Multihull solutions is expanding rapidly to meet the growing popularity of catamarans and trimarans in the region.
Multihull solutions is expanding rapidly to meet the growing popularity of catamarans and trimarans in the region.
WITH OFFICES THROUGHOUT Australia, New Zealand, and Asia Pacific, Multihull Solutions is the exclusive importer and distributor of new yachts in the region for leading multihull brands including Fountaine Pajot Catamarans, Fountaine Pajot Motor Yachts, Privilège catamarans, Corsair and NEEL Trimarans.
Headquartered in Australia, Multihull Solutions was founded in 2003 by Managing Director Mark Elkington in Mooloolaba, Queensland.
The comprehensive Brokerage division deals with quality pre-owned multihulls from Asia Pacific and around the world, offering an extensive range of boats to suit each buyer’s criteria and budget.
Multihull Solutions also operates a successful investment and syndication division, runs cruising rallies throughout Asia Pacific, sponsors a multihull regatta in Thailand, provides tailored sail-training courses and tuition, and has a comprehensive after-sales service team.
Thanks to all of this, Multihull Solutions provides unprecedented levels of service and has set a benchmark for quality within the international multihull industry.
Multihull Solutions was again recognised as one of the world’s best yacht dealers, winning a prestigious award at the recent Fountaine Pajot 2016 International Dealer conference in Heyres, France.
The French builder’s Motor Yachts Dealer of the Year (Asia Pacific) award was presented to Multihull Solutions Asia General Manager Andrew de Bruin.
The award recognises Multihull Solutions’ outstanding sales in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as its on-going commitment to providing the highest quality of client and after-sales services.
“The shipyard is constantly designing innovative multihulls that are absolutely ideal for the cruising conditions of Asia Pacific,” says De Bruin. “It’s exciting to be involved in the industry at this point in history as multihulls are fast becoming the popular choice for cruisers throughout the world.”
Expanding Sales Network
Multihull Solutions has been adding to its network of sales centres to deal with the ever-growing demand for quality new and pre-owned multihulls throughout Asia Pacific.
The award-winning company recently opened another sales centre at Ao Po Grand Marina in northeastern Phuket, as well as its latest Australian Sales Centre in Sydney.
The new centres complement the existing network of Multihull Solutions offices in Queensland (Mooloolaba and Gold Coast), New Zealand (Auckland) and Thailand (Phuket Boat Lagoon).
Multihull Solutions opened the additional Thailand sales centre due to the overwhelming interest in multihulls in Southeast Asia and plans to expand further in the region.
Elkington says the new centres are an exciting development for the company.
“We are thrilled to open two new Sales Centres, which make it even easier for buyers to inspect a wide range of quality power and sail multihulls as well as discuss their individual needs with our professional and experienced team,” he says.
“The on-going demand for new and quality pre-owned multihulls is increasing every year, and we are striving to stay ahead of the market with our strategic network of sales centres that make it easier for buyers and sellers to obtain quality, unbiased advice.”
About The Founder
After learning to sail dinghies as a boy in Western Australia, Elkington completed studies at the Fremantle Maritime College. He bought his first cruising boat at the age of 20, was appointed Safety Officer for the America’s Cup in 1987, moved east to Hamilton Island to manage a fleet of luxury vessels, and was inaugural President of the Hamilton Island Cruising Yacht Club.
As one of the founding directors of Sunsail Yacht Charters in Australia in 1994, Elkington was responsible for the development of the Hamilton Island base and its fleets, overseeing the highly successfully importation of Fountaine Pajot Catamarans into Australia. He imported the first Lagoon catamarans and Fountaine Pajot catamarans into Australia.
Besides leading the Multihull Australia team, Elkington has spent his spare time in recent years kayaking over 2,500km to raise money for childhood leukaemia, and sailed more than 10,000nm in various offshore races including the Rolex Sydney to Hobart. In between, when the wind dropped, he ducked ashore to get married and have three children.
Key Staff / Shareholders
Michael ‘Nod’ Crook is Multihull Solutions’ Services Manager and Elkington’s right-hand man in the business, and shareholder of the Asia- Pacific company.
De Bruin is a shareholder in the Asia business, as well as General Manager of Multihull Solutions Asia.
Other team members are also shareholders, with shares given as a reward for outstanding effort and achievement.
Brokerage Division
Multihull Solutions operates the largest preowned multihull brokerage in the Asia-Pacific region. The company only sells quality preowned multihulls that are carefully selected for listing by the sales consultant team.
With sales increasing into 100+ multihulls this year, Multihull Solutions has proven that its philosophy and extensive marketing reach in the pre-owned market delivers great results for clients.
MULTIHULL SOLUTIONS TIMELINE
1997 First Fountaine Pajot catamaran ordered by Mark Elkington for the Australian market through his importing business at that time – European Marine.
2003 Multihull Solutions officially launched with head office in Mooloolaba, Queensland, and the goal of developing the region’s most complementary range of multihull brands.
2008 New Zealand sales office opened in Westhaven Marina, Auckland.
2011 Sydney sales office opens.
2012 Multihull Solutions opens its first pre-owned (brokerage) sales office.
2013 Gold Coast (Queensland) Sales Centre opens.
2014 Innovative year-round “Out of Water Boat Show” established at Gold Coast Sales Centre within the Boat Works marine precinct in Queensland.
2014 First Southeast Asia sales office opens in Boat Lagoon Marina, Phuket
2015 Sales office opens in Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket.
2015 Sales consultant commences in French Polynesia.
2016 NSW sales office relocates to Sydney City Marine.
2016 New Caledonia sales office opens.
2016 New office opens in Yacht Haven Phuket Marina.
Phuket Regatta
The 2016 Multihull Solutions Phuket Regatta is looking to be the most successful in its nine-year history. Staged from July 14-17, this year’s multihull-only regatta has received enormous interest and more than 25 entries are expected to enjoy the four days of exhilarating racing and unforgettable social action set against the breath-taking backdrop of Phuket’s waterways.
The event is organised by Phuket Yacht Club and open to all multihulls (catamarans and trimarans) with an overall length greater than six metres that are acceptable to the race committee.
Private and charter multihulls are welcome to enter, and the regatta is expected to comprise the following classes: Racing Multihulls with valid OMR ratings; Firefly 850 Sports One Design Class; Cruising Multihulls without OMR ratings; and Corsair Pulse 600s.
De Bruin says the 2016 regatta has received interest from all over the region.
“It’s clear that the regatta is now a significant event for multihull enthusiasts throughout Asia as well as Australia and New Zealand, who realise it is a fantastic chance to escape the winter chill and enjoy some exhilarating racing and unforgettable social events,” he says.
“There is simply no other professional regatta that delivers such amazing racing, warm hospitality and breath-taking scenery, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Phuket Yacht Club to make it one of the most popular regattas in the entire Asia- Pacific region.
“We are hoping for a repeat of last year’s wonderful windy conditions to deliver exciting action on the water, and our 2016 social itinerary is the best yet with parties scheduled at the Phuket Yacht Club, including an evening with complimentary beer courtesy of Corsair Trimarans.”
www.multihullsolutions.com
www.multihullsolutions.com.au
