ON THE QUAYSIDE

With Veda Pretorius

It’s not easy for a new event to present itself and deliver real value to the maritime industry, but that’s exactly what the African Boating Conference (ABC) achieved in 2025. Introducing the conference into an already crowded calendar, Veda Pretorious was laser focused on what she wanted to achieve. It was not about hosting an event for the sake of hosting an event – it was about initiating a movement to take advantage of the country’s boat building strength while simultaneously positioning the region as a superyacht destination.

► What lessons are you taking away from the inaugural event that you believe will make this year’s event even better?

The biggest lesson is to give people room to breathe. Last year we packed the agenda edge to edge, and it left almost no time for Q&A or for people to actually connect. This year we've built in space to allow delegates to engage speakers and panellists properly, and for the in-between moments that end up mattering just as much as the sessions. We're also using both floors of the venue this time, so there's more room to move and mingle across the many breaks throughout the day.

► The inaugural event successfully launched the African Superyacht Working Group, creating very real value and elevating the conference beyond a talk-shop. Can you describe briefly the activities and successes of the group since the conference?

One of the clearest signs that ABC 2025 was more than a talk-shop is the African Superyacht Working Group (ASWG). It came directly out of a roundtable at the conference and, what started as a conversation in that room, has become a working coalition.

The group brings together government, ports, tourism bodies, marinas, technical operators and industry media, organised into four action teams: marketing and branding, policy and regulation, infrastructure and technical capability, and research and governance.

The table includes partners and service operators from South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and the wider Indian Ocean. We are working on formalising the working group into an association, and we will be reporting on the progress at ABC 2026. 

► Looking at the sponsors of this year’s event – have you attracted new partners and what sort of partners have you looked to attract and why?

Yes — this year we've attracted more international companies looking to invest and partner directly with regional firms, not just sponsor a stage. That's the shift we wanted to see: partners who see Africa as somewhere to build relationships and supply chains, not just a market to sell into.

► From a delegate perspective - have you seen increased interest from a wider region/sub-sector and how is the registration progressing?  

Delegate registration is progressing well.  It has been interesting to see who is showing up beyond our usual circle. We're seeing new suppliers here in South Africa who want to connect with boat builders, and a noticeable rise in interest from the superyacht sector specifically. It tells us the conference is reaching further than the core industry we started with.

► The content of a conference is obviously very important. What is your philosophy around identifying speakers and what can delegates expect to hear at this year’s conference?

This is a paid conference, so the calibre of content and speakers matters. — delegates are investing their time and money, and they need to leave with something. MaryAnne Edwards curates the programme, and her focus is making sure we cover the full breadth of the marine industry, not just superyachts, and that regional representation is real. This is an African event, so we're deliberate about not letting it become too Cape Town-centric.

► How important do you think developments such as the YARE announcement for Durban is to the sector and is ABC engaging to include them in some way? 

We've invited the EThekwini Maritime Cluster — who are partnering with Ziziba and NAVIGO on YARE — to come and share what they are building. YARE looks like a great platform, and we are keen to learn more about it and hopefully attend ourselves. There are a number of planned marina projects in KwaZulu Natal so the developments there are about more than the YARE Conference.

More superyacht infrastructure development anywhere in the region is a good thing. We're growing the pie, not fighting over a bigger slice of it. The more destinations and services across the region, the more yachts come to Africa at all.

► On a personal note – you have been nominated for the Yacht Femme Award and you were recognised by Maritime Review as a Headliner in 2025 – what does this type of recognition mean to you and the ABC brand? 

I was genuinely surprised, and I'm grateful for it. It's given me a platform to share what is actually happening in this part of the world — the partnerships forming through the ASWG, the growth of ABC as an independent platform for connection and discussion, the new marina opening at the V&A Waterfront, the success of our local boatbuilders.

Most of all, it is a chance to keep repeating the message that matters: boating and the superyacht sector are drivers of real economic growth and job creation here. I use every opportunity like this to keep that message moving.

► What message would you like to leave with the industry about the upcoming conference?

ABC 2025 sold out and the momentum since has been real — not just in the conversations we're having, but in the working group it produced. ABC 2026 is about building on that: more space to connect, a sponsor base that's genuinely investing in the region, and a programme that reflects the full breadth of what Africa's marine sector can be. 

We are grateful for the sponsors we have, especially our returning sponsors who know the value of their investment and trust us to deliver an impactful conference yet again.

We'd love to see the industry — from boatbuilders to suppliers, to superyacht industry role players — in Cape Town on 20–21 October.

Pontoon delivery for new marina on track