Middle class, high seas

Visitors experience a 59 yuan ($9.50) yachting journey along the Huangpu River in Shanghai.

Private yachters now are a very small part of the rich, says Charles Wong, general project manager of HHtravel, a luxury-travel brand under China's biggest online travel agency, Ctrip.

"The private yacht market hasn't fully opened but has received many inquiries from prospective clients," Wong says.

"You can be in charge of your schedule and drop anchor wherever and whenever you want," he says.

Yachts are "like RVs" but driven across seas to shores, Wong explains.

And they're "often more luxurious", he says.

Yachting takes passengers to uninhabited islands and marine conservation areas that harbor rare animals and plants, Wong says.

HHtravel deals solely with international yacht excursions to such destinations as Indonesia's Bali, Fiji, the Maldives and Tahiti that typically last two to five days.

Its Maldives trip on a vessel with 11 deluxe suites costs 49,900 yuan per client. A four-guestroom luxury-yacht trip around French Polynesia's Tahiti costs 127,500 yuan. Both packages include airfare.

Wong points to the fact yachting is commonplace among Europe's middle class and superrich to indicate the pastime's potential in China.

With more white-collar Chinese getting onboard, it looks like smooth sailing.

Contact the writers through yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn