Team Capetan // Sail Armada reports from Amsterdam 😊
What is „ICE” and what does it mean for the Capetan and Sail Armada community?
International Charter Expo (ICE) is the most important gathering of major charter companies and related service providers in the yachting industry. For us, Capetan and Sail Armada, It was the fourth consecutive year of participation - and it certainly won't be the last.
For three intense days, we met with our long-standing partners, some with whom we have been collaborating for over 10 years. From 9am until 6pm, we had back-to-back meetings, followed by valuable discussions even after the official closing of the exhibition.
Why is ICE an essential event?
- Drawing conclusions from the past year
- Innovating with projects for the future
- We strategise and launch products for next season
- We understand mistakes and learn from them so that we can continue to provide you with the best possible service and sailing opportunities by Capetan and Sail Armada
What did we discuss at ICE 2025?
- Future locations for Sail Armada flotillas
- Benefits for Capetan students who join flotillas through the programme Join A Flotilla
- Planning new destinations for your holidays Capetan eXplore
- Together with Yacht Pool and Pantaenius, we have analysed the year of sailing, identified the strengths and weaknesses, and found solutions to improve the insurance dedicated to Capetan skippers - both private and professional
What else did we learn at ICE 2025?
I found out further details on the state of the Boataround platform and the decision by charter companies to continue to block co-operation with it, following worrying problems in the 2025 booking season. These include:
- Low volume of bookings
- Unpaid bookings
- Fictitious services
- Discounts non-existent, although promoted
For these reasons, several charter companies have decided to discontinue their co-operation with Boataround. But beware: even without the charters' explicit consent, Boataround continues to display their boats on the platform, which raises questions about transparency and operational ethics.
It is, without doubt, a dubious situation to say the least, and one that deserves to be watched carefully by all those involved in the sailing industry.
As the industry faces transparency and ethical challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to quality, fairness and respect for the community. By choosing Capetan or Sail Armada, choose a team that puts passion for sailing and caring for people first.
Is it worth the effort?
No doubt.
Every hour spent at ICE helps us to remain the best at what we do: for you, the community Capetan and Sail Armada.
