Refit continues to be the primary growth driver of the superyacht industry, accounting for 36% of total business opportunities across the sector. Data from the 2020–2024 period shows more than 20,600 refit operations on yachts over 30 meters, marking a 12% increase compared to the previous five-year period, with further growth projected for 2025–2029, when over 22,000 refit operations are expected.
These figures will take center stage at YARE 2026 – Yachting Aftersales & Refit Experience, scheduled from March 11 to 13 in the Tuscan nautical district. The event confirms its role as a permanent economic observatory for the sector by presenting the “State of the Industry Report” in collaboration with The Superyacht Group, the event’s leading international media partner.
An analysis of the industry’s growth areas highlights how refit and maintenance of the existing fleet represent 36% of total business opportunities. When combined with operational and support services (22%), they account for nearly 60% of the overall market, surpassing new charter and ownership models (19%) and new-build projects (17%). Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 21,000 refit operations were recorded on yachts over 30 meters: almost 13,000 in the 30–40 meter segment and just under 6,000 in the 40–60 meter segment, confirming a structurally expanding market.
A key highlight of the event will be the Superyacht Captains Forum, taking place on the morning of March 12, with more than 100 captains, 120 companies, and over 600 stakeholders already registered from four continents. Among the featured speakers will be Martin Redmayne of The Superyacht Group, who will lead the analysis of the “State of the Industry” data and outline the outlook for the coming years. The Forum will also provide space for direct dialogue between captains and shipyards, addressing mutual expectations, operational challenges, and areas for improvement, as well as discussing the Mediterranean’s competitiveness within the growing global refit market.
On the afternoon of March 13 (3:00–6:00 PM), four parallel workshops will explore the key transformations shaping the sector. The “Refit & Sustainability” panel will examine the link between refit decisions and environmental impact, focusing on operational efficiency, sustainable materials, and lifecycle planning (Moderator: Alperen Direkci). A second session will address professional growth in yachting, analyzing skills development and career pathways both onboard and ashore (Moderator: David Seal). The third workshop will focus on emerging tax and legal challenges, including VAT, export regulations, crew and captain employment frameworks, and the growing role of ESG standards toward 2035 (Moderators: Gianfranco Puopolo and Carla Bellieni). Finally, a dedicated session on artificial intelligence in yachting will clarify where AI creates value in nautical operations, where it introduces risks, and how it can be responsibly implemented through practical, repeatable use cases (Moderator: Robin Weninger).
Since its first edition in 2011, YARE has engaged over 6,000 captains and more than 2,000 companies, generating approximately 450 business agreements within six months following each edition. With a community exceeding 650 professionals annually and a reconfirmation rate above 70%, the event continues to strengthen its role as a strategic platform for high-level networking and business development in the refit sector.
YARE is part of the Tuscany Yachting Week, a broader program of initiatives animating the region, and is supported by the Camera di Commercio della Toscana Nord-Ovest, Regione Toscana, and Toscana Promozione Turistica, confirming its strategic value for the regional economy and for the international positioning of the Tuscan nautical district.
