Who We Are
The African Superyacht Working Group (ASWG) brings together leaders from government, ports, tourism bodies, marinas, yacht services, refit and technical operators, and industry media to accelerate Africa’s emergence as a credible, competitive and sustainable superyacht destination.
ASWG was created as an initiative of Superyacht Cape Town, following on from the momentum and industry alignment built through the African Boating Conference (www.africanboatingconference.com). It was formally shaped through a landmark Cape Town roundtable, “Africa Charts a Course for Superyacht Growth” (October 2025), convened to move the conversation from potential to practical collaboration.
ASWG operates as a coordinating platform—bringing together decision-makers and operators across Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean islands—to support shared priorities, aligned messaging, and actions that improve the region’s competitiveness.
Why This Matters
Africa is uniquely positioned to benefit from the global growth of the superyacht sector—yet fragmented procedures, policy complexity, infrastructure gaps, and limited shared data can still make it harder than it should be for yachts to visit, stay longer, and cruise between destinations.
ASWG exists to help change that—supporting a more connected approach so the region can unlock jobs, skills development, small business growth and year-round coastal economic activity, while protecting the natural and cultural assets that make Africa such a compelling cruising region.
Our Mission
To position Africa as the world’s next great superyacht frontier—where economic opportunity, community participation and environmental stewardship are inseparable.
HOW WE WORK
ASWG is designed to be action-oriented and collaborative, with a practical rhythm that keeps momentum and accountability.
- A shared action agenda with priorities, owners and progress reporting
- Collaboration across public and private sectors
- A working structure of specialist ASWG Action Teams, focused on delivery:
- Marketing & Branding
- Policy & Regulation
- Infrastructure, Refit & Technical Capabilities
- Research & Governance
Leadership
The Working Group is chaired by Veda Pretorius (Founder, Superyacht Cape Town) with Maryanne Edwards as Strategic Advisor, bringing global best-practice insight from destination and superyacht sector development.
Who Is Represented
ASWG includes organisations spanning government, ports, destination marketing, industry bodies, yacht services, refit/technical capability, and media—reflecting a growing regional coalition.
Current represented organisations include:
- Superyacht Cape Town (Chair)
- WESGRO
- City of Cape Town
- eThekwini Municipality (Durban)
- Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)
- Western Cape Government / DEDAT
- V&A Waterfront
- BlueCape
- OSASA
- ABS Maritime
- SABBEX
- YOA
- Pesto Sea Group (South Africa)
- Pull North Yachting
- Madascarenes (Indian Ocean region)
- Madagascar Yacht Services
- Yacht Seychelles / Asia-Pacific Superyachts Seychelles
- Yacht Mauritius
- Maritime Review Africa
- Del Shipping
- Pangaea
(Participation is growing; this list will be updated as additional destinations, ports, tourism authorities and private-sector operators formally join.)
Get Involved
If you represent a marina, shipyard, yacht agency, tourism authority, port, training institution, or service provider—and want to help shape a stronger, more connected African superyacht ecosystem—we’d love to hear from you.
Join an ASWG Action Team and contribute to practical priorities that move the industry forward.
