That was Superyacht Investor 2026!
- British Superyacht
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The British Superyacht industry continues to demonstrate why it remains at the forefront of global excellence, with our CEO, Richard Selby, attending the prestigious Superyacht Investor (SYI) London 2026 conference. Held on March 3rd and 4th in the heart of London, the event gathered over 250 of the industry’s most influential dealmakers, from shipyards and brokers to financiers and legal experts.
Richard was invited to join a panel of experts to discuss a topic that is becoming increasingly critical in the design and operation of superyachts: "Why helicopters are not flying tenders."
Elevating the Conversation: Helicopter Operations at Sea
As a seasoned expert in superyacht aviation, Richard shared the stage with fellow industry leaders, including Phil Noad, Cayman Islands Shipping Registry and Dr Simon Mitchell, Starspeed. The discussion focused on the complexities of operating helicopters on superyacht heliports—a subject that requires far more than just "making space" on a deck.
Richard emphasised that a helicopter should be integrated into the very beginning of a new build project. Rather than viewing them as simple "flying tenders," the panel explored the reality of such operations, including:
Understanding Real Risks: The technical and safety challenges of landing and maintaining aircraft in volatile maritime environments.
Design and Infrastructure: Why heliports must be designed and engineered for safe and efficient heliport operations with risk mitigation at the forefront. But it still seems to be a challenge!
The Regulatory Landscape: Navigating the stringent standards required to ensure safety for owners, guests, and crew.
Stronger Together: Leading the Industry
The Superyacht Investor conference is renowned for its high-level networking. For British Superyacht, Richard’s participation underscores our commitment to "Leading the Industry" by sharing specialised knowledge that helps our members and partners navigate complex sectors like superyacht aviation.
"It was a privilege to represent the British Superyacht community at SYI London," Richard remarked following the session. "Bringing together the globally renowned quality of our industry means addressing the technical challenges head-on. By collaborating with financiers and designers early in the process, we can ensure that helicopter operations are safe, efficient, and truly add value to the vessel."
Stay Connected
As we continue to drive innovation across the sector, Richard’s involvement in such high-calibre global forums ensures that the voice of our members is heard by the industry’s key decision-makers.
Get involved in networking with Superyacht Professionals
Not a member? You can join British Superyacht today
