09 October 2014

Glitz and Glamour at the 14th Fraser Yachts Captains’ Dinner and Awards

Fraser Yachts Captains Dinner Diamond A
This year the 14th Fraser Yachts Captains’ Dinner took place at the brand new Monaco Yacht Club and welcomed well over 300 guests. The Annual Dinner & Awards is held each year to thank the Captains and crew who work so hard for their guests throughout the year, it is one of the most talked about events of the Monaco Yacht Show and this year the guest list was closed early due to unprecedented demand.
The new venue was resplendent with the Ball Room lit up in pink for the event. Guests arrived for a champagne reception and were entertained by a Gypsy band before the Awards got under way with Roberto Giorgi, the new Executive Chairman welcoming guests and Lisa Peck, Global Marketing Manager, announcing the Awards. 

The event was generously sponsored once again by a number of companies; many of them long standing partners of the Awards for several years now. Pride Megayachts returned as a premium sponsor and exhibited a model of their new project Estatement, while Rio Frio, supplier of the world’s first certified organic caviar provided caviar for all the guests to enjoy with their Champagne. The champagne and other fine wines were provided by VSF Group and their suppliers, Veuve Cliquot, Bouchard, Chateau d’Esclans and William Fèvre. VBH demonstrated their technical prowess with a unique digital fabric wall which reacted to physical touch to entertain guests and Deco Flamme once again provided seating and an eye‐ catching DJ booth. Benetti Yacht Masters and Lusben shipyard also sponsored the event and brought along a number of Captains to enjoy the evening’s festivities. This year the winning Captain was named as Grahame Shorrocks, from motor yacht IMAGINE, one of the most stunning vessels in the Fraser Yachts yacht charter fleet. Grahame was welcomed on stage to a round of rapturous applause to collect his prizes. Susanne Hurni from Ulysse Nardin awarded the main prize of a Marine Chronometre Manufacture. Other prizes included an AGM test drive courtesy of Mercedes, 2 weeks free berthing and a luxury weekend trip to Barcelona by Vilanova Grand Marina, a 1 day wine course at Chateau de la Bégude from Riviera Wine Academy, a Serving Boat by L’Objet from Boutsen Aviation, a music consultation and ipod courtesy of Sound Purpose and a 200grm tin of Caviar from Rio Frio. 

The winning crews were announced as M/Y DIAMOND A (over 50m) and M/Y MUCHO MAS (under 50m), who both received a 1,000USD travel voucher from Global Marine Travel, 1 weeks free berthing at Vilanova Grand Marina, a Jeraboam from VSF Group and some bespoke CDs from Sound Purpose. After the Awards the buffet was opened and guests enjoyed culinary delights from all around the world while admiring the beautiful views from the terraces of the new Yacht Club. Then the music went up, the lights went down and guests piled onto the dance floor. Once the weariness hit guests began to disappear into the night clutching goodie bags overflowing with gifts from the sponsors including waterproof pouches (Pride Mega Yachts), Caviar Dice (Rio Frio), money clips (Ulysse Nardin), perfume (Mercedes), Spanish ham (VGM), water bottles (VBH), USB Keys (MHG Insurance)and Hermes toiletries (Boutsen Design). Fraser Yachts would like to thank all of the sponsors of the Captains Dinner: Pride Mega Yachts Rio Frio Ulysse Nardin Mercedes Benz VSF Group Vilanova Grand Marina Benetti Yacht Masters Lusben: VBH GMT MHG Insurance Boutsen Design Sound Purpose Deco Flamme After a successful 14 years celebrating Charter Captains and their crew Fraser Yachts will be introducing a new Award in 2015, the Yacht Management Captain of the Year. This Award will be presented during the Owners Soiree held each year during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Captains will be judged on: Outstanding delivery of service, teamwork and efficiency, willingness and ability to get his yacht and crew ready and to deliver the highest of service and quality at all times in all scenarios. Further details will be announced in due course.