New French Startup Launches “FLOAT” To Let Users Book Luxury Yacht Charters
Float, a brand new startup based on the French Riviera, announce sits launch aiming to revolutionise the world of yachting by allowing its users to book luxury yacht charters by the seat with prices starting as low as €99 per person.
Operating its own fleet, Float runs its yachts on several pre-determined routes as shuttles, each cruise including time to lounge and swim from the yacht, lunch at the most prestigious beach restaurants and, of course, champagne. More than just transportation, Float brings its user the experience of yachting at a price up to 20 times lower than alternatives. The tech-driven startup achieves this by letting users pay just for individual tickets through its app or website.
Founded by GualtieroGiori, CEO of 21st Luxury and former owner of Camper & Nicholsons International, and DimitriSemenikhin, CEO of Yacht Harbour, FLOAT will start the season by operating a series of routes around Monaco and St Tropez ahead of a planned expansion to Miami and the Bahamas in the winter. Its St Tropez – Pampelonne Beach route will be serviced by Float Open class yachts, such as the $1 million Maori 50, whereas cruises out of Monaco will take place on Float Fly class yachts, enhanced with a flybridge.
« After working with billionaires and celebrities, amongst other, for their superyacht needs as owner of Camper & Nicholsons, I wanted everyone to be able to enjoy yachting, which meant making it more accessible and simpler to enjoy, hence the creation of Float. » commented Giori.
« Float brings a level of efficiency and innovation to yachting that the sector was previously lacking. In addition to exposing a whole new demographic to yachts, Float’s tech platform drastically reduces the complexity of chartering a yacht with its instant booking function and removes price as a barrier of entry. » added Semenikhin.
Jean-Jacques Boude, a former executive at leading yacht brokerage firm, Camper & Nicholsons International, was appointed by the shareholders of Float to run its operations as CEO. With its first shuttles starting navigation as soon as this weekend, Float plans to actively expand its number of routes and fleet over the next quarters. The startup is also looking to soon introduce, amongst other planned functionalities, a membership program where members would gain unlimited access to its shuttles for a yearly fee.
