UK Yacht Operator To Expand World-Wide

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

22 March 2007

UK-based yacht company Ondeck Sailing, which also operates in Antigua and Barbuda and the US Virgin Islands, is considering expansion into the Mediterranean, Middle East and Far East, which would mean more boats and more jobs.

Over the last four years Ondeck has transformed itself from a one-boat sea school into a multi-faceted venture with UK bases at Ryde, Portsmouth and Gosport, owning a total of 11 boats and with 40 full-time employees. Services include:

• Corporate Charter, both general and at major events such as the Little Britain Challenge and Cowes Week;
• Team development;
• Bareboat and skippered private charter;
• Adventure sailing including transatlantic crossings;
• Caribbean Charters and racing

As Managing Director Mike Williams explains: “The sea change came about when Ondeck bought four Farr 65s. These were boats built for the Millennium Round the World Race and offer a unique experience to cruise on and race a true race boat. The Farrs catapulted Ondeck into the corporate market. They are extremely popular. Apart from three weeks downtime for refitting the Farrs are in use year round”

Ondeck still operates a well-respected sea school, Even the sea school has expanded and from 200 students in 2003 Ondeck now expects to cater for upwards of 1100 students during 2007. To cope with demand Ondeck recently acquired two (2) Dehler 39s to compliment its Bénéteau 40.7s.

While not overtly aggressive Ondeck has made it plain that it wants to grow through both acquisition and expansion into new territories: “We are very confident about our business model. It is based on thinking as businessmen not sailors. If you were [thinking as a] sailor, logic would tell you to go into holidays, but as business people we looked at the corporate market. We turned away from conventional thinking and thought ‘how do you expand a business?’ “

Ondeck would look to base expansion on the combination of activities which have individually proved very popular in the Caribbean:

• Race excursions – 3 hour excursion culminating with a race;
• Corporate events for client entertaining , rewards and incentives and team development;
• Chartering – holiday type as well as event specific such as Antigua Sail Week;
• Sailing school

Recommended