The charter fleet designed for family, friends & fishing

presented by

Welcome to Yacht Charter Market, the weekly newsletter dedicated to the world of yacht charter.

In today’s newsletter:

• Top story: The charter fleet designed for family, friends & fishing

• Zairos: FX & Cross-Currency Solutions for Charter & Asset Payments

• Charter Updates: Explore Greece onboard Malen | Summer in the Bahamas onboard Rio | A New England summer onboard Aspen Alternative | Cruise around Croatia onboard Damari | Explore the Western Med onboard Dyna® | The Balearics in July onboard Diane

• Superyacht Spotlight: Closing off the Monaco GP in true yacht fashion 🏎️

TOP STORY

The charter fleet designed for family, friends & fishing

Travelling to Sydney, Leona Caanen speaks with Luke Geelan, family man and owner of the Shore Thing fleet.

Growing up with a passion for boating, and especially fishing, is Luke Geelan, Sydney native and owner of the 35.05-metre motor yacht Shore Thing. Having spent most of his life around the water, it seems only natural for Luke to have moved into the world of boating. Overtime the yacht has come to resemble not only a connection to his past, but also to his future, getting to enjoy it with his family and friends, as well as sharing it with charter guests.

A family passion

Growing up on a river in Sydney, Luke was introduced to the rhythms of tide and weather from an early age. “I’ve grown up with a passion for boating, my father taught me to water ski and sail as a young child” Luke shares. Over time, Luke exchanged sailing for wakeboarding and eventually game-fishing, depending his passion for being out at sea. This passion has remained a constant factor in Luke’s life, deepening even further once he could share it with his own kids.

A few years ago, Luke sold his business and decided to step into boating in a more deliberate way by acquiring the 35-metre motor yacht Shore Thing, built by Lloyd Ships in Australia in 1986. Purchasing her in 2024, the yacht allowed for Luke and his family to explore the Australian coast with more comfort, as well as for them to get to share their passion for the sea. “My two boys are especially big on game fishing, and my daughter is very passionate about snorkelling and marine life”, says Luke. By acquiring Shore Thing, it allows for the family to share their passions with one another.

A three-part refit

As Shore Thing is from the 80s, she was in need of an upgrade when Luke purchased her. The refit has been phased and purposeful, with 2024 seeing the first of the three phases. The yacht spent September to November at the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard where the bridge was upgraded, soft furnishings replaced and extensive paintwork completed. 

The second phase was centred around remodelling the saloon, with new flooring, carpeting and ceilings, as well as mechanical enhancements. Other upgrades included a beach club installation, complete with an inflatable pool, protective netting and a shaded cabana, which has proved particularly popular with charter guests. Possibly the most meaningful addition during this refit have been the zero-speed stabilisers, “my wife suffers from really severe seasickness, the stabilisers are essential in making the yacht comfortable for my family,” Luke shares.

Shore Thing’s third and final refit will take place in 2027 and will see an upgrade of the crew quarters. Originally, Luke had hoped to finalise the refit this year, but the yacht’s agenda, both in charter and personal use, is almost fully booked for the calendar year, and Luke wants to ensure there is enough time for the refit: “Our crew is so amazing, I'm super lucky to have what I believe is the best crew.”

Shore Thing junior

Yet the 35-metre motor yacht is only half the story. Six months after acquiring the mothership, Luke secured what he describes as Australia’s leading game fishing platform: a custom-built 17.7-metre (58’0”) Assegai sportfisher. Designed specifically for marlin fishing along the country’s east coast, the yacht is equipped with a gyro stabiliser and, more recently, a Furuno Omni Sonar System capable of scanning 360 degrees around the vessel to significant depths, providing a technological edge in a pursuit that still relies on instinct and patience.

The reason for acquiring the fishing vessel to cruise alongside the mothership are his sons. Luke shares that “my sons and I have been game fishing together for the last five years or so,” and have even partaken in various competitions in- and around Sydney. “We’ve won a couple of state titles and other competitions,” a hint of pride sits in Luke’s voice. “My children in particular, have a passion for fishing, and I've just shared that passion, and supported it”, he adds.

Lukes really enjoys fishing with his family and friends, on a recent trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Shore Thing 58 landed a 1,223 pound Black Marlin. Yet Luke is quick to note that they’re conscious about the way they fish. “We only catch what we eat; everything else goes right back in the ocean. We’re not hunters, we just fish for the joy of it.”

The joy of cruising

Some of Luke’s most cherished moments onboard are those with friends and family. “We hosted my 50th birthday onboard,” Luke shares, having chartered the yacht to Whitehaven Beach, located in the Whitsundays, “there were about 40 guests, all friends and family.” 

Possibly Luke’s favourite memory is the recent Christmas holiday onboard. “Spending time with our family and another family, sitting around and just having deep belly laughs over some beautifully cooked meals by our chef onboard.” Luke describes this as delightful and quite possibly one of the most memorable times onboard. “Your kids grow up so quick, getting to share such a beautiful time together and feeling like, as your kids become young adults, that you can really share laughs and stories. It was just special.”

The beauty of being on a boat is that it ties everyone together, whether that is his own family and friends, or guests who charter the yacht, for Luke, the joy of owning Shore Thing lies in “getting to share the joy with other people.”

The yacht and her fishing counterpart offer not just a sense of luxury, but a space for guests to create memories and experience the beauty of the Australian coastline as they cruise Shore Thing between the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays and the Sydney Harbour.

Yacht Charter Market: Powered by Zairos

Zairos APA Management Solution

Super quick account opening - ready to use for the Med and Caribbean charter seasons with instant.

Make APA Management Effortless This Charter Season

Why Zairos?

• Manage high-balance APA accounts and instantly issue high-balance virtual and physical cards for crew and guests

• Cards are compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay for seamless onboard payments

• Securely collect, hold and distribute funds for charters

• Real-time transaction and balance tracking via mobile or web

• Instantly upload and categorise receipts for transparent APA reporting

• Settle supplier invoices swiftly, globally, and securely

• Provide guests and owners with instant expense updates during charters

• Full audit trail and compliance designed for yacht charter managers

• 24/7 expert support throughout the season

From APA accounts to global asset purchases - simplify your FX and treasurey needs this season with Zairos.

This season, streamline your APA management with Zairos.
[email protected] | www.zairos.com 

CHARTER UPDATES

SUPERYACHT SPOTLIGHT

@ahoy.club

The sound of the end of this years Monaco Grand Prix #f1 #grandprix #monacograndprix #Monaco