of Hylas motor yachts range in size from the Hylas M44 to the Hylas M58.
The second development in our new boat program comes from Italia Yachts; with the big news, I cannot get into details other than to say that this one will be a game changer. Our European partners will be traveling to the US to make the announcement alongside our Italia Team at the Miami International Boat Show at an exclusive event for industry partners, media, and invited VIP guests. We have been covertly working on this project for some time now and are anxious to unveil it!
With 2022 behind us and a lot to look forward to in the new year, I have high expectations for what's to come. From our back-office support to our brokers hitting the docks day in and day out in a tireless effort to help our customers meet their objectives, a tremendous thank you! And, of course, our ongoing success would not be possible if it were not for the over 2,000 yachting families who have put their trust and loyalty in David Walters Yachts. You made 2022 our best year through 40 years of business!
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