Yas Marina on course for earliest Formula One sell-out

Yas Marina looks set for its earliest Formula One season sell-out yet with boat owners around the world keen to climb aboard for the event.

Yas Marina is sailing towards its fastest-ever Formula One race week sell-out.

Expressions of interest have risen by 25 per cent since berth rates were announced earlier this year.

"In addition to greater interest overall, we've also seen a 10 per cent increase in boat size this year, as well as a rise in inquiries from international boat owners, from both the GCC region and beyond," said Cedric Le Rest, the general manager of Yas Marina.

The marina is currently undergoing a revamp in time for the race in early November, adding berths and restaurants to meet demand.

The redevelopment will increase the capacity of the marina by 14 per cent, while adding seven new restaurants. They will include Diablito Food and Music, a Spanish tapas restaurant; an outlet of the Beirut-based lounge restaurant Iris; Café d'Alsace, a brassiere-style café; a seafood restaurant from the team behind Ornina Abu Dhabi; and Rozanah, a contemporary Lebanese restaurant.

The existing Yas Marina restaurants Stars N Bars and Cipriani will be revamped as part of the works, which also include a pedestrianised promenade, a musical fountain and a children's playground.

Yas Marina's expansion is a driver of the interest in race berths, but it is not the only one, said Mr Le Rest.

"In the past four years, we have built a solid reputation as being a fun and unique race week venue for motorsport and marine enthusiasts," he said. "Our expansion adds a new dimension to our already strong proposition and we are looking forward to our most successful and busiest race week to date."

Race week berths include a variety of other marina services and amenities including track-view berth options, access to Wi-Fi, power and water, an onsite capitainerie with bathrooms and showers, customer service, boat and buggy transfers, catering and delivery options and access to other Yas Island attractions as well as Yas Marina guest and crew passes and parking permits.

Race week berths start at Dh11,435 and will be available from October 29 to November 4 for boats ranging from 8 metres to 150 metres. They go on sale today.

Annual berths for boat owners start at Dh16,445, which includes race week.