Pholoso Manyama|Published
Cape Town is stepping up its bid to attract the global superyacht market, with new luxury hospitality and marine infrastructure at the V&A Waterfront aimed at turning the city into a more prominent international yachting destination.
The plans include a new EDITION hotel and the development of superyacht facilities at Quay 7, as Southern Africa seeks to capitalise on rising visits from some of the world’s largest private yachts.
Speaking at the African Boating Conference in Cape Town, V&A Waterfront chief executive Graham Wood outlined the precinct’s ambitions as new industry research showed that 36 superyachts measuring more than 24 metres visited Southern Africa in 2025, up from 14 in 2019.
The average length of visiting yachts in the region reached 60 metres last year, compared with a global average of about 34 metres, according to BOATPro research presented at the conference.
Superyacht visits bring high-value spending
The growth presents an opportunity for Cape Town’s marine, hospitality and tourism businesses to benefit from increased superyacht traffic.
Figures presented at the conference indicate that a superyacht valued at $50 million could generate between $105,000 and $330,000 in local spending during a two-week visit.
That spending can support marine engineering, provisioning, transport, accommodation, restaurants and other specialist services.
The V&A Waterfront Marina already ranks among the region’s five leading marinas for visiting superyachts.
Beyond berthing facilities, the precinct offers restaurants, luxury accommodation, retail outlets and cultural attractions within walking distance of vessels, with Table Mountain providing a distinctive backdrop.
The planned Quay 7 facilities and new EDITION hotel are expected to strengthen the offering for yacht owners, captains and guests seeking marine services alongside luxury hospitality.
V&A Waterfront expands its luxury offering
The V&A Waterfront spans 123 hectares, attracts approximately 25 million visits annually and accommodates more than 1,000 tenants.
Its operations support a working community of about 26,000 people, highlighting the scale of its contribution to the local economy.
The longer-term vision includes transforming the surrounding waterfront into a coastal neighbourhood while developing the infrastructure needed to accommodate more visiting superyachts.
Southern Africa seeks to grow its cruising market
The ambition extends beyond Cape Town, with industry stakeholders working to establish Southern Africa as a connected cruising region offering coastal destinations and experiences extending into the Indian Ocean.
The African Superyacht Working Group is transitioning into Superyacht Africa, an initiative intended to promote the region internationally and attract yacht owners looking beyond established cruising destinations such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Potential itineraries include Mauritius and Seychelles, alongside Southern Africa’s coastlines, wildlife experiences and luxury hospitality offerings.
The strategy centres on building a recognisable African cruising proposition while improving marine infrastructure and services for visiting vessels.
Government support for marine economy
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos reiterated their commitment at the conference to expanding the marine economy, attracting investment and addressing regulatory and business barriers.
For Cape Town, the opportunity lies in converting growing interest in the region into sustained economic activity across yacht maintenance, technical services, hospitality and tourism.
The V&A Waterfront’s investment forms part of that broader effort to strengthen the city’s position in the international superyacht market and create opportunities for local businesses.