Corporate hospitality fit for an oligarch

Jul 1 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A KEEN sailor who set up a yacht rental business after quitting his job as a printer is now making a splash in the corporate entertainment market.

Peter Stenner gave up his job as managing director of printing company Bailes last year to set up his yacht rental venture, in which he takes groups of up to 10 people along the Tyne and the North Sea coast on board his 50ft yacht Whispa.

Although he has not seen as much business as he had hoped for at Whispa Charters, he is now targeting the corporate hospitality market.

Mr Stenner, who sails from Royal Northumberland Yacht Club at Blyth, recently brought in two staff to help him run the business as well as train customers so they can have a go at sailing on their own.

He has also slashed his prices by 35% since setting up, to account for the pressures the recession puts on hospitality budgets in the business community, so a full day’s sailing, plus lunch now costs £125 per head.

As well as developing a website, he is looking to expand farther afield and will be hiring the boat out to a group attending Cowes Week, from August 1-8 on the Solent.

Mr Stenner has been a sailor more than 30 years and competed in 2005 in the Tall Ships’ Race, in which 86 vessels set off in the Irish Republic, called at Cherbourg in France, Newcastle and finished at Fredrikstad in Norway.

He said: “The beauty of the yacht for use in corporate hospitality is that it’s discreet and guests don’t have to mingle with members of the public like in larger corporate packages, such as those at sporting events.

“The experience is definitely something guests will remember for a long, long time.”