Refinishes can be the most contentious issue for a refit. They are certainly the most conspicuous. Some would argue refinishing a superyacht to world-class standards is an art and others would argue it is a science.

The best possible application of paint onto a yacht’s hull has it foundations in chemistry and metrology. The Dew Point should be at least 30⁰C below the air temperature before considering painting. Dew Point is defined as the temperature at which water vapour condenses on a surface. It is affected by the relative humidity of the atmosphere and temperature. As a rule of thumb, it is not advisable to paint when the relatively humidity is over 85%.

The art of painting comes from knowing the local weather conditions, the vessel, the product and working in and around other work being completed. It is rare a refinish is done in isolation; generally an engineering and internal refit is under way concurrently. The painter must negotiate with the shipyard to secure the best possible days and conditions for painting without compromising the full refit.

Once all of this is considered, it is apparent that the best possible climate for superyacht refinishing is a location with a lower relative humidity and predictable temperatures. In sum, consistent weather patterns with good Dew Point conditions equates to fewer wasted days and more productive time. Brisbane, Australia is on the 27^th Parallel South and is classified as a sub-tropical climate. In comparison, Brisbane has similar winter days as the Bahamas and more sunny days than Florida (based on annual averages).